How to wean from a nipple in three years. Weaning from the nipples

As you know, sucking is one of the most important reflexes that should develop in newborns. It is this reflex that allows kids to receive nutrition. It happens that in some children it is developed too much, and they need not only sucking a breast or a bottle, but also a dummy.

Weaning a baby from a dummy is necessary only when it is not the parents who are ready for this, but the child himself. The desire to see a child as an adult or the pressure of the opinions of others should not guide the actions of parents trying to deprive their son or daughter of the item that the child often needs as air.

At what age do you need to wean a child from a dummy?

So, you decided that it’s time for your baby to become older and wean from the nipples. It is believed that the baby can throw a dummy only when he has completely switched to food from a common table. Until this time, that is, while he is sucking, even sometimes, it will be extremely difficult for him to refuse a nipple.

At each age, when weaning, you need to use your own approach:

at 1.5 years old, observation of the baby will tell you. If he is calm about taking out a dummy from his mouth for no reason, don’t give it away for a long time, maybe you should try to stop using it.
How to wean a child from a dummy at 2.5 years of age can be understood by asking the child, having agreed with him. Usually at this age, children can already communicate and understand the intentions of the parents and the consequences of abandoning the nipple.
How to wean a child from a dummy in 3 years will tell you the logic and the child himself. Agree with him that it is time to part with the dummy, explain why it is important, and what he will receive in return. Most likely, regular conversations on a topic of concern to parents will soon yield a positive result.

Weaning from a dummy in 2 years

Since it is much easier to wean a child from a dummy at 2 years old than at an earlier age, attempts to do this must begin precisely in this period. We will tell you how to wean from a dummy in 2 years. In this case, you can act in two ways:

Gradual weaning, due to which the time to use the dummy is gradually reduced and, in the end, is reduced to zero. You can start by not giving the pacifier during the day during active wakefulness, and giving it out just before going to bed.
A sharp parting with a dummy with the consent of the child. At two years old, the baby already understands a lot and may agree to hold a special farewell ceremony with this subject, which may consist of solemnly throwing it away or giving it to another child.

Studying a baby from a dummy is a difficult task requiring patience from parents. Sometimes it takes up to 2-4 months, but most children refuse a nipple for 4-6 weeks, subject to gradual weaning at a suitable age for this.

Many mothers do not know when it is recommended to take a dummy from a baby, and their decision is based only on public opinion. There are no strict age limits for weaning from the nipple, so you need to focus on the condition and individual characteristics of the child.

The main reason why children quickly become attached to sucking dummies is congenital reflexes, especially sucking. When the baby is born, neonatologists always check for the presence of the most important reflexes.

If the baby opens his mouth, trying to find and grab his mother’s chest, then his mental and emotional development will go right.

Newborn babies can suck anything: the tip of the blanket, pillow, finger. The latter option is dangerous with a high probability of infection, so if the baby begins to have such a habit, pediatricians recommend using a dummy.

The nipple of the correct anatomical shape reminds the mother’s breast of the baby, so the children fall asleep well and quickly calm down if they are given a dummy.

If the baby does not satisfy the need for sucking (for example, with short feeding), he can pull everything in his mouth: from bedding to dirty fingers. To prevent this from happening, and the child develops harmoniously, doctors advise using a dummy.

Why is the dummy dangerous: truth and myths

Statement 1. Children who suck a dummy quickly give up their breasts.

In fact: the technique for sucking a pacifier is different from the sucking of a mother's breast. In order for the newborn to receive back milk, rich in vitamins and fats, he must correctly take the breast: open his mouth wide, twisting his lower lip, and grab not only the nipple, but also the paranasal circle (areola).

When sucking a dummy, the baby's lips are almost closed. If the baby sucks the dummy for a long time and often, this leads to improper application, which, in turn, can result in a decrease in milk in the mother.

Some women after the introduction of the nipples can not establish lactation, and they have to transfer the baby to artificial feeding.

Statement 2. From sucking a pacifier the wrong bite is formed

In fact: modern dentists deny the connection between sucking a dummy and a malocclusion. In some cases, really children, accustomed to the nipple, later begin to pronounce certain sounds, but a direct relationship with sucking a dummy has not been proven.

Statement 3. Dummy - a source of infection

In fact: everything that gets into the mouth of the crumbs should be perfectly clean (even better - sterile). Toys, teethers, and soothers should be washed and boiled every time before use.

In practice, this is difficult to do, as the growing baby often drops the nipple in the mud or sand. If this happens on the street, some mothers consider it sufficient to pour water on the nipple and wipe it with a handkerchief, and then give it to the baby again. This can be dangerous to the health of the newborn!

