Would this pacifier situation make you crazy too? Aren't these kids too old?

All hail you...I so agree with you...

But unlike you I would have let my opinion be known in a much more dramatic way..like when kid tried to talk to me, and the dad interpreted I would have said sorry I was asking your daughter, maybe she can remove that pacifier and talk to me herself, like a big girl.

I also wouldn't allow the pacifiers near my jungle gym sets - good for you for putting your foot down - and ignore the dirty looks it they got hurt I bet they would sue you and not think twice about it...

I don't think it is neglect or abuse for kids too old to have pacifiers in there mouths..but I do think it is bad parenting

My husband (bless his soul) cups his hands over my mouth an awful lot when we see kids over age of 1 with a soother in there mouth - maybe that is too early to take those nasty things away say some...but when the bottle goes the soother goes..or when the first candle is bl;own out on that big cake..get rid of them all...

Hope this helps you feel better knowing you are not the only one...

As a parent, it is difficult to tell your child "no" even when it is necessary. Some parents cannot stand to hear discomfort in their child so they allow things beyond what is appropriate. When I was expecting my first child, I saw a 3 year old with a binkie in her mouth & it scared me. None of my kids liked a pacifier so I was let off the hook so to speak. When my kids were 5 months old I introduced a cup so the bottle habit was never an issue either. I made it a point not to encourage a habit which would be detrimental. They all liked sleeping with a transitional object & I didn't see anything in that which could cause harm in the future. Toddlers & preK children should not have a binkie. Can you imagine what will happen when they start school? Poor things. They will go thru a hard time not being allowed a binkie whether they are 2 or 5. Discarding the habit earlier allows for adjustment. I hope the kids don't have too hard a time.

I agree with you completely. The parents aren't strong enough to let the baby cry for ten minutes, so they stick a toy in their mouths. This is also why parents can't get their children to stop sleeping with them. I feel this also supports addictive behaviors later in life. Don't say anything to them about it, it won't do any good. I think you did a great thing by telling the child no playing on the gym. Maybe she will learn that having this thing in her mouth will stop her from being able to do certain things. She's obviously not going to learn at home.

It's not considered abuse or neglect, no, but yes, it would drive me crazy too! I think I would say something in this case, because even though I like to mind my own business, someone has to look out for these little kids' own good.

Try to tell the parents your concerns, and how they could be damaging their little ones for the rest of their lives. They'll need speech therapy and possibly re-constructive surgery for the top of their mouths (my nephew had to have this, he had a pacifier 'til he was 2, but he was an extreme case)! Not to mention the social ramifications and the mental issues with the children's inability to cope with anything because of this!

The worst that can happen is they won't listen to you, and might tell you to butt out. The best that can happen is they'll wake up and save their children. I say it's well worth the risk to speak up!

While I do agree, it is too old to have a pacifier, I also think it is none of our business. And this certainly is not an abusive or neglectful situation. However, I do praise you for deciding not to let the child on your gym with it in her mouth, there could be many serious consequences if she fell from choking, to broken teeth. Stick to your guns about that one. As for their teeth and speech, do you see any indication of malformation or problems? I'm assuming these parents take their children to doctors regularly, and they would point out any problems.

I think that is very strange but I would not say anything to the parents. Parents are sensitive when it comes to people telling them what to do and I am sure they get plenty of comments from other people. I do not think it is abuse and the children will give up the pacifiers eventually. I doubt they will be driving cars and sucking on a pacifier. My son's teeth are coming in crooked because he sucks his thumb but I realize they are baby teeth and there are always braces for the future. My sister-in-law used to pull her children's thumbs out of their mouths so maybe she thinks I am neglectful but my son is the nicest, most well behaved and well adjusted little 18 month old and maybe part of that is having that soothing comfort that he finds in sucking his thumb.

Hi, I too think it's awful for kids of that age to use a "binkie". So my suggestion would b to forget the parents, they see it at ur attacking their parenting rather than looking at the real picture. I'm sure when they are home they feel the same as us but r either to weak to do anything or to lazy! Anyhow I would address these children of whom u speak of and casually bring it up in a way that on their level as to appeal to them such as when at ur house offer up a deal to them on a one on one basis like say for every day i see u without ur suckerpucker(as i call them) they can be the first on ur monkey bars or they get a high five reward them w/something that is as self-gratifying as their suckerpukers. And if the parents want to tell u anything just say in a nice way hey I'm not trying to raise ur kids I just want them to know they are lovely kids and even lovelier without that THING!!! See as a parent we all are here to teach and getting that thing away from them will do more for them to participate in society than allowing them to keep it. Most important we must never allow a child to feel we r looking down on them, but want them to be strong and free of insecurities.

i agree. i know a woman whos 4 year old sucks her thumb. her teeth are also messed up and she is very dificult to understand. yet this woman felt the need to criticize me when my 3 yr old was having a hard time learning to go #2 in the toilet. by him not using the toilet he was not harming himself in anyway. by them using pacifiers still they're harming their mouths. i wouldnt let them play on my equipment with them either. if the parents dont like the rules of your house they can keep their kids at home. you dont have to confront them about the fact that they're too old, that is their business. but you have the right to say no when it comes to your property.

HOly wow! I took my son off the pacifier when he was 6 months. I can't stand them. Unfortuanatly you can't parent other parents, they will learn the hard way once the dentist bill comes for the kids. Pacifiers affect the childs moth and kids develop horrible teeth problems. It would actually be too late for the kids being 4 and 5 already.

Its not abuse but it does drive me crazy! Kids teeth can get like that if they constantly suck their thumb! My daughter is 16 months old and she only has hers ONLY at night time. And i have recently taken it away at night time and she does fine! At ages 4 and 5 that's just weird. The thing that sucks is that you cant do anything about it!