Why stop using a pacifier?
First, we don't feel guilty! It's tested and approved by many parents, the pacifier calms, comforts and can even make them wait before the meal. A baby has a physiological need to suckle: the cause is the endorphin secreted during sucking. It is therefore a good way to give them a feeling of security, especially in the event of their parent being immediately unavailable. On the other hand, by facilitating self-soothing, the child learns to fall back to sleep alone between two phases of sleep. Of course, this is only valid from the moment your baby knows how to grab objects. Who hasn't woken up several times during the night to go and put back the lost pacifier? A pacifier can also turn out to be a small nest of germs (oops...). At Cocoeko we have found the solution for this, we offer you a pretty and practical pacifier clip: discover our models in double cotton gauze marsala, camel, or even with a “pear” pattern in organic cotton and always oeko-tex! It will be useful in many situations: in the car (who has never contorted themselves to catch a pacifier that has fallen on the ground?), on public transport or on the train (the ears of other passengers generally appreciate it), at the nursery, your child's pacifier will stay with them! And if your child has to put it in a bin full of other cuddly toys, slip it into a double cotton gauze pouch, or even into a separate bag, labeled with their name.Easier said than done… How can I help him stop?
When is the best time?
It becomes necessary to say goodbye to the pacifier when the molars appear, around the 24th month. “ Should I really take it away against his will ?” Some child psychiatrists, such as Yvonne Coinçon, a member of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (API), say that we should not deprive a child of his pacifier but set limits: using it should not be systematic and it is only psychologically inconvenient if the child isolates himself. We often ask ourselves: “ What if I take the pacifier away too early, will my child suck his thumb? ” The answer is a priori no, if he has never had this habit. “ What if we were the ones addicted to the pacifier?” As parents, we sometimes have an unconscious tendency to give the pacifier a little too easily: in all waiting situations (car journey, shopping, doctor's office, etc.) and - let's admit it - to effectively resolve a tantrum that is about to break out. The pacifier is for us the easy solution. How many times have you given it to him without him asking for it? When he is asleep, does he systematically have it in his mouth? How insistently does he ask you for it? (for example, if you suggest to your child to go and get it himself, he may give up on the idea on his own). As you will have understood, the first thing to do to help your child stop is to first change our habits as parents!
The best solution? Take it step by step
Step 1: Reserve the pacifier for bedtime
For some children, the pacifier is an essential part of the bedtime ritual: it is impossible to fall asleep without it. It is obvious that we will not take it away from him overnight. On the other hand, you can adopt the reflex of taking it away from him when he is asleep from tonight. (if he does not already do it on his own!)
Step 2: Negotiate with your child
Because things are going to change and your child needs to understand this, you absolutely must have an adult-to-child discussion to explain why. Of course, your child will not be at all receptive to your economic, aesthetic and practical arguments. You will therefore have to be very subtle, and for that, books are precious allies. I have selected two different ones for you (of course, there are others) with a big favorite for the second one (it's said!) With the hero of all children “Little Wolf No Longer Needs a Pacifier” : “Little Wolf takes his pacifier everywhere; yet, he is big now. His mom and dad would like the little wolf to get rid of it, but how can he do it?” Here, we love the adventures of Little Wolf. Sometimes, he even knows how to be much more convincing than us, parents! €4.95 
With a personalized book Adieu Tétine by HourraHero: Here, the heroes of the story are your children! Simply create an avatar of your child and select the desired stories. It only takes 5 minutes, watch in hand! And in the end, it involves the child more. €24 per book, about €30 with shipping. 
