Problems with extended paci use?

[doublebk]

My middle dd still has her paci. She will be 4 in November. She is ONLY allowed to have it during bed (and she doesnt nap anymore). The reason we havent completely taken it away is that she has night terrors. She is up 2-3 times a night, EVERY night. That is the one thing she just needs to sleep with. Maybe we are a bit afraid to take it away too bc that is the major thing that helps her calm down. Do you think it is a big deal?

[ShyDaisi]

I don't see a problem at all...I would let her have it.

I might be a little concerned after she gets her permanent teeth (depending on how hard she sucks on it, it could affect her teeth), but considering she only uses it at night to sleep, I doubt it will hurt. She apparently needs it, so I wouldn't take it away.

[Leah52]

I don't have a problem with it. We recently made my 3 yr old daughter quit cold turkey because she kept losing them and any attempts to wean her slowly just didn't work. We got tired of her walking around the house screaming "Where's my PACI?!" I wish we could have let her keep it at bedtime though but she lost the last two she had so it was better not to buy more.

I sucked my thumb until I was 8. I didn't have any problems from it. I did have braces later but it wasn't from the thumb sucking and most pacifiers don't mess up your teeth like thumb sucking can.

[TalkinBoutMyGirl]

I've been contemplating letting DD keep her paci but I don't know yet. I don't see a problem with it only being used at night.

[jbaxter]

It can cause an open bite. The teeth dont close together properly in the front. Its not a big issue and is correctable with orthodontics. there are suture lines in the mouth ( like in the head) that grow as your child grows. When there is constant pressure from a thumb or pacifier the teeth/mouth grows that way.

[momof3boys1girl]

my almost 3 yr old still has one and we havnt taken it for the same reasons. it is his comfort "item"

[smom050811]

Other than whats listed above, I don't know of any problems. She might give YOU problems when you take it away from her, but for now if she only uses it to sleep and comfort her at night, I don't see the big deal. You gotta do what you gotta for everyone to get some sleep!

[Emma]

This makes me feel better about Ivy using her paci. She's 3 and only uses it for naps and bedtime (though lately I've been lax and have let her have it during the day on the weekends b/c DH is deployed and it's her comfort item). I'm glad there are others who's children are still using pacis at 3 and 4 yrs old.