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.

Mentioned in this episode:

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