By Jennifer Kelly Geddes
The earlier you can get rid of the paci, the easier it will be, says Melanie Potock, a speech language pathologist and co-author of Raising a Happy, Healthy Eater. “There’s a period of rapid cognitive growth around age two which results in your child realizing that she has a bit of control over you and your actions,” she explains. So when kids hit those (sometimes terrible) twos, they’re more likely to protest paci removal. For kids who are 3, the attachment is more emotional than physical, so your approach can be rather matter-of-fact (see ‘Discuss broken’, below).
