Should Baby Reach for a Binky?
Giving up Binky
There comes a time, when it can be detrimental to continue sucking on a pacifier.
Adverse dental effects can start to occur after 24 months of age, however the effects are more significant after 48 months. “If your child hasn’t dropped it, you’ll want to get rid of the soother around age three or four,” says Dr. Elliot. Underlying changes to the bone usually don’t start until around age four, and the hard palette isn’t fused until about age five. When a child sucks on a soother, it pulls the bone forward and the teeth follow. If the palette is still soft, it will go back once your child stops sucking. Once the palette starts to fuse, however, it becomes more complicated to fix any positional problems with teeth. Every child is different, so if you’re worried, talk to your dentist and she will be able to tell if your child’s palette has started to fuse.
If in doubt, do what works for you. “There are enough challenges as an early parent to worry about not using a soother,” says Dr. Saunders. If it calms your child, go for it.
