Suri Cruise, Nearly 5, Will Use a Pacifier as Long as She Wants

By Rob Shuter Posted Mar 8th 2011 12:13PM

The Cruise family is no stranger to controversy when it comes to their trendsetting daughter, Suri. In the past two years, critics have analyzed her love of high heels, quirky dresses and lipstick, and now she's been spotted in Vancouver with a pacifier in her mouth. The problem, of course, is that she's nearly 5, but anyone expecting Tom or Katie to be the ones to yank that binky anytime soon should think again.

"Suri just isn't told 'no' very often," an insider tells me. "Scientology encourages you to make your own decisions and learn lessons as you live your life. She'll know herself when it's time to throw the pacifier away, plain and simple."

Tom is the world's most famous Scientologist, and his wife quickly took to the religion, which has been a part of Suri's life from the moment she was born. When Katie gave birth in April 2006, signs reminding everyone to be silent were posted because it is believed a "silent birth" is the ideal way to enter the world.

"Their religion and beliefs are a huge part of who Tom and Katie are as individuals and parents," a friend of the couple's tells me. "It's not like they would not tell Suri not to touch a fire or run across the street, but certain things, they want her to decide herself, including when she feels it's the right time to stop using a pacifier."

Let's hope the Cruise family dentist doesn't hear about this binky business. Some of the main reasons against pacifiers is that it can impede the proper growth of one's teeth and mouth. According to experts, including the Academy of General Dentistry, prolonged use can even cause changes in the shape of the roof of your mouth.

What do you think? Should Tom and Katie leave Suri alone or step in and throw it away?

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Tags: Katie Holmes, Suri Cruise, Tom Cruise

Comments

(197)

Tuesday 08 March

By kittyfriskywhiskers

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She's been exposed to the paparazzi since the day she was born, she should be used to it by now -- she probably thinks it's normal. Besides, this is the first picture that I've seen with her having a pacifier -- there may be more, but I've not seen them, so I'm hoping that this is just an occasional thing. Whatever...it's their kid. Suri will get broken of it when the other kids start making fun of her and calling her a baby. My son never liked a pacifier (thankfully) but when he was 1 1/2, the bottles went into the trash. When he stood up in bed and actually unscrewed the top and poured the bottle contents out, that was it. It was a sippy cup from then on out. No way would I have let him still be drinking from a bottle at age 5 to "soothe" himself. He learned other ways in which to cope -- like a special toy/stuffed animal or a hug from Mom. Suri is much too old for a binky.

By julie

setting boundaries is what parenting is all about. I hope Suri doesn't have to pay for their ignorance.

By L.A.

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Quite frankly, it is nobodys' business!

By themeeker

If they put the kid on every magazine cover to make their millions and then get caught being bad parents, it's our business. You're being a little too righteous.

By Dawn

ummm its called media...they make it our business! you read it...did you not?? lol

By lookyloo

While normally I would agree with you, since Tom Cruise is so judgmental of others' behavior i.e. people who take prescribed medicine, I think he might just be on the other side of the "judge not lest you be judged sword". Egomaniac deserves the scrutiny. I feel bad for the little girl though.

By Susan

Why do they care about teeth. They can buy new ones.

By i12goboating2

Don't have to say NO
I normally explain to my son why the answer no before just saying NO.
Let dentist talk to her why you must quick the pacifier.

By diplobrat

Just when you think Scientology can't get any weirder. Imagine, a child deciding her own behaviors. Uh- clue here. She's a CHILD. They learn from US.

By bestbunny10

Some children revert back to pacifiers because they need to feel secure and it is soothing especially when they are emotionally upset. I am wondering if this child is happy. I haven't seen a single photo of her smiling or laughing.

By liz

I think that people should mind their own business. If she still wants to use the pacifier then let her use it. Is it between her and her parents. They are the ones raising her not the world. I know that parents HATE when people tell them how to raise their kids!!! so dont try and tell someone else how to raise theirs. Mind your business!!!! Let them handle the way they want to!!

By pasapphire

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I have a 10 year old who only stopped sucking his thumb last year, and we still occasionally find him doing it while sleeping. He has sensory processing disorder and mild anxiety issues. We tried EVERYTHING- every home remedy, bribing, and every man-made contraption sold in the last decade, to stop him years earlier, starting at age 2. Nothing worked. Our son also had 7 months of an orthodontic appliance in his mouth at age 8, then braces for a few months, and we thought that break would kick it, but as soon as all of it was out of his mouth, he started up again. Once he started seeing an occupational therapist for the sensory problem at age 4, we were told to leave it alone, because thumb-sucking was a "coping strategy" that he needed to deal with either stress or to calm himself down enough to fall asleep. We also had him see a psychologist for a few months at age 6 to make sure the anxiety wasn't more serious. He now has a retainer in his mouth 24/7, but still when no friends are around, it happens...I think a pacifier at age 5 is ridiculous, too, but she may need something to cope with what her life is like- or her parents just don't want to hear her scream when she doesn't get her way. They COULD take it away, though- we couldn't take our son's thumb away. Please don't be too judgmental if you see a child too old doing this- there is always a reason, and sometimes it is beyond either the parent's or child's control.

By donna

I can't wait to see her in another 10 years...you think she runs things now...these people are CREEPY!!!

By lloydbonifide

Kids like to imitate their parents.Suri must have seen her dad suckig on a man-pacifier when her mommy wasnt around.

More Scientology BS!! The more I hear and read about it the more pissed off I am!! And I feel the same way about Tom & Katie!!

I could not agree more with you!

By FRAN

So what's going on in her life that she STILL needs to self-soothe? Note to Child Protective Services.

Wednesday 09 March

By ladye21190

Try the fact that her mom and dad are huge stars, (why they still are I'm not sure. . . both TomKat's stars faded long ago.) so she's got every eye trained on her and media like this site analyzing her evey move as well as her parents. She's five, and despite what everyone else has said, she's probably been so babied that she's developmentally behind and likely has the capacity of a two or three year old.

By MARY

Suri is still a beautiful child. As far as the pacifier, she is too old for that. My mom never gave me one, she said it was for lazy mothers. At almost five, she is looking for trouble because her mouth and teeth will be a mess. If she is one child that does not want to hear the word "no", then her parents are in for a rude awakening!!!

By kpwaste

It might just be a old tale told around the kitchen table, but kids that suck their thumb or pacifier up until the age of five or six end up with a Oral fixation and quite possibly end up Smoking Cigarettes because of the need to have something to suck on. ie; lollipops, candy or cigarettes.

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