Pacifiers at Daycare: Are They Allowed? Rules and Weaning

Most daycares allow pacifiers for babies and young toddlers. Expect a few rules: pacifiers must be labeled with your child's name, they cannot be shared, and clips or cords are not used during sleep. Many centers start limiting pacifiers to nap time once children reach the toddler room.

Here is what the safety guidance says, what centers usually ask of parents, and how to wean when the time comes.

What safe sleep guidance says

The American Academy of Pediatrics says offering a pacifier at nap and bedtime can lower the risk of sudden infant death. A few details matter:

• Offer the pacifier when you lay the baby down, but do not force it.
• If it falls out after the baby is asleep, there is no need to put it back.
• Do not attach the pacifier to the baby's clothing, a stuffed toy or the crib with a clip or cord during sleep.
• For breastfed babies, many families wait until feeding is going well before offering one.
• Never coat a pacifier with honey or anything sweet.

For more on safe sleep in the baby room, see our infant daycare tour checklist.

Common daycare pacifier rules

• Label every pacifier with your child's name, and send a spare.
• No sharing. Pacifiers that end up in another child's mouth are washed or sent home.
• Stored clean. Many centers keep each child's pacifier in a labeled container.
• Checked for damage. Torn or sticky nipples are a choking risk. Replace them often.
• No clips at nap. Clips are sometimes allowed while awake and removed before sleep.
• Limits for older toddlers. Some centers ask that pacifiers stay in the cubby except at nap, so children can talk and play freely.

Do pacifiers affect speech or teeth?

Using a pacifier now and then in the first years is common and usually harmless. Longer, all-day use can make it harder for a toddler to practice talking, and pediatric dentists generally advise stopping by about age 3 to avoid changes in how the teeth line up. Ear infections are also somewhat more common with frequent pacifier use after infancy. These are reasons to slowly cut back during the toddler years.

When to start weaning

There is no single right age. Common times include:

• Around 12 to 18 months, when many children use it mostly for sleep
• Before moving to a new classroom, or after the move settles
• By age 3, at the latest, for most children

Avoid weaning during a big change, such as a new baby, a move or the first weeks of daycare.

How to wean, step by step

1. Limit it to sleep first. Pacifier stays in the crib or cubby during the day.
2. Tell teachers your plan so daycare and home use the same rules.
3. Offer a replacement comfort: a small lovey for older toddlers, a song, a back rub at nap.
4. Pick a day to stop. Some families use a story, such as giving pacifiers to "new babies" or leaving them for a pacifier fairy.
5. Expect a few rough nights. Most toddlers adjust within a week if everyone stays consistent.

Working with your child's teachers

Teachers see your child during long stretches of the day, so they are good partners. Ask what they notice: does your child reach for the pacifier when tired, upset or bored? That can tell you which moments need another kind of comfort. A short message in the daily report or at pickup keeps everyone on the same plan. See daycare daily reports.

Frequently asked questions

Are pacifiers allowed at daycare?

Most centers allow them for babies and toddlers, with rules about labeling, cleaning and sleep safety. Ask your center for its policy.

Can my baby use a pacifier clip at daycare?

Often while awake, but clips and cords should never be used during sleep.

Should daycare put the pacifier back in when it falls out?

Not after the baby is asleep. Safe sleep guidance says there is no need to reinsert it.

What age should my child stop using a pacifier?

Many families begin cutting back after the first birthday and stop by about age 3.

Comfort and routines at Children's Land

In our infant program, each baby has a primary teacher, and naps and feedings follow your home routine. When children move to our toddler program, teachers can work with you on pacifier plans. Ask your location about its policy, or contact us with questions.

Related reading: Two Naps to One: How Toddlers Make the Switch at Daycare.