Pacifiers are a helpful friend for small children. But as they age, many parents find it hard to successfully wean their child off of the security of the pacifier. A lot of debate has gone on about the benefits and drawbacks of using pacifiers.

Here are the pros:

1. Pacifiers can aid in the prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The sucking action helps wake an infant from a deep sleep that could result in the stopping of respiration.

2. They provide comfort and pleasure to infants. Babies can find a lot of stability and security by sucking on the pacifier.

And now a few cons:

1. Children over the age of 2 who are still using a pacifier can have teeth alignment issues. Bone development issues associated with sucking on a pacifier is normally corrected by about six months after a child is weaned off the pacifier, but pacifiers and thumb sucking, if left unchecked, can cause a lot of proper growth issues later in your child's left.

2. Sucking a pacifier could lead to painful middle ear infections. Auditory tubes are open a lot, which can allow secretions from the throat to creep into the middle ear. These secretions can move bacteria to the middle ear, causing infection. Watch your child for ear infections; if he is constantly having them, it might be due to a pacifier.

Allowing your child to have a pacifier doesn't have to be a bad thing; but they should be weaned before the age of two. A few ideas from knowyourteeth.com:

-Dip the pacifier in white vinegar

-Prick the nipple with an ice pick

-Cut it shorter so it isn't as fun to suck on

-Try going cold turkey if these other options don't work.