A baby is not only a joy for parents, but also a lot of trouble, taking up all your free time. Feeding, entertaining, telling a fairy tale before going to bed - all these are standard responsibilities of each parent, but when to wean a child from a dummy - the question is not so simple. Indeed, for him, this thing is the most interesting and soothing. Thanks to the dummy, parents can rest for at least 5 minutes, then to meet the needs of their child with renewed vigor.
Why does the baby get used to the nipple
The newborn has several reflexes, the main of which is the sucking. In fact, it is because of him that the baby can develop normally in the future.
Some babies calm down when they are applied to the chest, so they can safely do without a dummy. But there are some babies who do not know how to control the reflex and pull anything in their mouth if there are no nipples. With such restless babies, parents have much more trouble, because the chances of introducing the infection into a small organism are quite large.
Often there are situations when you need to wean a child from a dummy, but the child does not agree to this in any way. Doctors presented three main problems in which it is very difficult to part with your favorite nipple:
- Malnourished kids. This category includes babies who, from birth, did not have enough breastfeeding or were completely absent. Because of this, the sucking reflex cannot be satisfied in a natural way, and the craving for the "subject of sucking" is becoming more and more.
- "Flukes". Recently, only 3-4% of such individuals have been found. In fact, such children are special, because they learn the world with the help of taste sensations. They like to put toys, paper and any other objects in their mouths - this is their natural need, which must be met.
- Surviving an injury. If the baby had a chance to survive a long-term illness, then it can quite stick to the nipple, because it calmed him in the most difficult times. Therefore, even after recovery, the dummy remains for the child the best and most faithful friend.
In general, the baby gets used to the dummy for various reasons, but what time to wean a child from a dummy is something each parent must understand independently.
Is the dummy harmful
As already mentioned, not all parents can easily wean a child from a nipple. Therefore, the question arises: "Is it necessary to wean a child from a dummy in general and does it harm?". Too caring mothers are afraid that in the future the child will have problems with speech and he will not be able to correctly pronounce all the letters of the alphabet. In addition, there is also another precaution, which consists in the growth of ugly and crooked teeth, which, in the opinion of the parents, will be promoted by the nipple constantly located in the mouth.
In fact, doctors do not confirm these theories, although there is another precaution - children who are used to a dummy are not at all interested in the world around them, so they can grow up self-contained and less sociable than other children.
The theory of crooked and ugly teeth is certainly not true, but a bite can go bad quickly. Therefore, doctors recommend weaning off the child not only from the dummy, but also from the fingers that children often suck, replacing the selected nipple.
What is forbidden to do in the process of learning
Not only young, but also experienced mothers can make a lot of mistakes during weaning. Therefore, before you understand at what age to wean a child from a dummy, you should find out what should not be done:
- spoil the nipple (often parents try to cut the dummy, bend it, hold it on fire, etc. All this is done in order to make the child unpleasant to suck it and unlearn it from it on its own. But few people think that the child can accidentally bite off a piece of spoiled soothing object, which is quite easy to do, and swallow it);
- lubricate the dummy with food additives (the worst weaning method is lubrication of the nipples with mustard, pepper or salt). Here, out of love for one’s own baby, one can’t even speak. After all, not every adult can tolerate such additives. Moreover, a small organism is not adapted to such tastes. As a result, the child will experience a violation of the taste buds function, throat spasm and edema. A lubrication with sweet additions will spoil your teeth and only cause even greater craving for a dummy);
- shout at the baby (if the child can’t calm down and demands his nipple, then you should not raise his voice at him. After all, the child feels the anger of his parents and begins to be naughty even more);
- to wean during the period of illness (when the baby suffers the disease or teeth begin to cut, a dummy is a universal way of help. In such periods it is strictly forbidden to limit the child in a dummy, because this can lead to irreversible consequences).
If a relapse occurs
Weaning from a dummy is a rather complicated process, so you need to know all the nuances so as not to harm the baby. Many parents have already decided for themselves when it is necessary to wean a child from a dummy, but not all of them have considered possible complications, often appearing after a successful weaning.
The most common cases - the child behaves calmly in the next couple of days, and then again begins to demand his friend. At the same time, the psychological state worsens, and the child's persistence is becoming stronger. If he does not cease to be irritated without a dummy for 10 days, then you need to buy a new one and after a while again repeat the weaning.
