Time to Ditch the Binky?
I mustache you a question, is it time to ditch the binky?
Pacifier, paci, binky, plug, or whatever you may have chosen: the most important tool out there (aside from the mother’s breast) used to pacify a baby at any point throughout the day and night.
As Sleep Consultants, we are usually all on the same page in regards to offering a binky at the earliest age of a child’s life to use as a comforter and a soother when feeding is not needed.
Nonnutritive sucking on a binky brings a calmness to babies and can put them into a complete state of relaxation (especially when all of their other needs have been met.) This helps teach them how to fall to sleep on their own, and can aid in allowing them to get themselves back to sleep independently.
Of course, binkies also have their place when a baby is fussy or loud. Parents like to put the binky in as a “plug” since babies can’t scream as loud when they have it in their mouth.
But what happens when your child is old enough to be walking and talking complete sentences while the binky hangs out of their mouth? Or when they get mad in the middle of the night and throw it out of the crib and cry because they know you’ll come back in the room to rescue the beloved binky.
It’s time to ditch the binky!
So when is the right time to take it away?
There are many thoughts out there regarding this very question.
From a dental aspect, and as a registered dental hygienist, I would advise you to wean your child from that binky before their permanent teeth come in which can be as early as 5 years old. Once their permanent teeth are in, sucking on a binky (or a thumb) can cause misalignment of not only the teeth, but also the jaw and the palate.
However, as a parent who has been through this “season” myself, I recommend it WELL before the age of 5 years for a few reasons.
Binkies are great at the infant stage for comforting a child when they are learning how to relax. But once they have learned this valuable skill, they won’t need the prop. Once they are in their toddler years, you can encourage them that they are now a big boy or girl and the prop is no longer needed.
As a parent, we are going to be setting boundaries and rules for our children their whole lives. This is just one of many rules. If you want them to be done with the binky by the age of 2, then make the plan and stick with the plan of being done by the age of 2.
If you’re going to take it away now or then, why not pull the band aid off early when they have less chance of being emotionally connected to it?
Feel free to pick an age and time that works for you and your family to start the process. A good first step is to only allow the binky in the crib or otherwise sleeping. I would also recommend keeping a spare binky handy for other special occasions like air travel or doctor appointments, etc. when you are concerned about your child falling apart in public. (Of course, you want to be careful to not make too many exceptions or the child will come to realize they can have it whenever they want.)
So you’ve decided it’s time. How do you do it?
You can decide to go cold turkey and throw all of the binkies away. Good luck with that though! Be prepared to purchase a new “rescue” binky.
Try cutting the tips of the binkies off. This prevents baby from getting the same suction they were used to. They will still “suck” on it, but it won’t feel the same and they’ll likely start to get annoyed enough to give up on it on their own.”
Or you could all of a sudden mysteriously start “losing” them. Not all of them. But most parents that use binkies, have at least 14 available. You can dwindle your collection so that they are not so readily available.
Talk to your child. Tell them how proud of them you are for becoming such a big boy/girl and that they can’t go to preschool with a binky so you have to get rid of it. Offer to take them to the store to purchase a new toy instead? There’s nothing wrong with a little bribery!
