My DS3 still uses a pacifier, whereas my DS1 and DS2 both gave them up when they started teething (much to my dismay at the time! 
). DS3 will be 3 at the end of the month (eek! Not sure where the time went!). He is supposed to only have the pacifier in bed, but seems to be tired a lot and will go get it and either snuggle in bed with it and his special blankie, or sit on the couch with it. He will also wander around and play with it in, but we do our best to have him put it up (or give it up) at those points.
This is his only opportunity for sucking now, as he's weaned during this pregnancy as my milk dried up. (Of course, now that I say that, he'll try to nurse tonight!) He obviously took more to the pacifier as he weaned, whereas there had been times in the last year or so that he could go days and days without (he just nursed more!).
I am definitely of the mind that a child will have his/her own needs for sucking and I don't want to take that away from him. (I was one who sucked fingers for ages and ages and would probably *still* find it soothing if only my teeth hadn't been all straightened out.
) BUT, I do worry about his teeth. I am not sure if what I'm seeing is normal or if it's a result of him using the pacifier too much.
DH took this great pic of DS roaring like a dinosaur the other day, which shows all of his teeth. I am not sure if the gaps between the top two and bottom two are increasing, or if this is totally normal. Obviously, it's not drastic at this point, so I'm wondering if it's worth doing *anything* about, even if it IS creating movement.
Our baby is due in 2.5 months and I'm very curious to see whether or not DS tries to nurse again. I think having the pacifier has helped him remember how to suck (even if it's somewhat different), as he occasionally tries to nurse again (and then tells me it's all gone). I hesitate, on the one hand, to take the pacifier away (like, perhaps by his 3rd birthday in 4 weeks), but also wonder if he'll need it... And, most of all, I worry about it doing long-term damage.
So, mostly I'm needing to know how to tell real issues from it versus normal development or inconsequential issues. Anyone know?
). DS3 will be 3 at the end of the month (eek! Not sure where the time went!). He is supposed to only have the pacifier in bed, but seems to be tired a lot and will go get it and either snuggle in bed with it and his special blankie, or sit on the couch with it. He will also wander around and play with it in, but we do our best to have him put it up (or give it up) at those points.This is his only opportunity for sucking now, as he's weaned during this pregnancy as my milk dried up. (Of course, now that I say that, he'll try to nurse tonight!
) He obviously took more to the pacifier as he weaned, whereas there had been times in the last year or so that he could go days and days without (he just nursed more!).I am definitely of the mind that a child will have his/her own needs for sucking and I don't want to take that away from him. (I was one who sucked fingers for ages and ages and would probably *still* find it soothing if only my teeth hadn't been all straightened out.
) BUT, I do worry about his teeth. I am not sure if what I'm seeing is normal or if it's a result of him using the pacifier too much.DH took this great pic of DS roaring like a dinosaur the other day, which shows all of his teeth. I am not sure if the gaps between the top two and bottom two are increasing, or if this is totally normal. Obviously, it's not drastic at this point, so I'm wondering if it's worth doing *anything* about, even if it IS creating movement.
Our baby is due in 2.5 months and I'm very curious to see whether or not DS tries to nurse again. I think having the pacifier has helped him remember how to suck (even if it's somewhat different), as he occasionally tries to nurse again (and then tells me it's all gone). I hesitate, on the one hand, to take the pacifier away (like, perhaps by his 3rd birthday in 4 weeks), but also wonder if he'll need it... And, most of all, I worry about it doing long-term damage.
So, mostly I'm needing to know how to tell real issues from it versus normal development or inconsequential issues. Anyone know?
)when he gave his up on his own. DD1 has all of her adult teeth now and you can't tell that she was a binky sucker for so long. She does have a gap but it is genetic and she has to have her frenulum removed for braces. (every one in DH family has/had the same thing), but she doesn't have the binky bite anymore.
