The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), agrees non-nutritive sucking is normal for babies and young children and recommend weaning from the pacifier by age 3. It's believed that throwing out that paci before age 3 reduces your child's risk of dental malocclusions.

Why You Should Avoid pacifiers?

Pacifier use might increase the risk of middle ear infections. However, rates of middle ear infections are generally lowest from birth to age 6 months — when the risk of SIDS is the highest and your baby might be most interested in a pacifier. Prolonged pacifier use might lead to dental problems.

Should I wean off pacifier for sleep?

While the pacifier or “dummy” has been lauded as a way to reduce the risk of SIDS, there is a limit. Healthcare providers recommend that you wean the pacifier sometime between age two and four. But first it's important to look at sleep patterns.