While a pacifier or finger is helpful now to satisfy your baby's urge to suck, she will outgrow this around the ages of 2 to 5 years old. At that time you can prepare her to find comfort in other ways like singing to herself or holding a favorite stuffed toy. The American Dental Association (ADA) says that sucking on a pacifier or a thumb can cause equal kinds of damage after the permanent teeth come in. The ADA says that when the time comes, it’s often easier for children to give up a pacifier than to give up thumb-sucking. Try other ways to comfort your baby like rocking, singing, and gently rubbing your baby's body. If you use a pacifier, use it safely. Replace pacifiers frequently because they can fall apart. To avoid strangulation, do not put a pacifier on a string or ribbon around your baby's neck. If you child does use a pacifier, always wash the pacifier if it falls on the floor.

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