Nursing went smoothly right from the start for Rexann Brew, but she soon noticed that even when her baby wasn’t tongue forward, which can affect formation of the “s,” “z,” “t” and “d” sounds.
Fortunately, a baby’s urgent need for sucking usually starts to wane after about 3 or 4 months — the perfect time for parents to be more selective in offering a pacifier. “If they’re not asking for it, put it away. Out of sight may be out of mind,” says Bogan.
In fact, it may be easier for children to kick the habit if they’re using a pacifier than their fingers. Brew thinks so. “Pacifiers put more control in the parents’ court when it comes time to give something up like that,” she says. Her Anna is a case in point. At the age of one-and-a-half, she still uses a pacifier, but, with her parents’ help, she’s already learned to leave it in her crib for nighttime and naptime use only.