A huge number of bacteria, including tubercle bacillus, which die only when boiled, live on street soil. Tuberculosis and other infections are dangerous for children of the first year of life and can be fatal!

Statement 4. Children accustomed to a dummy have little interest in the outside world.

In fact: and this is also true. If the baby’s nipple is constantly in the mouth, he doesn’t have a desire to cram something else and there’s no reason to wean it. Children of the first year of life learn the environment through touch and taste, so the need to gnaw something and try "on the tooth" is physiological and speaks of the correct and healthy development of the child.

In this video, Dr. Komarovsky shares with his mothers and fathers tips on how to wean a baby from a dummy, and what to do if parents cannot do this.

Why is it difficult to wean children from a dummy?

About 88% of children break up with a dummy hard. There are reasons for this. They can be physiological or psychological.

Physiological reasons:

the child is short of mother's milk, and he is trying to fool hunger with a dummy;
insufficiently satisfied need for sucking;
the baby’s teeth are cut, and the dummy helps him easier to survive the pain and discomfort of this period.

Psychological reasons:

with a dummy, the baby feels more confident and calmer, falls asleep faster;
a nipple for a little man is a “mother’s substitute,” so parting with her is always painful;
without a dummy, the child feels bewildered and helpless, because he does not know how to cope with his feelings now.

In order for the parting with the nipple to be painless, it is necessary to show increased tenderness and love towards the baby, since this stage is very important for him.

When can you wean from a dummy painlessly?

Each baby is individual, has its own character and preferences, so there can be no general recommendations about the optimal time for weaning from the nipple.

Pediatricians advise using a dummy until reaching the age of six months, as the sucking reflex of the neonatal period begins to fade by 6 months.

If it was not possible to do this at an early age, and the child is painfully experiencing parting with the nipple, you need to postpone attempts for some time, and then repeat the steps.

Strongly tighten with weaning from the nipples, too, is not necessary. By 2 years, the child must part with a dummy.

How to wean a baby from a nipple?

Up to 1 year

At this age, the child still does not understand that you can do without a dummy, so learning should be smooth and gradual. For this period, parents need to be patient, since it will not work out to wean the baby from the nipple.

This may take several months, but the peace of the crumbs and the stable emotional state are worth it. How to gradually wean a baby from a dummy?

When the baby is awake, it is necessary to constantly deal with it: play cubes, collect pyramids, just walk around the room and examine the surrounding objects. Especially useful in this regard are walks on the street. If the child receives many new impressions and positive emotions, the need for a nipple will gradually decrease.
Do not take a dummy for a walk. On the street you can show a crumb of animals, trees, flowers, passing cars, etc. His attention should be constantly busy with something (if he is not sleeping at that time).
At home, you should not leave the pacifier in a conspicuous place. It is better to clean it in a closet and get it only when there really is a need for it.
It is necessary to give the baby a pacifier after satisfying the hunger so that he does not develop the habit of replacing feeding by sucking a soother. This is harmful for development and can provoke nutritional abnormalities at an older age.
After falling asleep, you should not leave a dummy in the child's mouth. It must be carefully cleaned and left in the crib so that the child does not experience stress if he suddenly wakes up and does not find a familiar object nearby.
You can try to read fairy tales to your baby (in a darkened room) before going to bed. By 6-7 months, the baby is able to fall asleep without sucking a dummy if he hears his mother's voice.
Mastering the cup can also solve the nipple problem. The sooner the child learns to drink from a cup, the faster his need for nipples and bottles will disappear.

Weekly weaning plan

1 day. Remove the dummy during the day, providing the baby with interesting leisure and the constant presence of mom.
2 day. Do not give the baby a nipple after feeding - it is better to try again to offer the breast. Perhaps the child is crying because he is not full.
3 day. If the baby is sleeping on the street with a dummy, it is time to abandon it. It is advisable to go for a walk during wakefulness.
4 day. The actions of previous days are repeated so that the child gets used to and adapts to new conditions.
5 day. Throughout the day, do not give the newborn a nipple (until falling asleep).
6 day and 7 day. Try to lay the baby without a dummy (sing songs, read fairy tales).

Throughout all days, it is necessary to remove the nipple from the child's mouth after falling asleep (for a night's sleep). This is an important stage in the process of weaning a child from a dummy.

Up to 2-2.5 years

At this age, children are very sentimental, so the best option may be to give a pacifier to someone younger. It is only important to explain to the baby why it should be done, to say that it is already big, and Masha from the next apartment is still small, and she does not have a nipple, so she constantly cries and is sad.

