What Can I Use to Replace a Pacifier?

Don't give your toddler another object to suck as you seek to replace his pacifier. That will only delay the inevitable and change one bad habit for another. Coach him to relinquish the safety net willingly, with a variety of clever ruses. Use one approach for the do-a-good-deeders, another for the curious and yet another for the money-hungry tot in your family.

  1. Altruism

    • Shore up your son's self-esteem by giving him the opportunity to pass on his pacifier to a newborn in the family. Remind him that he is the "big boy" now and the baby is the new kid needing the pacifier, instead. Reward his act of altruism with lots of verbal accolades, and provide him with a food treat of his choosing for making the sacrifice. If your child suffers from lots of ear infections, he will be helping himself to give up the pacifier too, according to the Mayo Clinic, because there is a correlation.

    Exploration

    • Parenting.com recommends a unique approach for the scientist child in your home who needs to give up the pacifier. Spin the yarn that his pacifier is going to take a trip into space or grow flowers in your garden. His curiosity will help you wean him from his habit of sucking plastic. If he needs a visual, plant a flower similar in color to the pacifier, such as a marigold, to give him something to look at and watch as the days pass.

    Promised Treats

    • Your daughter may dig in her heels and refuse to relinquish the pacifier without a special promise. Play up the big day countdown when she will exchange her pacifier for an ice cream and cake day. Place pictures of cake and ice cream on the refrigerator at her eye level. Hang cutouts of cake and ice cream from her bedroom ceiling. Slip photos of the treat between her favorite book pages. Create a desire in her for cake and ice cream that exceeds her pacifier. She might decide she can't wait two weeks to give up the plastic for the pleasure.

    Money

    • Children are fond of candy, toys and money, but not necessarily in that order. Appeal to the child who prefers coins and dollars by telling him the Tooth Fairy has a cousin and her name is Paci, and she gives prizes for pacifiers left under the pillow. Expect to be asked how much the going rate is, and meet the negotiator's demands. It could be the best money you ever spend.

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