Is the pacifier becoming a safety issue?

[April Dawn]

My 20 month old son loves his paci.  He pretty much uses it most of the time.  I've been ok with that in the past; he's not one to go charging into new things and is pretty cautious, and having the paci seems to comfort him when he's stressed and help him deal with everyday frustrations.  But today, he started chewing on it and nearly chewed the tip off!  I am worried that it's a safety issue now for him to have one.  So I took it.  But he's been crying all afternoon and evening for it.  :(  Should I take it cold turkey?  Only allow it for bedtime?  Buy all new pacifiers in case the one he chewed was just too old (I've never worried about tossing them in 3 months like the package says).  I had intended to gently wean him from the paci when he's older - I had never intended to force the issue with him, but now I am wondering if I have to for his own safety.  Thanks for any suggestions!

[tzs]

it's also an issue at that age with oral development/speech development. i had two 22 month olds in my class this year that supposedly needed their pacis all the time...when the EI teacher strongly suggested we ease them out of it we thought it would be a tough road. 

turns out all we needed to do was casually pop it out of their mouths in the am and they were fine. i think all teh adults thought they needed it more than we gave them credit for. every so often one of them would have a tough moment (a bump or fall or be really tired) and want their paci but all we had to do was tell them they;d get it at nap time, give some snuggles and then redirect and voila. they did still get it at naptime so i think there was the trust there that they would have it when they needed it.

[darjeelingmomma]

That would concern me too. I haven't been in that situation however I think now that you've jumped in you should stand firm. Lots of cuddles and snuggles and redirection and I'm sure the dreaded pacifier will be forgotten in no time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by April Dawn 
 I am worried that it's a safety issue now for him to have one.  So I took it.  But he's been crying all afternoon and evening for it.  :(  Should I take it cold turkey? Thanks for any suggestions!

[curiouscanadian]

My DS sill has a paci, but it was about your son's age (or maybe a bit earlier) that I started making it only for nap/bedtime use or if he was super upset/hurt. I was most concerned about DS's verbal development as a pp mentioned, but didn't want to cold turkey him either. 

If nothing else, I think at 20mos your son would be able to understand if you tell him that pacis are not for chewing and you could start taking it away (and/or offering a teether) whenever he starts chewing on it.

 Quote:

 Should I take it cold turkey?  Only allow it for bedtime?

I could see how taking it cold turkey would be rough for him, so I would personally return it, with limitations

(I suspect that if given the chance your son will quickly learn other ways to comfort/calm himself in everyday situations.)

[K1329]

If he continues to really miss it, I, too, am a softie and would give it back and allow it for bedtime/certain situations. My ds uses his at bedtime only, or, when he's especially tired in the evening. He's fine with not using it at preschool and during the day. If your ds continues to chew it, I agree with the pp, tell him its for sucking, not for chewing on. They probably won't "work" once he's chewed them, and, he might stop chewing on them for that reason, too.

[April Dawn]

Thanks for the advice.  I ended up buying some new pacis (just in case the silicone on the old ones was wearing out and making it easier to chew through).  And I gave him one at bedtime.  He was just not going to go to bed without it.  I also gave him one at naptime and bedtime today.  I am trying to tell him "The paci is for when you sleep" but he's pretty mad about it, honestly.  :(  He was really unhappy when I took it after his nap and I felt like a big meanie.  But I think I will stick to him having it for nap/bed only.  As some of you have mentioned, it might cause a speech problem.  At 20 months, he still only has maybe 10 words, and he uses those very infrequently.  He hardly ever says anything.  So maybe getting rid of the paci will help with that too!

[springbride]

 

A couple of months ago I started only giving DD (19 mo) her paci at bed/nap time.  The first few days she'd get pretty mad when I'd take it from her, but it has turned into a game with her, when I go get her out of her crib she knows that she has to hand it over to get out.  When she's upset about it I usually pull out one of her favorite books and it is quickly forgotten.