New research from the team here at MummyPages has found 30% of mums have regretted their decision to give their child a soother.
 
While 20% of parents decided to introduce one as a preventative measure against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and 80% were trying to pacify their little ones between feeds, 52% faced a big struggle to wean their child off their beloved possession.
 
With 85% of mums opting to give their little ones a soother, you can be sure there are plenty of tried and tested methods when it comes to taking it away.
 
40% of preschoolers give their soother to Santa Claus, proving to be the preferred method for Irish mums, while 11% give theirs to the fairies. 7% of children are encouraged to pass their soother on to a new sibling or cousin and 14% of mums simply took the soother, explaining that big girls and boys don’t need one.
 
We were impressed by the patience of one-quarter of mums who gradually take their child's soother away, moving from the day to night over a prolonged period. We were even more impressed by the sneaky 3% of mums who cut the teat on their little ones’ soothers so that they were less enjoyable to suck.
 
(Insider Tip: 61% of mums found success by offering their child a reward along with their preferred method of removal!)
 
MummyPages research also found that a third (34%) of Irish mums reported feeling ‘judged’ by other parents if their child still used a soother past their second birthday – a finding that really disappointed us as we believe mums should support each other. Over half of toddlers in Ireland are using their soother past their second birthday with 30% give up before they turn three.
 
If you’re worried about the length of time your child has been using their soother, Child Attachment Specialist, Joanna Fortune from Solamh says: “I think it is perfectly ok for children to use transitional objects like [soothers] for as long as they need them.
 
“However if you feel it is causing them social discomfort or marking them out in their peer group, you can chat with your child about how the soother/blankie/toy is just for bedtime and should stay in their bedroom during the day.”
 
Commenting on the research our Mum-in-Residence Laura Haugh says: “Soothers are a popular pacifying tool for many mums. Some parents prefer not to give them to their children… However, a large majority of our mums say that giving their baby a soother has been a lifesaver to help keep them happy in between feeds, to help them sleep, and to soothe them during periods of teething and sickness.”
 
When it comes to weaning your little ones off their soothers, she says: “Christmas is the ideal time for older children to give up their soother as you can prepare them well in advance. This makes it a more positive experience where they are eager to please Santa in order to get on the ‘good list’ and receive the gifts they have asked for.”
 
If you’ve welcomed a new baby into the world, read about the pros and cons of soothers here. Alternatively if it’s time to say goodbye to your toddler’s favourite thing, read our soother weaning tips here.
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