If the kid perceives fairy tales more, you can tell him about the teddy bear, kitty or any toy that is at home, and come up with a plot with a request to give the dummy to the hero. Children usually love their toys and willingly take such a step, enjoying the act.

If the baby categorically refuses to part with the dummy, you should not put pressure on him, scream and ridicule. This can cause serious psychological trauma, and it will become almost impossible to wean a child from a dummy (up to 3, and sometimes 4 years).

Over 3 years old

If the child is already 3 years old, and he still sucks a dummy, you must act decisively. At this age, children do not have a physiological need for a nipple, so parting with it does not bring severe suffering. A sharp weaning from the nipple involves the complete isolation of a favorite subject from the eyes of the child.

Mom needs to talk with the baby and calmly explain to him that from now on he will not use the dummy, as he is already big, and such a habit can adversely affect health and development. It is important to speak confidently and firmly so that the child understands that this decision is final.

If the child begins to cry and be capricious, do not give slack and return the dummy to him, otherwise he will understand that parents are easy to manipulate, achieving the desired tears and screaming. This behavior usually goes away after 1-3 days, after which the child completely forgets about the nipple.

What can not be done?

You can not smear a pacifier with mustard or other bitter spices. This can cause spasm of the muscles of the larynx and a severe allergic reaction.
You can not raise your voice at the baby and be angry at him for the fact that he is still sucking a pacifier. The child is not able to understand the reason for mom's anger, which will cause fright and increase dependence on sucking.
You can not attempt to wean from the nipple during a period of illness, ill health or teething.
You can not cut the nipple. This is extremely dangerous, as pieces of latex or silicone can get into the baby's throat and cause an asthma attack!

When is emergency weaning required?

A sharp weaning from the nipple must be used in the following cases:

the child reaches the age of three;
hearing impairment;
delayed speech development, incorrect pronunciation of sounds;
retardation of general development, lack of interest in the outside world;
isolation in communication with peers;
appetite problems.

What to do if a child after weaning again takes a dummy?

Repeated accustoming to dummy sucking is most often associated with psychological reasons. Parents should analyze the situation in the family and identify the moments that negatively affect the emotional state of the baby.

Stress is also the reason that the child began to take a pacifier after weaning. Parental divorce, moving to a new apartment, fear - all this can lead to psychological discomfort and traumatize the psyche of the child.

Sometimes parents are not able to cope with this situation on their own, so in severe cases, you may need the help of a child psychologist. To restore a calm atmosphere in the family, you should avoid talking in high tones, sorting out relationships and other points that could frighten the baby.

Important! You can not swear and scream in the presence of a child. If parents have disagreements, they must be resolved without a child and in a calm tone.

After the cause of psychological problems is solved, you can try weaning from a dummy in the ways listed above.

Weaning from a dummy is a difficult process, requiring maximum feedback and patience of parents. For a successful result, you need love and tenderness - these are the main components of the baby’s peace and confidence, which are necessary for easy parting with a pacifier at any age.

A small child is not only a comprehensive joy and unlimited happiness of parents, but also a lot of worries and troubles that take almost all their free time from them. Feed, lay, walk, entertain, comfort - your head is spinning! Therefore, often, so that the baby gives parents the opportunity to take a break, they choose an “ordinary” nipple, popularly called a dummy, as an “ally”.

Days and months go by, the child with pleasure pulls the nipple in his mouth day and night, arranging tantrums about her absence, and mother finally understands: the time has come to wean the child from a dummy. But how can this be done if the baby actively protests against such a “bad” proposal? Indeed, he had spent days and nights with her, and now they want to deprive him of such a sweet and pleasant friend.

And here the real war begins! Mom scolds the child, trying to wean the child from a dummy, and tells him terrible tales: they say, if he does not stop doing this, his teeth will grow rare, like wattle, and the terrible Barmaley will bite his nose. Yes, only a child "listens, but eats", or rather, sucks, and is not going to stop friendship with a pacifier.

Moreover, he not only hides it under the pillow and in the stroller, but also “steals” the nipple in the yard of other babies. Seeing this, mothers clutch their heads, but they still can’t do anything!

So when is it necessary to wean a child from a dummy so that such problems do not arise? How to do it right? What mistakes can not be made in the process of learning, and what tricks, on the contrary, can help mothers on this difficult path? About this and much more in our article today.

Why is getting used to the nipple?

To begin with, let's figure out why a child is so attached to a simple dummy. The fact is that the sucking reflex is one of the main reflexes of a newborn, which is immediately checked by pediatricians immediately after the baby is born. After all, it is precisely in the sucking reflex that the baby’s further ability to develop correctly and even eat well and with appetite lies!

