Does your little one fall asleep with a pacifier in their mouth and wake up when it falls out? If you put the pacifier back in quickly, do they go right back to sleep?
If it’s only happening a few times per night you may be perfectly fine being on pacifier duty. If, on the other hand, you’re popping it back in 10 or 15 or 20 times, you may be ready to teach your child to fall asleep without it.
The thought of taking away such a sure fire way of soothing your child to sleep may seem overwhelming. You may be especially ambivalent if you’ve read the AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines recommending pacifier use as a way to reduce the risk of SIDS. Like so many decisions that parents face, informed choice is key – weighing the pros and cons carefully will help you decide what’s best for your child and your family.
Even though it may seem daunting, eliminating the pacifier for sleep is usually not as painful as you may think. You can definitely expect a few rough nights as your child finds other ways to relax and fall asleep, but in conjunction with a sleep coaching plan that offers generous amounts of verbal and physical reassurance – hugs, holding, patting, etc. – you can minimize tears and offer loving support as they learn to sleep without it. Read the entire article here.
No comments yet.