Hi everyone,
I'm a new mom and I have a 4-month-old baby. The pediatrician suggested that I introduce a pacifier to my baby to soothe her when she's upset. However, I'm not sure how to go about introducing it without creating a habit that's hard to break later on.
Additionally, for those who have experience, what are some tips for breaking the pacifier habit when the time comes? I don't want my baby to become overly dependent on it and have difficulties giving it up.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Hello everyone,
As a mom to a toddler who used a pacifier, I wanted to share what worked for me when breaking the habit. At around 18 months, we started noticing that our daughter was too dependent on her pacifier and had trouble sleeping without it.
To break the habit, we first started limiting her usage to only naptime and bedtime, and then gradually started taking it away during naptime, followed by daytime use, and eventually completely. During this time, we offered other comforting alternatives such as a lovey or stuffed animal.
One thing that helped us was also involving our daughter in the process. We explained to her that she was a big girl now and that the pacifier was for babies. We kept the process positive with lots of praise and encouragement when she made progress, but also remained firm when it was time to eliminate its usage.
I hope this helps, and remember that each child is different, so it's important to find what works for you and your family. Don't hesitate to ask for advice or support from your pediatrician if needed. Good luck!