Sucking on a pacifier isn't just for babies. Many children use a pacifier to soothe and calm themselves well into their toddler and even preschool years. A pacifier might also serve as something experts call a transitional object — that is, something that relieves stress and helps your child adjust to new or challenging situations, like starting daycare or taking a long car ride.

For the most part, there's nothing wrong with waiting until your child is ready to discard his binky on his own. As he grows older and finds other challenges to pursue — such as making friends, learning how to draw, and asserting his independence — he'll develop other "big kid" interests and be less interested in his pacifier.

He'll also learn other ways to cope effectively. Your toddler will probably start relying on the pacifier less and less, his need to suck will continue to diminish, and, by around age 3, he'll probably give up the pacifier on his own.

If your toddler attends daycare and discovers that most of the other children don't have pacifiers in their mouth, it may further motivate him to give up the habit. In fact, this is one area where peer pressure may work better than parental mandates.

Of course, being low-key about your toddler's pacifier habit doesn't mean you should let your health standards slide. Continue to take care of the pacifier: Rinse it off thoroughly whenever your toddler drops it and, once a day, wash it in hot soapy water (rinse it well) or run it through the dishwasher. Teach your toddler not to share his pacifier with his playmates.

Inspect the pacifier often to make sure the nipple is firmly attached and isn't deteriorating. Replace it as soon as it begins to show signs of wear. (A nipple that pops out or breaks can pose a choking hazard.)

What if I don't want to wait it out?

Short of banning the binky altogether, you might try to anticipate times when your toddler will want his pacifier and provide a substitute. If he tends to suck on his pacifier when he's bored, plan ahead and offer him a more interesting activity. If you're waiting in line at the post office, for example, give him a book to page through or make funny faces at him instead of handing him his pacifier.

If your toddler tends to pop in his binky when he's feeling insecure or worried, help him put his emotions into words. Ask him questions to find out what's going on, and reassure him with hugs and kisses.

To curb your toddler's reliance on his pacifier, praise him when he manages to go without one. You might also limit his pacifier use to nighttime and naptime, telling him, "We're going to stop taking your pacifier with us to daycare and out on errands but keep it special for private times."

When you're ready to phase it out completely, try using a calendar to keep track of pacifier-free days, and reward your child with a gold sticker or an extra half-hour of reading before bed. You could also promise your child a reward, such as a toy or time with a video, when he amasses a week's worth of stars.

Are there any reasons for concern?

In some instances you won't want to wait until your child voluntarily gives up his binky. For example, if your toddler seems to be developing speech and language problems, a pacifier may make his difficulties worse. That's because sucking on a pacifier locks a child's mouth in an unnatural position, making it hard for him to develop and strengthen his facial muscles normally.

If your child is just learning to speak, talking around a pacifier may distort his speech, causing him to replace t and d sounds (which require the front of the tongue to brush up against the teeth) with k and g sounds (which emanate from the back of the throat). If a pacifier seems to be affecting your toddler's speech, willingness to talk, or social skills, you may want to cut down on his pacifier time sooner rather than later.

If you do find it necessary to banish the pacifier all at once, a visit from the "Binky Fairy," who takes away all the pacifiers during the night and leaves a present in their place, can be very effective. Your child's dentist might also encourage and support your little one in his efforts to give up the pacifier. Some dentists even have a place for children to drop off their pacifiers and get a toy (or a toothbrush!) in return.