Most babies satisfy him when they are applied to the chest, and therefore calmly do without a nipple. But the rest of the children cannot control the reflex and begin to behave uneasily, pulling into their mouths everything that comes to hand: the edge of the blanket, a toy and even their own finger, thereby increasing the risk of contracting some kind of nasty infection.

What are the hardest babies to wean from?

It is impossible not to say about the category of children whose weaning from their nipples is not so difficult - it is simply impossible! Let's look at them in detail.

Underfed

"Flukes"

Let's say right away that there are few such children - somewhere around 2-3%. Their peculiarity is that they taste the world: either they put a rattle in their mouth, then a bear’s paw, or a piece of paper. This is not a whim, but a natural need that they satisfy.

Survivors of Trauma

After a long illness, the baby can become very attached to the nipple. In difficult times, she reassured him, therefore, after solving the "problems", he remained a true friend to him.

Is a baby's dummy harmful?

Some mothers are afraid that the baby who does not part with the dummy will face speech problems in the future, as it will be incorrect to pronounce the letters. Also, many of them suggest that the child’s teeth will grow crooked and ugly because of this.

What do the doctors say about this?

They do not confirm the original theory, but they warn parents about something else: a child who is used to a nipple is not very interested in what is happening around him, and therefore can grow up to be a rather reserved person.

And doctors say that a simple and innocuous-looking dummy can spoil a baby’s bite. Therefore, the mother should wean the baby not only from the nipple, but also from the desire to push fingers in her mouth and suck them (and this is sometimes much more difficult than fighting a dummy).

When to start learning?

As a rule, many babies themselves stop sucking a dummy when they turn a year or two. However, this is not worth rejoicing, because it is necessary to wean the baby from the nipple much earlier: from 3 months to a year.

Moreover, most children are completely ready to part with a dummy from 3 to 6 months of life, only mothers do not notice this. And, most importantly: during this period, weaning from the nipple is less traumatic for the child.

Therefore, if you notice that the child has ceased to be actively interested in the nipple, turning his attention to something more entertaining, but not harmful to his health, support his “decision” and hide the dummy away.

Four methods of rejection of the nipple

Today, there are several effective ways to wean a baby from a nipple.

Smooth failure: for children up to 1-1.5 years

Smooth rejection involves getting rid of a dummy in a few weeks.

According to this technique, it is necessary:

do not take a pacifier with you on the street;
hide the dummy away in the afternoon;
teach a child to drink from a favorite cup;
to occupy a child with exciting games;
to put a favorite toy in the child’s bed so that he feels protected;
do not leave the room until the baby falls asleep.

After some time, after taking the above measures, the baby will forget about his beloved "friend" not so long ago.

Abrupt rejection: for children from 1.5 years and older

A sharp rejection is a way to get rid of the nipples for babies who already understand their parents well.

For it to work, you must select one of the options:

solemnly hand the pacifier to the newborn baby. Since your child already realizes that he has become an “adult”, then giving the girlfriend to the little girl who needs her more will not be difficult for him;
send a dummy on a long voyage: she is so needed by a small fish or a gray bunny! After all, only a nipple can protect them in a dark forest from Barmaley;
throw the dummy out of the window or the trash. True, this option is not suitable for all children, but only the most calm and complaisant.

After the farewell to the pacifier takes place, you need to give the child something very good, while always noting that only independent children play with such valuable toys.

Weekly failure - is it possible?

Some moms share stories on forums on how to wean a baby from a dummy in just a week.

We cannot but tell you about this method. However, how effective and applicable it is for you, only practice will show.

Action Scheme:

Give the baby a pacifier for 5 days 2 times less than usual (not by 30 minutes, but by 15, not for an hour, but for half an hour).
For the next 2-3 days, offer a pacifier only at night. It is better to give it for a few minutes, and then replace it with a breast.

At the same time, do not “push” the baby’s dummy into the child’s mouth just like that, but only when he really needs it.

STOPPI for children from two years

Modern medicine has come up with another effective way of weaning from the nipple, which is simply called: "STOPPI" (STOPPI). This is a special orthodontic plate that you need to give your child in return for a dummy.

Manufacturers claim that only a few weeks of using this plate can permanently wean the baby from the nipple (the use of "traditional" soothers during this period is not allowed).

A small minus of “Stoppy” is that it can only be purchased in pharmacies, and it is suitable only for older children (2 years or older).

All children are different, and therefore there is no single recipe for weaning a child from a nipple. However, thanks to the observation of mothers and the experience of doctors, it is much easier to do this today than it was 50 years ago.

