When you child is between sixteen and eighteen months old

Many parents only begin to wean their children from the pacifier at this point. However, if you have followed the previous plan of action, you are way ahead of the game. By this point there are hundreds of potential toys that could replace the pacifier as your toddler’s must have item. Most of these items are also much better for your child’s developing mouth and teeth. If you have been practicing toy rotation, your child should have locked onto a favorite toy by now. In addition, your child probably also has a favorite blanket. Use the favorite toy and the favorite blanket in tandem to break the pacifier habit once and for all. During the day, continue to keep the pacifiers hidden. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to throw them out (they are inexpensive enough to replace if you must). If your child communicates to you that she wants a pacifier, give her the favorite toy instead. If that does not work, use the blanket. At first, your child will probably react by throwing the blanket or toy right back at you. Since you have been rotating both pacifiers and toys for several months now, however, it should not be long before your child gets used to the idea that there is more to the world than sucking on things.

Naptime and nighttime may remain more of a challenge. However, by sixteen months, your child is developing some impressive communication skills. Though children talk at different ages, there is much more to communication than talking. Use this to your advantage by setting up a ritual where your child picks out a favorite blanket and/or stuffed animal to take to bed. You can convey to your child by this age that a pacifier counts as a bedtime item. If you have been effectively rotating pacifiers, your child will quickly begin to choose the treasured toy over the pacifier. Once that happens, that battle is usually over and you have won.