Is it ok to give my baby a dummy?

First published on Monday 1 August 2016 Last modified on Thursday 17 December 2020

A new study has claimed that dummies can delay language acquisition, by interfering with tongue movements. Yet previous research has suggested that dummies can help prevent cot death. So what should parents do?

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A recent study tested six-month-old babies with and without teething toys in their mouths. It found that babies with toys in their mouths found it harder to distinguish between different sounds.

It is thought that babies need to be able to move the tip of their tongue in order to mimic the sounds and that this helps them to understand and, eventually, reproduce them.

Professor Janet Werker of the University of British Columbia, Canada, said:

"This study indicates the freedom to make small gestures with their tongue and other articulators when they listen to speech may be an important factor in babies' perception of the sounds."

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, makes for interesting reading.

However, safe sleep charity The Lullaby Trust still (currently) recommends the use of dummies at night, between four weeks and six months of age.

Dummies and cot death

The Lullaby Trust advises giving a baby a dummy when you put her to sleep at night, because some recent research found it helps to protect against cot death (although it remains unclear why).
Guidelines from The Lullaby Trust also advise that dummies be avoided in the first four weeks if you're breastfeeding, and are 'gently withdrawn' from use after six months (by which time the risk of cot death is dramatically reduced).
If you give your baby a dummy at night, make sure you're consistent about giving her one every night. However, you don't need to worry about replacing it at night if it falls out (although you may find you have to, if your baby wakes and won't go back to sleep without it!)
Even if you do give your baby a dummy at night, it's still vital to follow all the other golden rules about safe sleeping.

Dummies and breastfeeding

Don't give your baby a dummy in the first four weeks if you're trying to establish breastfeeding, as it may interfere with her ability to suck well at the breast.
Be careful not to give your crying baby a dummy or soother when what she really needs is a feed - this is especially important if you're breastfeeding, as you could affect your milk supply.

Dummies and teeth

According to the British Orthodontic Society, dummy use is only likely to affect your baby's teeth if they're sucking for six hours a day or more. Even so, it's a good idea, from the start, to be selective about when you offer one. Stick to times when you're trying to settle or comfort her - don't get into the habit of popping it in her mouth regardless.
Reduce the risk of damage to teeth by choosing an orthodontic dummy.
Never dip your baby's dummy in anything sweet to improve the taste. It's very likely to cause tooth decay and will encourage a sweet tooth!

Dummies and infection

Dummies can easily become germ-ridden and their use is linked to increased risk of ear and stomach infections. Keep bugs at bay by being scrupulous about hygiene - sterilise dummies daily in a steam steriliser or sterilising solution, or a hot dishwasher cycle.
Replace any that become cracked or broken as these can trap germs.
Never put a dummy in your own mouth to 'clean it' - mouths are full of bacteria, so it's the worst thing you could do!

Dummies and talking

Excessive dummy sucking can affect the development of a baby's speech and language skills, by
preventing them from practising that all-important babbling, and later, the formation of speech sounds. (Toddlers who've learned to talk with a dummy almost always in their mouth can end up struggling to make themselves understood.)
For this reason, communication experts tend to advise that dummies are restricted to sleep times, and recommend you get shot of a dummy habit by the time your baby is one.
If your baby does have a dummy during the day, make sure you take it out whenever you are talking to her, so her opportunities to make sounds in response aren't hindered.

Ditching the dummy

Most experts agree that dummy habits are best ditched by the time your baby is one, so it's a good cut-off point to aim for if your baby's still determinedly sucking on hers.

Some parents choose the 'cold turkey' approach and just take the dummy away; others go for a more gradual approach, gradually reducing the frequency they offer it. Either way, you'll probably need to be on hand with lots of distraction in the form of cuddles and games. Taking it away at night-time may be doubly challenge - you might have to consider some kind of sleep training to help her settle without it.

1 Choose your moment

Whatever age your child is when you attempt to dummy-ditch, choose your moment with care - don't try and do it if you've just moved house, or are going back to work, for example. Wait for a moment when your child feels settled.

2 Cut down

Even if you don't want to take her dummy away entirely at this point, it's a good idea to cut its use right down if she has one regularly, or for long periods, during the day. Stick to night-times, and the odd moment in the day when comfort is required and only the dummy will do.

It's highly unlikely that such limited use will be harmful and on that sort of basis, many parents decide to wait until their little one is old enough to reason with - or simply decide to bin it for themselves!

The dummy fairy

A well-worn technique for dummy-ditching, once your child is old enough to understand, is to ask 'Santa' or 'the dummy fairy' to come along and collect it. Some parents find packaging up dummies to send off to needy babies elsewhere is effective, too. Either way, it's normal for a small token of thanks to be left in exchange!

As with younger babies, you may need to be on hand with plenty of distraction during the period. Do actually throw the dummies away rather than keeping them somewhere 'just in case', otherwise you may be tempted to give in when the going gets tough. You might be pleasantly surprised though, like many parents, at how swiftly the habit is kicked.