So, general advice on this subject would be:

Do not force the pacifier if it is not needed

If your child from the first days of life feels wonderful and without a dummy, does not pull a finger in his mouth and falls asleep well, the baby should not be imposed on it at all.

Communication is the mother of learning

If you will be able to communicate with the baby during the day, demonstrating the beauty of the world and its features, it simply will not have time for friendship with a pacifier.

To drink - do not harm your health

If you teach your child to drink from a mug about six months later, he will quickly master the swallowing reflex and lose the need for bottles and a nipple.

Bedtime Story - Problem Solving

If you tell your child tales before bedtime, then by the year the dummy can be replaced with a series of fascinating stories.

Daytime games are so exciting!

If the child plays during the day with cubes and pyramids, he will not be distracted by simple sucking.

Out of sight, out of mind

If you yourself do not persistently offer a pacifier to a child and begin to remind you of its existence, it may well forget about it in a couple of days.

What can not be done in the process of learning?

Some mothers on the way to get rid of the nipples make a lot of unforgivable mistakes. So, what can not be done in the process of learning?

Spoil the pacifier

In no case should you cut the nipple. Imagine what will happen if the baby takes a bite from this “daisy”? He will either fall into his stomach or cause a throat spasm.

Lubricate it with food compounds

Do not smear the nipple with mustard. Not every adult can endure this “muck” in his mouth, what can we say about a small child! Plus, it’s not entirely safe, since mustard causes edema and spasm of the throat in children.

It is also impossible under any circumstances to smear a dummy with syrup, because sweet not only spoils your teeth, but also causes a lot of addiction.

Screaming at baby

In no case should you yell at the baby if he urges the pacifier. The child does not understand why mom is so angry with him and begins to be even more mischievous.

Start learning during illness

And finally, do not deprive the child or begin the process of weaning from the nipple when he is sick or his teeth are cut.

What to do in case of "relapse"?

When you get rid of the dummy, be prepared for the fact that the child can prank a few days and get bored with his “girlfriend” again. Perhaps he will even begin to wake up at night and demand that she be returned "to her homeland."

If the vagaries will last a very long time (more than 10 days), and you will notice that the psychological state of the baby is becoming restless, just buy a new dummy for the child and after a while repeat the “weaning” procedure.

Do not be afraid that your child passes with a pacifier until retirement: almost all children by the age of 3 forget about a soother completely.

In what cases is an emergency rejection of a dummy necessary?

Excessive Nipple Attachment

Sometimes it happens that already a fairly adult baby does not let the nipple out of his mouth: day and night he procrastinates it and screams loudly, if suddenly he loses the dummy somewhere. In this case, an emergency response is necessary: \u200b\u200byou should not wait for a “suitable” period, it is better to start learning right now.

So, how to act if time is lost, but you still need to do something?

Explain the situation

Tell the child what harm the nipple does: it spoils your teeth, prevents you from talking, makes you drool ... Anything, just to let the baby understand you! Just do not scold him and do not laugh at him, pointing at the child with a finger.

“Lose” the dummy

Hide the nipple. Yes, it’s so simple - get out of sight and that's it. Get ready to visit your grandmother, and leave her at home. But the baby will not run after her through forests and fields?

"Spoil" the pacifier

Cut off most of the nipple (just don't cut it all!). The kid, taking the "bark" in his mouth, spits the nipple in perplexity: why did she become so full of holes? If the child begins to ask about what happened, explain: a big bear came from the forest, wanted to try a pacifier and bit off by accident.

Hearing or speech defects

Also, do not wait for the moment when the baby solemnly gives the pacifier in your hand and refuses it if he has problems with hearing or speech.

It is better to solve the problem once and for all, having suffered a river of tears and a week of sleepless nights, than to reap the fruits of your “compassionate” maternal labor.

To summarize

Weaning a baby from a nipple is that simple. Some babies at 1 year old find new interests for themselves and forget about the dummy after a week or two, while others and after months are still looking for a pacifier, rolling regular tantrums to their parents.

Therefore, the age at which you will wean a child from a dummy is individual, not only for each baby, but also for each family. Even cultural values \u200b\u200band traditions play a big role in this: if in Italy a four-year-old child with a pacifier in his mouth does not cause any surprise, then here in Russia, his mother will look askance.

However, when thinking about how to wean a child from a dummy, you should remember: do not follow the advice of neighbors and relatives in this matter. It is better to do everything so neatly and correctly so that the baby independently abandons the nipple and feels just amazing!

Many parents see in accustoming to a dummy a real salvation, since with it the baby calms down, falls asleep faster. But the time comes when you need to unlearn the nipple. In this article we will tell you how to wean a baby from a nipple or a dummy.

