Getting rid of the binky - Page 2

[verde]

My kid also hated the binky and never sucked anything besides when he was eating/drinking, so that probably colors my opinion.

I understand that you child didn't use a binky. Lots of kids don't and that's fine. But lots of other kids do and I don't think it's just an indulgence that can come and go at a whim. Some kids NEED to suck longer than others. And that's fine. Kids are individuals with individual needs. Why do you think that the need to suck is something that a parent can control?

I personally think binkys are hideous and seriously, once a kid can talk it's ridiculous to have them talking over a binky.

The ability to talk and the need to suck are two entirely unrelated issues. That's like saying once they can walk, they should automatically not need a diaper. I mean after all they can walk so they should, of course, be able to walk to the potty, right?

My mom and grandma as kindergarten teachers both had students who would not let go of their binkys and had big speech issues, so there's that.

Again, not necessarily related. Yes, I'm sure some kids who use binky's have speech problems. And lots of kids who never used a binky also have speech problems. The same with dental issues: some kids who wear braces used binkies and some kids who wear braces never used a binkies. There is not necessarily a cause and effect with braces or speech problems and the use of a binky.

[Surfer Rosa]

DS is 16 mos and still uses a paci. I don't like it, but I know it really, really comforts him, so I am sucking it up for the time being.

We do limit its use to bed and naptime, and have since about 6 months, when he got 8 teeth.

I polled my dentist and two dentist friends (one pediatric) about paci use and they all said it isn't a problem until age 4 or so, in terms of dental concerns (as long as paci use is limited to bed and naptimes, and not all day). This also supports what I've read online/in parenting books. Overuse of the paci can be linked to verbal delays (again, if kiddo has it plugged in all day), from what I've read.

If it's going to be emotionally challenging, I wouldn't push it just yet...maybe try a cut down, instead. I don't think our boys are old enough to get the "It's time to give the pacis to babies" speech yet, either. Good luck Monique!

[AmyKT]

My daughter is 25 months and I really thought we'd be done with the pacis by now, but we're not. She only has it out and about it she's really tired or stressed, and otherwise it's limited to home use. the one thing that does bug me is that I can't understand her when she talks with it. She talks fine without it, so I'm not sure it's hindering her speech terribly. It's just when it's in that I can't hear her. So I ask her to take it out and repeat what she just said.

For a while we limited it to the bed and that worked, but then something happened (can't remember) and she went back to using it more. So I fall squarely in the middle of this debate. I would like for her to give it up, but we're not pushing it. I figure she'll grow out of it eventually.