Comfort sucks

Experts advise that children should be weaned off the pacifier from age two onwards
theSun, 30 Mar 2010


There are children whose ‘best friends’ are their pacifier. They go everywhere with it and only the pacifier can soothe and calm them in times of distress. They need it when they go to bed and for some, to remain asleep.

While the pacifier is not an entirely a bad thing to give your child, it would be a great challenge to wean him off it once he becomes too attached to it.

As the child’s natural instinct is to suck on something for comfort, the pacifier comes in handy as opposed to sucking their fingers, thumb, or the corner of a pillow or blanket.

Experts advise that the use of a pacifier should be discontinued after the child turns one.

At that age, his developmental needs do not include sucking, and by age two, he would have developed "higher level strategies" to manage his distress.

Dentists advise that pacifier use be discontinued after age two as it could affect the alignment and bite of the child’s teeth.

There are many ways to wean your child off the pacifier. The cold turkey approach could seem harsh while the gradual approach works on reducing pacifier use until a time when you can tell your child that it is ‘lost’ or ‘given away’.

Here are some suggestions I have compiled from several parenting websites, forums and other souces:

» Strictly bed time
During stress-free times such as when the child is at play, do not allow him to suck on it. Freeing him from the pacifier will also give him more opportunity to develop his speech.

Leave his pacifier in his cot and tell him it ‘lives’ there and nowhere else so that he uses it only when he is in bed. Do not allow him to use it when he takes naps during the day.

Gradually, limit its use to alternate nights, then stop giving it to him altogether.

» Cut off its end
Once they discover that it feels different, or when you tell them it does not work anymore, they may decide not to use it.

» Discard on special day
Choose a day such as his birthday and prepare him with the idea that he will stop using the pacifier from that day onwards.

Or tell him that his pacifier will not work any more after his third birthday. Then cut the pacifier.

Or when a special occasion such as Christmas approaches, tell him that if he gives his pacifier to other babies who need it, he will get a special toy for Christmas.

» Stop when he is sick
When your child comes down with a stuffy nose or cough, he will feel discomfort or will not be able to breathe if he sucks on the pacifier.

Take this opportunity to take his pacifier away from him.

After he recovers, you may tell him that the pacifier is ‘lost’. Distract him with some toys, books or other activities so that he will forget about the pacifier.

Whatever method you choose, it will take a lot of patience and strength not to give in when the child cries a few nights in a row because he cannot go to sleep without his pacifier.

If you give in, it will get harder and harder to wean him off the pacifier.

Teething blues

Take the bite out of this painful phase for both baby and parents theSun, Tues, 9 Mar 2010


Most babies start teething when they are about four months old. The first teeth that sprout are the lower incisors, the ones in the middle. The corresponding upper two incisors will then follow.
The last ones that sprout are the molars and, by the time they are two or three years old, they would have received their full set of 20 primary or milk teeth.

This teething period could be a trying time for the child and parents, especially the first-timers. Some children may go through their teething phase with little fuss, while others may experience pain, become irritable, refuse to eat and have problems sleeping.

When my child started teething, she began to drool a lot and liked to bite anything she could get her gums on, like her toys and our fingers!

Wipe your child’s mouth with a soft face towel to prevent the drool from causing rashes. Provide him/her with teething rings to play with and bite. The pressure on the gums when they bite will help alleviate the pain.

You can also feed your child some cold pureed food or yoghurt, and rub the gums gently with your clean fingers.

According to childcare books and articles, it is advisable not to prescribe any form of painkillers or oral numbing gel unless you have checked with your paediatrician first.

Some children may have loose stool, a mild fever or even diarrhoea when they are teething. These symptoms, however, may or may not be directly linked to teething. The jury is still out on this one.

In popular parenting website BabyCenter.com, paediatrician and author of The Baby Book William Sears said: "Teething can cause diarrhoea and a mild diaper rash because your baby’s excessive saliva ends up in his gut and loosens his stools. Inflammation in the gums may cause a low fever."

In the same website, paediatrician T. Berry Brazelton, said such symptoms are probably due to an infection unrelated to teething, but that the stress associated with teething could make your child more vulnerable to infection right before a new tooth appears.

It would be best to let your paediatrician take a look at your child if such symptoms persist and if your child’s temperature exceeds 38°C.

As far as caring for your child’s gums and teeth is concerned, just keep them clean by wiping them with a soft, wet cloth. Get a soft brush with which you can clean your child’s teeth with some water.

You can also use infant toothpaste that does not contain fluoride, making it safe for babies in the event they swallow it. Toothpaste with fluoride should only be used for older children who know how to spit. Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

If possible, establish a routine for the cleaning of your child’s teeth and gums. This will help the child develop good dental habits as he/she grows up. Include brushing and flossing in your bedtime routine.

Avoid giving milk or sugary liquids after cleaning. Bacteria that exist naturally in the mouth will react with the sugars, forming an acid that causes decay.