Pacifiers: In or out?

My New Life

Pacifiers are so convenient… until they’re not. At some point, there can be concerns about developing teeth and interference with speech, and weaning a child off a pacifier can be challenging.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and speech and language therapists recommend starting that weaning process between 6 to 12 months, and weaning entirely before a child’s third birthday.

To guide us through that transition, My New Life host Jessica Rolph welcomes Dr. Amy Conrad to today’s episode. Dr. Amy is a mother to a 10-month-old, a Lovevery customer, and the host of the Ask Doctor Amy podcast.

Highlights:

[1:19] Dr. Amy talks about the pros and cons of pacifier use.

[3:42] What red flags should parents be looking for with regard to pacifier use?

[5:52] Dr. Amy shares her thoughts about the paci fairy approach.

[7:25] If a child is using a pacifier all through the day and at night, is it advisable to wean them from the pacifier during awake times, and then eventually extend that to nap-time and finally bedtime?

[8:38] Can we revert to pacifiers when a child gets sick or during a trip?

[9:30] What about gradually shortening the tips of the pacifier?

[10:40] How much of a concern is tooth decay, and how and when should we wean our child from the bottle?

[11:08] What are some signs that your baby is ready for a drinking cup?

[12:31] How and when to use sippy cups, open cups, and bottles?

[13:52] Jessica shares her takeaways from the conversation with Dr. Amy.

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