Okay so I am sitting at McDonalds working since I couldn’t stand not having Internet at home anymore and I saw two sisters come into McDonalds to use the bathroom. One girl was maybe 3, the other was at least 6 or 7. My boys are 4 and 5 and I could not imagine them still using a pacifier! I cut them both off by their 2nd birthday, but I can understand up to 3 with a pacifier. Clearly though a 7 year old should not use a pacifier! What is wrong with their mother!? Oh and I should add that the girls came in by themselves to use the bathroom while the mother double parked in the Drive-Thru lane (yes people honked and maneveured around her) waiting outside for them.
Here is my little guy when he was 2, with 2 pacifiers…I didn’t want to take a picture of someone else’s child so I don’t have a picture of the 7 year old girl with her pacifier.
So I ask, what age do you think it becomes inappropriate (or just strange) for a child to use a pacifier?
Lisa @ Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy says
I think four is too old but mine didn’t use them past a couple months. That little girl on Toddlers and Tiaras with her pacifier freaks me out
Stacey says
My daughter is 2 and a half and still using her pacifier. We only give it to her at naptime and bedtime, though. I have tried to take it away but to no avail. We talked it over with the pediatrician, and she said that it’s fine for her to still be using the pacifier at those times. She also said that although it is recommended that they give it up by 2, some kids are just not ready. We are expecting another baby in October, and we were advised that we either need to get rid of the pacifier before baby comes or after everyone is settled. It would not be a good idea to take it away while she is getting adjusted to the new baby. I am hoping to get rid of it by the time she turns 3.
All of that being said, a seven-year old with a pacifier is definitely weird.
Cher says
She’ll probably take the baby’s paci a few time anyways, that is what my little guy did with his sitters 🙂
Bonnye Sensenig says
ummm 7 is too old for sure!! I agree 2 or 3 is acceptable…but after that, they need to find a better way to self sooth!
Cher says
Good point!
Tracy p. says
When they are able to talk
Cher says
That is a good point!
Melanie Johnson says
I don’t think they should be used past 6 months at the latest. There is really no need after the first few months. After that it’s just a habit. Anything over two and I get all judgmental, lol.
Of course, I nursed until Kinsley was three so some might think that is weird too.
Cher says
Wow, I can’t imagine nursing an active 3 year old 🙂
Melanie Johnson says
It was only at night. So I wasn’t getting ninja kicked in the face or anything, lol. 🙂
Cher says
I don’t know, my boys are pretty wild at night, in their sleep!
Kayla @ TheEclecticElement says
I was never a pacifier baby, but I guess my sister was up until she was 4 or 5. Then when we were headed somewhere on a long car trip she just up and tossed the thing out the window and that was the end of that. Lol
I’m torn between the kid feeling comfortable for as long as they wanted and them growing up being teased-I don’t know which is worse. I suppose it could be a to-each-their-own kind of deal?
Cher says
Too funny, I can picture a little girl throwing a paci out of the window!
Jenn M says
So funny yesterday in Walmart there was a little girl around 6 with one in her mouth. My son 5 started laughing and pointed saying “momma that little girls is sucking a pacifier.” I rushed him on by, but he knew she was too old. I then had to remind him it’s not nice to point and talk about ppl. Neither of my boys cared for them but, I would say 2 to 3yr.
Cher says
That is definitely hard to explain to kids!
Maryam Z says
Well, to be honest, I think 2 is old enough when it comes to using a pacifier. I don’t see how some parents allow their children to still use one at such a late age. That reminds of this one time when I went to an appointment and there was a mother pushing her 8-10 year old in a stroller. And then when she sat down she was feeding her child cheerios like he was a baby/toddler. I thought that was ridiculous…
Cher says
Wow when my 5 year hops in the stroller it is hard enough to push!
Maryam Z says
Lol, same here. I don’t get people sometimes….
Michelle jadaa says
Once the child has teeth i cut them off because it becomes a choking hazard and can actually cause the teeth to move outwards.