Why do I need a nipple?

Up to 6-7 months, the child actively wants to satisfy his sucking reflex. The best thing in this case is breastfeeding, which provides a full amount of sucking need. But the children who are on artificial feeding, need a dummy. In addition to a bottle with a mixture, an artificial baby will also need a nipple, which will help to fully satisfy the sucking reflex. Of course, the child becomes moody, cries if his sucking need is not fully satisfied. Vagaries pass immediately, as soon as the baby received the desired.

If the baby was not given his beloved pacifier, then fingers, cheek, surrounding objects with which the child can replace the pacifier can be used. Dentists note the harmfulness of such a habit, as this can lead to the development of serious bite pathologies.

Observance of simple rules will help reduce the risk of developing pathological processes and keep the baby right bite.

When to wean a child from a dummy

Attentive parents can see the readiness of rejection of the nipple in the child at 3-6 months. When the first signs for weaning from a dummy appear, you should begin to act. By six months, ideally, the child should learn to do without a nipple: this is the opinion of modern pediatricians and dentists.

Experienced mothers and grandmothers often invent a variety of ways to wean a baby from a dummy. But there are several important aspects that you should adhere to if you want to wean a child from a dummy:

do not smear the dummy with bitter seasonings and sauces to cause unpleasant sensations in the baby, as this can cause an allergic reaction;
if you plan to wean the baby from the nipple as soon as possible, cut it like a chamomile, while keeping in mind that the sharp edges of the petals can cause injury to the baby;
do not deprive a child without a dummy if his teeth are cut.

To wean a baby from a nipple, you need to choose the most successful time. The first thing we have already said is that you should not take the dummy if the teeth are cut in the crumbs. Also, the period of illness or any stress will be unsuccessful. If you have weighed all the moments and observe a calm period in the life of the family and the development of the baby, you can take the following actions:

If the baby falls asleep without a nipple and does not require it during motion sickness, and also if he does not remember the dummy before he sees this object, then he does not need to remind the child of him. As soon as you begin to notice that the baby was able to fall asleep without a dummy, you can reduce the time of sucking during wakefulness.
When you prepare your baby for sleep, distract his attention with a variety of jokes, songs, as well as other actions that will allow the child to forget about the dummy. It is good if the dummy becomes the last resort for falling asleep. Often the problem is that young parents do not have the patience to wait half an hour for the child to fall asleep himself and they give the baby a dummy. This forms a misconception in a child about rituals of sleep.
During wakefulness, try to hide the nipple as far from the baby as possible. Let his whole consciousness be occupied with walks, games, communication. Most children compensate for the carelessness of their parents with a dummy, so try to spend as much time with the crumbs as possible.

If the baby is already a year old, then from now on you should understand the following: for a child after a year, a dummy is no longer just a necessity - it is a toy, friend, or at least an association with the moment you go to bed. A strong attachment to the nipple creates psychological difficulties, therefore, mother should not listen to others who advise on how to wean a child from a dummy. It’s hard for a child to understand why he should abandon his favorite subject, why he suddenly became harmful, because before he received a dummy from his mother’s hands, and today they are giving it less and less.

The most important rule of painless failure is to wait for a successful moment. When the child is ready to part with the pacifier, you will need to act as quickly as possible, and first - prepare the soil.

How to gradually wean a baby from a dummy

Psychologists say that a habit is formed in 21 days. What does this mean in this case? First of all, that the child will need so much time to get rid of the dummy. Experts are confident that the gradual rejection of the dummy is the most optimal option and the least traumatic for the baby. How to smoothly wean a baby from a nipple?

Firstly, discard the dummy while walking and try to ensure that in the daytime, that is, during the period of wakefulness, the baby was without a nipple.
Secondly, stop on the development of the skill of drinking from a cup.
Thirdly, before going to bed, put your favorite toy in the crib for the baby. This will help the child to avoid a feeling of loneliness, which means that he will be calm and he will not need a nipple.
Fourth, be sure to wait until the baby falls asleep, and do not leave him for some more time. This will allow the baby to feel completely safe.

How to wean a baby from a nipple in 7 days

There is a nipple weaning technique that you must apply to your baby for seven days. The essence of this express technique is to give the baby a pacifier two times less than the first five days, and on the sixth and seventh day give the baby a dummy just before bedtime. You can alternate breasts with pacifier.

It is worth noting that if the baby is experiencing exciting moments, then he needs a nipple as a soothing. If the baby is not particularly capricious, then he should not shove this dummy unnecessarily.

If you see that the baby is uncomfortable without a dummy, you can give him a nipple for a few minutes, and then replace it with a breast.

