Hello,
My son is 8 months old and uses a pacifier. He only likes the Gerber Gentleflex pacifier, which Gerber decided to discontinue and I can no longer buy anywhere. (except Ebay, but being a SAHM I can't afford to pay $15 a pacifier because people decide to exploit the situation)
I wanted to switch him to the size 2 pacifier but since they are no longer in stores I can't. I tried other pacifiers and so far he doesn't like any of them, including the Natural flex that Gerber came out with as a replacement. (I am very upset at Gerber for putting me in this situation) Should I start to wean him from the pacifier? (he is teething now too) I am a first time Mom, when is a good age to toss the pacifier and how do I do it??? I don't want him to be like his older cousins, who are 2 and 3 and still use them all day long. I don't mind if he was older and wanted it for sleeping but not during the day while playing, etc.
He is a breastfeed baby if that makes a difference and has starting finger foods, etc.
Any advice on how to handle this situation would be greatly appreciated, because I really don't know what to do.
Thanks,
M.
Thank you to everyone for the advice!
I did call Gerber and they do not have any in their inventory, so I think I will take this opporunity to get rid of the pacifier. I do think it will be harder on me then my son. So, I also need to break my dependence on it. From the advice it sounds like I just go cold turkey, just take it away all together...
Thank you again!
I think it would be fine to start weaning him, only using it at bedtime. But if you are interested in that pacifier, if you haven't I would contact the company directly, you never know, they might have some in a warehouse someplace.
We weaned our son from the pacifier by age 1. Basically, we just didn't have them available & kept them out of sight. He just stopped asking for it because he didn't see it to want it. Honestly - it wasn't traumatic, and we really didn't try to withhold it from him, we just didn't have it as available as before. Maybe you could try just making it available at times when he needs more comfort (nap time, bed time, etc.) and try transitioning him to a new transition/comfort object - a stuffed thing, a blanket, etc. Slowly (like over days/weeks) just keep it more hidden, less accessible. I think he'll learn to rely on other things for comfort, plus he's getting his oral needs met (in theory) through the solids/finger foods.
Good luck!
J.
mom to Chase (3)
I don't have much advice about pacifier weaning. However, I did find this for you...
I'm not sure about the weaning, but I think that 2 and 3 year olds using pacifiers all the time is the result of the parents. As a parent of an 8 month old and a daycare provider, I only allow my daughter and daycare kids to have their pacifiers during nap time. Of course as soon as their parents come to pick them up they want their pacifiers. It's funny how kids will know that there are different rules with their parents and different rules with me.
As for the other part of your concern, does he really need to switch to the next size right now? My daughter still uses the smallest size Nuk, but I also rotate with another brand, so she is comfortable with different types. It may be a little late to start introducing new pacifiers, but it is worth trying. Then, by the time he may need the bigger size, he will be able to use any pacifier.
Good luck!
I would just toss the pacifier. My kids were easy to wean: one day they just stopped wanting it. My parents said I was a stubborn one to wean, though. Finally one day they just tossed it, and after 2 days of crying at the top of my lungs, I'd fall asleep on my own.
Personally, I'd take this time to make the transition, but if you and he aren't ready for it, then by all means, write to Gerber and see what can be done about it. They may have more left that they aren't putting in stores and may be able to send you some. Good luck!
M.,
I will tell you some AWESOME advice. If you let your baby have ANY "habit" past their 11 month old Birthday, it will be something that they will become terribly attached to and harder to break. Stop the pacifier by then and any "blankey" holds by then.
Seriously, this is when the brain starts working a lot harder and learns habits....and makes them harder to break.
Good Luck!
J. ;-)
If I were you I'd just get rid of it. They say that kids don't really NEED it past the age of 6 months for real soothing. I guess if he's going to complain anyways I'd let him complain about not having one instead of complaining about a different one. My oldest one had one until she was 3 and then we went to Walmart and used it to "pay" for the Barbie of her choice - worked beautifully :o) After the age of 1 she could only have them in her crib though so it wasn't an all day addiction. None of my other kids have them because I didn't want to repeat my previous misery. Nothing worse than a child that can't find one of her 10 nuks in her crib crying during the night for you, LOL.
Good luck,
J.
I agree with the statement that it is harder to wean a child from anything after a certain age. The older they get, the more they 'want' it than 'need' it. My son was really easy to wean from formula to milk and a bottle to a cup. We did that right after his 1st birthday. He's 17 months now and still takes a pacifier at night and at naps. He doesn't care about the pacifier during the day, unless he sees it. Once he sees it, then he will throw a fit until he gets it (of course he doesn't get it). We have now given it to him when he goes to bed, but when it falls out, we take it away and he goes the rest of the night without it. We'll get there, but it will be alot harder than it would have been a few months ago.
I would call Gerber directly, they might be able to help you with that as long as they weren't
"recalled" for a safety issue. 8 months seems a bit early to wean, I don't think my daughter could have handled it, babies suck to soothe themselves. But, I'll bet if you think he's ready and you can be consistent, you could probably stop the pacifier use in a few days.
www.kidsurplus.com has these in stock, just search for Gerber Gentleflex and it comes up with a bunch of them. :)
Don't be afraid to contact Gerber directly about the situation. I've never been a big one to complain, but I have on occasion and have gotten results. I complained to Carter once about a jacket that was over a year old, the seems had ripped out and was in poor condition (my son was not hard on it). I was able to return it and get it replaced, not what I was going for. I just wanted them to know that I was disappointed in the quality.
I have contacted Gerber in the past about a replacement part for their sippy cups. I wanted to know where I could get one and they wrote back with a list of stores plus they sent me 2 of the parts I needed. So Gerber might be able to help you out a bit. You never know unless you ask.
If it is getting a little easier for your son everyday to go without the pacifier, I would try to wean him at this point. Experts say to try and wean by 1 year, but if your baby is starting to be weaned already, I would go with it. I am dreading the time when I need to wean, because my daughter loves her binky for sleeping. If he can't go without, I would wait a little longer and decrease the time everyday that your baby can use it. Good luck!!!
My daughter's doctor said wean her completly by age 2, and I know I hated seeing little kids walking around with nuks in their mouths. Then some parents start to let them start to talk with them in... to me it's gross. My daughter was easy to wean, but I think it had a lot to do with the way I did it. A lot of times it is hard to stop something cold turkey (adult or child), and little ones really don't understand your reasons why you are taking something they love away. I gave her a nuk only at bedtime and naps for as long as I wanted until we were ready to completely give up (shorter for you since it is for lack of a pacifier your son likes, my goal was 2nd birthday). Then one day I threw all of them away, but did not let her see them. She cried an hour before falling asleep, a half hour the next night, and naps were harder (but naps were always hard with her) but by night three she didn't care anymore.
well you can either keep spending money on nuks that he is not going to like or you can just keep using the one that he has and only give it to him when he does down for a nap and bedtime. thats what i started to do and its working great. my daughter is going to be 9 months on thursday. she has no problem with it. she doesnt really desire it unless in her crib. or u could also cut the tip off the pacifier and then he wont have any interest in it because that suction he is depending on will be gone. i tried that too but couldnt get away with it at night. thats why i do the nuk at night. sorry if none of this helps.
