Pacifier weaning is a struggle for many parents. Some toddlers are firmly attached to comfort items, also called transitional objects, like a blankie or stuffed animal, and take them along everyone they go, pacifier is a comfort item that can cause speech and other medical issues long term. The attachment to a comfort item usually begins when young toddlers recognize that sometimes mom leaves the room and is away for awhile. To deal with the anxiety and stress of situations like mom putting them to bed and leaving, many babies and toddlers who are comforted by sucking use a favorite binky. Other toddlers may get attached to a favorite blankie or stuffed animal and use it for comfort when stressed or at bedtime. The attachment to a transitional object is actually a step towards independence. Not only has he decided for himself what to be attached to, he is also building coping skills and learning to comfort himself. For many toddlers, the attachment can be so strong that no one can get the blankie away to wash it and it is a disaster when the favorite binky breaks.
Though it may be annoying to keep up with that favorite blankie, there is no reason to take away the favorite blankie or stuffed animal from your toddler, as long as it is being used for comfort just at bed time or on long trips. You may need to help him understand why he can’t take it with him to preschool, so try reading some children’s books on this topic to him. If he resists, don’t worry too much. When he sees his classmates don’t have their blankies, he will probably be willing to leave his at home too.
Pacifiers are a different story since there medical reasons why pacifier use should not be extended much past 18 months. One of the biggest reasons is that pacifier use may interfere with the proper development of speech. Some parents have their toddler leave the binky for the ‘binky fairy’, while others just wait until binky wears out and they don’t replace it. Either way, pacifier weaning should be completed before the age of two.
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