Rapid weaning of the baby from the nipples

You can dramatically wean a baby from a dummy. The technique is to pick up the pacifier from the crumbs once and for all. Of course, whims and tears are possible, but this will not stretch the process.

Abruptly getting rid of a dummy is best for babies over a year old.

Prepare the baby for rejecting the dummy, there are many ways to do this:

Children love to be told tales in which they themselves are the main characters. Tell the baby the story of the helpless babies to whom the brave child gives his dummy and thereby saves them. If fairy tales do not give a result, you should “forget” the pacifier at a party and see how the baby reacts to it. If the child fusses, then the loss must be returned.
During falling asleep, it is undesirable to give the baby a dummy. Distract the crumbs from the subject, hide from the eyes. But if the child requires a pacifier, you should give him what he wants. Try to replace the dummy whenever possible, regardless of the emotional state of the child and his pastime. Set aside all your problems in order to devote maximum time to the baby. Often the baby uses a dummy to get rid of boredom, stress, problems, loneliness.
Other psychological techniques include fulfilling desire in exchange for a pacifier. You can talk about a fairy who takes a dummy in a corner of the house in exchange for what the child would like to receive. Thus, the baby initiates parting with the dummy, because he will not be offended by you if he is left without it.
You can cut off small pieces from the nipple, and tell the child that it is the animals that take the nipple to their babies. Soon from the dummy there will only be a ring and the child will be tired of using the remnants of the once beloved nipple.
You can ask the child to give his pacifier to children who are much less age. Explain to the baby that the youngest dummy is needed.

Such simple measures will help to wean the baby from the nipple with minimal injuries. At the same time, be prepared that the baby will wake up at night, cry, ask for a pacifier. To reassure the child, talk to him, sing a lullaby, stroke, you can give some water to drink.

If you notice the capriciousness and emotional instability of the crumbs for several days - buy him a new nipple and postpone the experiment for some time. It is worth noting that most children by the age of two or three simply forget about the dummy.

If you observe the dependence of the crumbs on the nipples, then you will have to make every effort to wean the baby from the nipples.

It is not recommended to take the nipple, prohibit sucking your fingers, to be on the baby's handles. You can pick up the vestibular plate with the doctor. It is made of elastic plastic, but the design of the plate is very similar to the pacifier. The record is suitable for children from 3 years old, and young children will use “Stoppy” - a substitute for the record. Its design is characterized by the presence of pads made of silicone. This contributes to comfort and ergonomic placement in the oral cavity. In addition, Stoppy also has a healing function.

How to wean a baby from a nipple using Stoppi?

The Stoppie vestibular orthodontic plate can be one of the salvation solutions if you have tried many ways to get rid of the dummy. The plate is made of hypoallergenic silicone. If you believe the manufacturers, it allows you to get rid of the dummy and correct the bite.

Among the other advantages of the plate are the prevention of problems with the development of the lower jaw, as well as the elimination of oral breathing.

A positive result can be obtained within a month. It is important that the baby does not take a dummy or finger in his mouth.

Naturally, a preliminary consultation with the dentist is required. It is a specialist who can determine the need for such a plate for a child.

Psychological aspects of weaning from the nipples

Oddly enough, but behind the sucking dummy is a psychological moment of habit and comfort. Psychologists name several important reasons that prevent a child from parting with a dummy:

the need for parental attention and care (first of all, we are talking about a lack of communication and a lack of parental love);
the baby does not want to become an adult, therefore it is very important to talk with the baby, to explain to him that he has already grown, you can also replace the nipple with a more interesting activity;
stress contributes to the fact that a child who is weaned from a dummy again began to suck it, most often this happens if the baby went to kindergarten - the nipple helps him remember about the house and mother;
stop feeding the baby from the bottle to minimize the associative row associated with the dummy.

Naturally, from the first months of life, every baby demonstrates its own character, because sometimes it becomes difficult to wean a child from a dummy. At the same time, it is necessary to look for an approach to the child, and if necessary, consult a psychologist. In any case, your actions should be deliberate so as not to injure the baby and weaning from a dummy has passed with minimal consequences.

What should not be done?

Many mothers and fathers make the same mistakes, therefore it is very important to know what actions only exacerbate the situation. So, what should not be done if you decide to wean the baby from the nipple?

Do not wean the baby from a dummy if he is capricious, does not feel well or changes have occurred in his life, for example, he gets used to the kindergarten;
If your baby is by nature an owner and very attached to the nipple, then you should not accustom;
Do not humiliate the child, do not call him a crybaby or a roar;
If you offer a gift in exchange for a pacifier, then let this gesture not become traditional;
If teeth are cut in the crumbs, do not wean him from the dummy, as this will contribute to the additional discomfort of your baby.

