The Pacifier!

I have a 3 year old and a 2 year old who use the paci at sleep time, so I would say it's OK. If you're concerned, ask her doctor. GOOD LUCK :-)

Hi J.,
I have two boys (almost 4 and 18 months). My first really didn't care much for the paci until he was about 6 months old. I got scared since he started to really like it and took it away. It wasn't that hard because he really hadn't gotten too hooked on it yet. My secound one is a different story. He had bad reflux and the paci was a great comfort to him from the beginning. Every time I would try and take it away he would start to suck his thumb alot not just when he was going down to sleep. So decided that I would keep him on the paci since breaking him from the paci would be easier than trying to break him of his thumb! He is still uses that paci in his crib while going down for a nap (He doesn't seem to sleep with it).
I'm not going to worry about it for now. I called a pedi dentist and they told me that it won't be a problem until he was around 4 or 5! So I;m not too worried about it. If she was running around the house with it while she was playing (speech delay) maybe I'd cut her back but since it's only for sleep I wouldn't worry.
C.

Take the passy away...it will start doing damage to her teeth at that age. That's why I had to do with my son. Take her to a ped dentist & get a mouth guard for the night time. Good luck!

I have to agree take the pacifer away. My two year old grinds her teeth and the dentist said it is very normal. She has stopped doing it as much so I think there is an end in sight.

Hi J.,
We had hard time brakiong my daughter from the passy ! She was 3 1/2. She never had a blanky or stuffed animal she liked just the passy ! She only had it at bedtime and naptime. She also grinded her teeth. She is 5 now and has never had a cavity and has beautiful teeth. She get sd her teeth cleaned every 6 months and my DD siad it was fine for wher to have it as long as it was the orthodonic type. She also spoke early and speaks advanced for her age and she is hardly ever sick, so I think either way it is okay what ever you decide. However I found the longer they have it the harder it is to break the habit!
Good Luck,
K.

My daughter did not have a favorite doll or blakey either. Always her paci. When she was sick and could not breathe out of her nose good and only used her mouth to breathe she did not want her paci cause she could not breathe and suck on it too. Also we made a little cut in it so it takes away the suction from it and she would just take it out of her mouth and look at it and throw it to the ground. After that if she did not see it she would not want it and is good now without it. I don't personally think it is a big deal for them to have it when they have their baby teeth still but might as well try now to get it away from them. So cut it.

My FIL is a dentist and I asked him if grinding teeth is normal for a 2 year old (my little girl did it for awhile as did her cousin, both 2 as well). He said it is fairly normal and won't do any harm at this age. Hope this info helps!

Take it away, she may not feel good b/c off the passy. They carry germs. Plus your stopping her from trying to talk, early. They are good for when they are little. I understand when you want to prevent something you went through but keep in mind she will be just fine.

My daughter started the grinding at a 18 months and stoped around two. She will grow out of it....if she doesnt then see the dentist for a mouth guard.

I would take it away...it is not good for them to have it past two.

My DD only has during the times you said yours is as well. She is about to turn to and i am trying to get her off of it as well. Since she wants it most when she is teething and or napping i am thinking of replacing it with a Chew Tube.

Good luck!