No one likes to upset their baby, partially because you feel bad seeing someone you love so much cry, and partially because tiny children manage to throw some pretty loud tantrums. A child’s grin looks adorable with or without a plug of plastic in front of it, but at some point it’s time for the pacifier to take its curtain call.
Although the idea of not having to feel around under the bed for a lost pacifier at 3 in the morning may be exciting, and your household budget would improve without a monthly line item dedicated to replenishing the binkie stock, it’s hard to know exactly when you should take the plunge and do away with the pacifier.
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Some dentists say age 4 is the cutoff for the pacifier, while some pediatricians would say to get rid of the binkie after age 1, and if you polled a mom’s group on Facebook for advice, you’d get approximately 346 different answers on the subject (and probably a couple of new cat videos thrown in for good measure).
Obviously, parents know their own child’s needs and temperament better than anyone else, and therefore you’re the only one who can really make the decision. But just in case you’re looking for some direction, here’s a handy dandy chart to help you decide when to bid adieu to the pacifier.
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So now you know whether it’s time to take away the pacifier. For those of you who determined you’ll be sticking with the pacifier for now, be sure to enjoy this peaceful time while it lasts. One day it will be your turn to go to battle against the binkie.
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