When To Replace The Pacifier

When is the right time to replace your child’s pacifier? Babies will often drop their binkies and you can’t always just pop it back into their mouths. Not to mention, those dropped binkies have a habit of disappearing throughout the house. Pacifiers are generally safe for your child to suck on and when used at night, can prevent SIDS. However, a pacifier that is close to it’s limit presents as a choking hazard. This is how you know it’s time to replace it.

Age Appropriateness

A pacifier comes in two main size based on the age of your baby. After the turn six months old, replace the, with one that is sized for their growing mouth. You should look for pacifiers that are one-piece with soft nipples and are dishwasher safe. The shield should  also be 1 1/24 inches larger and have ventilation holes. If your child older than six months is chomping down on a pacifier that is too small for them, it poses as a choking hazard. This is when it’s time to replace it.

Wear & Tear

You should always monitor a pacifier that is frequently used by your child. If you see that it is discolored or torn, throw it away. You will see weak spots mostly around the base of the nipple. This can cause it to break in your baby’s mouth, posing as a choking hazard. Check the nipples properly and if it’s bad, throw it out and replace it with a new one.

Considerations

You should really take into consideration how often your child sucks on their bink. If you only give it to them at night to help prevent SIDS or self soothe them, the pacifier should last longer than normal. You should also consider storing it properly to keep it away from nasty germs and the elements. You can do this with the 4-in-1 pacifier holder by Nissi & Jireh. It features a handy pouch in a visually stimulating plush toys belly. This will help keep the child focused on the toy more than the pacifier itself. It comes in three cute animal designs right now, but there are going to be more down the line such as a duck, giraffe, owl, pink elephant, ladybug, and sheep. This will also keep the binky from disappearing like my son’s used to all of the time.

Tips

When you find one that your child really likes, stock up on them. This way, they will always have an extra. You can also store the extra in the 4-in-1 holder as well. If you have a baby who is really attached to their bink, make sure to keep the same exact one around and throw the old one away when they aren’t looking. You should also make sure there’s a clean one stored somewhere while you are out and about in case the drop it on the ground.