There are many benefits of an infant having access to a pacifier. Pacifiers can be used to soothe a fussy baby, satisfy a child's natural sucking reflex, and some scientists now say that pacifiers may help protect against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, prolonged use of a pacifier can also cause dependence, tooth decay and interference with breastfeeding.

If you have decided that it is time to wean your child off their pacifier, this process can be eased by following the steps listed below. Before you start, you should brief your entire family and any frequent household visitors about the process. Everyone should be consistent in the weaning process so that the child does not become confused or overly frustrated. This task can take anywhere from a few hours to a few months depending on the level of your child's dependence on their pacifier. Some children even wean themselves off of pacifiers naturally, though many children will be resolute in continuing to use their pacifiers and a source of comfort. Although weaning a child from a pacifier can be difficult, remember that this process is necessary as your child begins to cut teeth.http://www.babyzone.com/baby/nurturing/article/pacifier-pros-cons-pg2\ref>

Making your child a part of the weaning process can help empower them instead of making them defensive or possessive of their pacifier. The following are common methods of convincing your child that they should voluntarily relinquish their pacifier:

• Set a Deadline: Let the child know that on their next birthday (or other close holiday) that it will be time to give up their pacifier. They can use their pacifier as much as they want until that point, but afterwards, they must put all of their pacifiers in a special bag for the pacifier fairy. Although some children do not respond well to bribery, you can remind them that they will be getting presents on their special day, but only if they give up their pacifier.http://gomestic.com/family/10-ways-to-wean-your-child-off-the-pacifier/
• Donate: Tell your child that there are many babies out there that need pacifiers. Help your child round up their pacifiers to donate to all of the sad babies in the world. Once you round up all of your child's pacifiers, toss them in the trash when your child is not around.
• Sticker Chart: Create a glittery sticker chart with the days of the week on it. Allow your child to pick a sticker to put on each day that she goes without using her pacifier.http://smartmomma.com/Toddler/wean_pacifier.htm

Pacifiers soothe a child by indulging their natural sucking instinct.http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/should-i-let-my-baby-use-a-pacifier/\ref> When you decide to wean your toddler of their pacifier, remember that they are loosing a way to cope with environmental and emotional stress. To help them develop new coping mechanisms, it may be helpful to replace the pacifier with a safe, comforting toy. Some good examples are:

• A special blanket
• A stuffed animal
• A soft toy

If a child does not replace their pacifier habit with a comforting relationship with a toy or blanket, they may begin sucking their thumb or chewing soft objects. Both of these activities can carry the same dental and developmental risks as pacifiers. To speed the process of transitioning between a pacifier and another toy, you can use the toy as a bargaining chip to get your child to agree to give up their pacifiers. Alternatively, you can hide your child's pacifiers and give them the toy whenever they are looking for comfort. This way, they will begin to associate their new toy with comfort instead of looking to satiate their sucking reflex.

There are many children that actively resist giving up their pacifiers. Here are some additonal methods that have worked for parents:

1. Read a pacifier cessation book such as "The Binky Ba-Ba Fairy" by Heather Knickerbocker-Silva.http://gomestic.com/family/10-ways-to-wean-your-child-off-the-pacifier/
2. Cut the end off of the pacifier. Often, once the suction mechanism is gone, children no longer see the benefit of using it.http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/social/how-to-wean-child-off-pacifier/
3. Stop offering pacifiers during playtime, and begin only offering them at night. Slowly decrease the amount of time your child has access to their pacifiers.http://www.ehow.com/how_4556061_wean-child-pacifier.html
4. Set up play dates with older children that are not using their pacifiers.
5. Some parents find success in going "cold turkey" from pacifier use. You can expect a lot of tears with this method, but the child will eventually adapt to other ways of coping with stress.
6. Talk to your pediatrician. They may be able to help you find methods that will work for your child. They will also be able to ascertain whether your child is experiencing any negative side effects from their pacifier use. You can also talk to your child's dentist who can tell you if your child's pacifier use is causing tooth malformation or rot.