When you need an emergency rejection of a dummy
Despite the fact that parents, with the help of doctors, determined the exact time when to wean a child from a dummy, emergency cases may also appear.
In these situations, you do not have to wait for the “right day”, you will have to act quickly and as efficiently as possible. For example, already a fairly adult baby does not want to let a dummy out of his mouth and is very annoyed when it is lost, you should act immediately:
- Explain the situation. Without swearing and laughing, it is necessary to tell the child in a calm tone that the nipple harms his teeth, does not allow him to speak normally, and so on.
- Accidentally forget the “sedative” at home and the whole family go, for example, to visit relatives or friends. In this case, the child will have to accept the loss, because he will not have the opportunity to go home and take her with him.
- Cut a small part of the nipple (but so that the baby could not bite off a piece and swallow it), and then explain in a comic form who and how ruined it.
The best time to learn
The most suitable time when weaning a child from a dummy, parents often decide on their own or consult a doctor. If there are no neutral situations, then you can start the process at any time, but this should be done smoothly, without harming the still unformed nervous system.
Studying before the age of 2 years
The period when it is better to wean a child from a dummy begins with 2 months. From this moment to six months, the first signs of complete readiness for failure are formed. The best option is to get rid of the nipple for up to 6 months, which will ensure the absence of many unnecessary problems. Adhering to several proper rules, you will see that weaning will pass quickly and successfully:
- If a sedative is required only when it is in full view of the child, then the process of weaning can begin immediately.
- You can replace a dummy with motion sickness, songs, fairy tales, or any other actions that will calm you in the same way as the nipple previously did.
During the period from 6 months to a year old, the energy overflows, therefore, during deprivation of the nipple, all actions will be directed to its return.
To avoid trouble and worsen the situation, you should adhere to the following rules:
- During this period, drinking from a special children's cup will help to forget the skills of sucking, and you can also start feeding not from a bottle, but giving food on plates.
- Giving a pacifier is allowed only at the request of the child himself, just do not show it.
- Frequent games and walks will take the baby and he will forget about the need for a dummy in his mouth. Interesting and educational toys can even contribute to the fact that the dummy will be passed from children's hands to adults without any resistance.
If the baby has already celebrated his first full birthday and he is one year old, then you should not be upset. This period is also favorable for weaning, but more efforts will have to be made.
Parents should understand that it was they who showed their child a dummy, and after all, the baby trusts these people most of all and during the weaning period cannot understand why his best friend began to spend less time with him and why he became so harmful.
In the period from one to two years, the children are kind enough, so we can start the training by offering to share a dummy with a passing dog or give it to another child.
After 2 years
Sometimes it happens that wean from the nipple did not work out when needed. Weaning a baby from a dummy after two years of age is not always easy. The easiest way is a regular conversation in which you need to mention the need to leave the dummy in a playful way. If this option does not bring success, then you can regularly reduce the time spent by the nipples in the mouth. It will take more time, but the result will be successful.
Family help
How and at what age to wean a child from a dummy - has already been said above. But these methods may not be enough if the whole family does not take part in the process. Each family member invests in the development of the child something of his own, which will help him to develop further. Therefore, weaning from a dummy should take place with the participation of the whole family, in compliance with all the rules.
Psychologist's advice
The recommendations and advice of professional psychologists will help in those moments when it will be necessary to wean a child from a dummy. For example, requiring a pacifier, being in an active state, the child says that the cortex of his brain is tense and she urgently needs relaxation. Therefore, the dummy will prevent the memorization of information. In such situations, you need to distract him from the calming object as soon as possible and begin to explore the world with the baby.
Recommendations of experienced mothers
Not all parents know how much to wean a child from a dummy, so they are interested in other mothers who have already passed this difficult period. Some managed not even to accustom to the nipple, so these children could control and abandon it themselves. Others advise starting the learning process from 5 months, because it is at this age that the sucking reflex starts to fade away by itself. The main thing here is not to miss the moment. Parents also note that it is necessary to distinguish between the crying and screams of the baby when he needs a sedative or if something just hurts him. Indeed, a dummy often distracts a child from pain, but then there are health problems, getting rid of which is very difficult.
In order for the baby to grow up healthy and less capricious, it is necessary to spend more time with him. Then his development will strive upwards, together with his parents he will make discoveries and grow up to be a full-fledged and interesting personality.