When Should My Baby Stop Using A Pacifier?

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend limiting or stopping pacifier use after 6 months to reduce the risk of ear infections.

The use of pacifiers is associated with an increase in ear infections, especially between the ages of 2 and 3. But this is not an inviolable rule.

Many children use a pacifier even in preschool, and usually stop on their own between the ages of 2 and 4.

But if your child shows no signs of stopping, they may eventually need the help of a dentist to wean off the pacifier when they are about 3 or 4 years old.

Prolonged use of a pacifier can cause orthodontic abnormalities in your child’s upper teeth, ie they can lean forward and require orthodontic treatment later.

Dr. Penny Mitilineou
Χειρουργός ΟδοντίατροςDental Surgeon
Specialization in Orthodontics