- What are dummies or pacifiers?
- When could I start giving my baby a dummy?
- What are the advantages of using a dummy?
- What are the disadvantages of using a dummy?
- Will using a dummy interfere with breastfeeding?
- I've decided I do want to use a dummy. What else do I need to know?
- Help, my baby refuses to give up his dummy!
Babies are soothed by the action of sucking. You may find your baby needs to suckle something for comfort when he's awake and not feeding. This need will lessen as he gets older and is able to soothe himself in other ways.
Whereas some mums couldn't survive the day without giving their baby a dummy, others strongly disapprove of their use. You may decide you definitely won't use one, but change your mind when faced with your crying baby (Pansy et al 2008).
What are dummies or pacifiers?Most dummies come with a silicone or rubber teat, and a plastic or silicone mouth shield and handle. Latex dummies are softer and more flexible than silicone, but they don't last as long. The mouth shield prevents your baby from choking on, or swallowing, the teat.
Orthodontic dummies are flatter than traditional cherry-shaped dummies. They're shaped to encourage your baby to suck in the same way as he does when he's breastfeeding. See Do dummies have any disadvantages? below for information on how a dummy may affect your baby's teeth.
When could I start giving my baby a dummy?If you're breastfeeding, you may want to wait until your baby is about six weeks before you introduce a dummy. This is because dummies may interfere with breastfeeding.
Otherwise, it's up to you. Many parents use a dummy during the first six months to settle their baby to sleep at night, and for naps during the day. Some parents give their baby a dummy because they've heard it may help to reduce the risk of cot death (SIDS) (DH 2009).
It's recommended that you try to wean your baby off his dummy when he's between six months and 12 months old (DH 2009). This is because there are disadvantages to letting him have a dummy for longer (see below).
What are the advantages of using a dummy?A dummy may soothe your baby or help him settle to sleep.
The act of sucking can relieve pain (Sexton and Natale 2009). It may help your baby if he sucks on a dummy when he's having his immunisations (APA 2008), for example.
A dummy may help to prevent cot death or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (DH 2009). If you choose to use a dummy for this reason, don't worry if it falls out while your baby is asleep (FSID nd, NHS 2010).
However, don't encourage your baby to take a dummy if he doesn't want one (FSID nd, NHS 2010). There are other, proven ways to help your baby sleep safely. Putting your baby to sleep on his back, and not smoking, are important in preventing SIDS.
A dummy may help if your baby is premature. If he's given a dummy to suck on before feeds, your baby may adapt more quickly from tube to bottle feeding (Pinelli and Symington 2005). He may also be calmer and better able to settle, both before and after his feeds.
Premature babies who are given a dummy also have shorter hospital stays (Pinelli and Symington 2005).
However, you may decide not to use a dummy in case it interferes with breastfeeding later on. Instead, you could express your milk and then encourage your baby to strengthen his suck on your emptied breast (WHO 2006: 85). See our article on breastfeeding your premature baby.
What are the disadvantages of using a dummy?Using a dummy for long periods can result in middle ear infections (CKS 2009, Sexton and Natale 2009):
- Sucking may back-track bacteria from your baby's mouth into the narrow channels between his ears and throat (Eustachian tubes).
- If your baby uses a dummy a lot, it may affect the structure of his mouth. This may result in mucus not draining so well along the Eustachian tubes (Sexton and Natale 2009).
Using a dummy may affect your baby's health in other ways too. Babies who use dummies seem to be prone to more chest infections and tummy upsets (Sexton and Natale 2009, Joanna Briggs Institute 2006). The exact cause hasn't been established, but using a dummy has been linked to an increase in:
teeth grow. This can result in an overbite or crossbite, where the top and bottom teeth don't meet properly. This is especially the case if your child uses his dummy until he's three or four (Sexton and Natale 2009).
The same goes for thumb-sucking, though. The British Dental Health Foundation recommends avoiding the use of dummies and discouraging thumb-sucking.
Using a dummy may affect your baby's speech development. Encourage your baby not to use his dummy while he's trying to talk or make sounds (NHS 2009).
Will using a dummy interfere with breastfeeding?It may do. Unicef and the Department of Health say it's best not to give your baby a dummy until you've established breastfeeding. This usually happens by the time your baby is about six weeks old (UNICEF 2008).
It's also recommended that you use a dummy only for settling your baby to sleep. That way your baby won't waste valuable time sucking on his dummy instead of at your breast.
Dummy use has been linked to earlier weaning off the breast, and breastfeeding exclusively for a shorter length of time (UNICEF 2008). However, we don't know whether this is because dummies interfere with breastfeeding. There could be other reasons why mums stop breastfeeding.
For example, if you are having problems breastfeeding you may find yourself relying more on a dummy. Or you may use a dummy because you made the decision to stop breastfeeding (Sexton and Natale 2009, O'Connor et al 2009, Renfrew et al 2005).
Other experts believe that if you use a dummy:
- Your baby may find it hard to switch between the different types of sucking needed for the dummy and your breast.
- You may miss your baby's cue that he wants to feed and use a dummy to calm him instead (DH 2007, UNICEF 2008).
- Your breasts may not get enough stimulation. This could cause a fall in your milk supply (UNICEF 2008). The belief that they don't have enough milk is the main reason that mums give for stopping breastfeeding in the first six months.
I've decided I do want to use a dummy. What else do I need to know?Dummies can give you a break when your baby's distressed. If you've decided it's best for everyone if your baby has a dummy, here are a few tips:
- Use an orthodontic or flat dummy (BDHF nd). There is some slight evidence that this might be better for your baby's developing mouth than a cherry dummy (Sexton and Natale 2009).
- Keep the dummy as clean as possible. Sterilise it as you would any other bottle-feeding teat.
- Check dummies regularly. Cracks, splits and holes can trap germs. If you find any problems, buy a new dummy straight away.
- Never dip the dummy in sweet foods. Don't coat your baby's dummy in foods such as honey or juice to stop him crying (BDHF nd). Honey can harm your baby, and sticky, sweet food and drink can cause tooth decay.
- Wait until your baby really needs a dummy. For example, if your baby has colic or you want to settle him. Don't let his dummy use become a habit.
- Wean your baby off his dummy before he turns one (DH 2009). It will be easier to do it then, than when he's older. He should have stopped using a dummy before he's four (Sexton and Natale 2009).
Help, my baby refuses to give up his dummy!If your baby is using his dummy all the time, or is not giving it up as soon as you'd like, try these ideas:
- Gradually decrease the times when you let him use his dummy.
- Only let your child have his dummy at certain times, such as bedtime, or when he's ill.
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