Video: Dummy: Pros and Cons

Weaning the baby off the nipples is often a very difficult task. Parents get used to it so much that the dummy saves you from screaming, reassures the baby that they simply miss the time of painless abandonment of the "bad" habit. And this period takes on the character of a turning point: the unconditioned reflex degenerates into a conditioned one, that is, all signs of addiction appear. Parents become aware of a mistake late, in two years, and therefore parting a baby with a pacifier becomes a difficult process.

Why does the child get used to the dummy very much: we analyze all the pros and cons

Sucking is a normal instinct of a little man. Some babies suck their fingers, others are delighted with pacifiers. But the question often arises for parents: is the dummy safe, can it somehow harm the child?
Nipples have both advantages and disadvantages. We decided to understand this in more detail, and turned to a pediatrician for advice. This is what the specialist told our correspondent.

The benefits of a dummy.

An indisputable plus is a way to calm the baby. With whims and excitement, she will relax and bring long-awaited reassurance to her parents as well. The simplest example is that a child cannot fall asleep. The best way is a nipple.

But the disadvantages of using a dummy are more:

early accustoming to the nipple is fraught with problems with breastfeeding. It is better to wait until the baby learns to take the breast, and then give the pacifier;
fast addiction, constant need for it. If the nipple falls out of the mouth at night, crying begins, as the baby becomes difficult to breathe;
frequent use of a dummy can lead to the development of infectious diseases of the middle ear;
use after two years causes tooth problems and leads to malocclusion.

Also, the pediatrician compiled a detailed memo of what you need to know before you start using the pacifier.

The benefit of a dummy exists only up to six months.
Do not force the baby to take the pacifier. If she fell out, the baby does not ask her back, then there is no need to take his initiative and insist, giving her crumb again and again.
Do not go to the trick (add sugar to the dummy) so that the baby begins to suck it.
It is necessary to observe the purity of the dummies, change them as often as possible.
Choice is a responsible matter. The best option is a nipple with protection and ventilation holes.
Dummy is an extreme method of sedation. Before you start using it is better to try something else. Change position, shake the baby, quietly sing him a lullaby.
Regular consultation with your doctor is advisable on when to stop using the dummy.
The optimal time for weaning is a period from six months to one year.

This instruction is a visual aid that will help in many situations using the nipple and make life easier for parents.

When do you need to start weaning a baby from a nipple?

Parents need to be careful to see signals that indicate the need to wean the baby from the nipple.

So, these moments include the following points:

the baby does not part with the dummy all day;
the nipple becomes a priority over communication with peers, relatives, that is, because of it, social communication skills are not acquired;
delay in speech development;
age - more than three years;
the child learned to use utensils - a plate and a mug. In this period, new aspects of life are discovered, new interests appear, therefore, the dummy fades into the background. The best period for weaning a baby from a nipple .

And, of course, the most optimal weaning age begins with six months. It is at this age that the innate sucking reflex dies away, and you just need to help the baby, gradually eliminating the dummy.

That's all the signs parents should see. There will be very little left - to overcome the period of rejection of the nipple without harming the emotional and mental state of the baby.

Expert advice: how to quickly wean a baby from a nipple

There are many ways, from the simplest and most gentle, to the harshest methods.
The pediatrician advised using the following methods.

Attention switching . You will need an ordinary rubber toy, a child will be able to play with it, as well as chew instead of a nipple.
Before going to bed, do stroking scratching, head massage, humming lullabies.
Gradual nipple cutting . Little by little, then more, and so on until the nipple begins to fall out of the mouth. Sucking such a sucker is uncomfortable, therefore, there will also be no pleasure from it, the baby will throw the dummy itself.

These methods are good for children from one to one and a half years.

Older, at the age of 2-3 years, children will no longer buy such tricks. The story method is more suitable here.

A simple example. The bunny ate the pacifier and thanked the little one very little. You can show the spoiled by accompanying this scene with a similar story. The main thing is fantasy, honest eyes and a convincing voice.
Another option is to go for a walk with the baby and give the nipple to the kitten or puppy, again, telling some story. If the requirements begin to return the item back, you can safely answer that the little one gave the suck. The main factor is voluntariness, the child himself must give, for this he must be praised.

There are many more methods, but these are the most effective. In any case, no matter what method you choose, you only need to tune in to victory. Kids are sensitive when their parents give up weakness and are ready to give up. Children can easily manipulate, so you only need firmness in the decision to wean a child from a dummy!