All babies cry… some cry a lot!
Sucking is a natural and comforting thing for new babies to do, so parents may turn to a dummy to soothe their baby.
Can dummies do any harm
Well, unfortunately the answer is yes. Here are some of the problems that dummies can cause:
- In some cases, introducing a dummy can upset breast feeding.
- Babies and toddlers who use their dummies a lot are more likely to have poor speech.
- Teeth can be damaged too.
If possible try to find other ways to soothe your baby.
There are some little ones who are hard to settle and seem to cry constantly, this can be very stressful and if you find yourself in this position a lot of the time, a dummy may calm your baby down and may well preserve your sanity, so don’t feel guilty about it.
5 tips to help you with your child's dummy
1. Chatter matters
As babies move their mouths and babble they are learning to make the mouth movements needed for speech. The more practise they get the better their speech will be.
Toddlers need to say some words lots of times before they can say them clearly. Dummies in the mouth a lot of the time can prevent this happening, so try to keep the time your child uses the dummy to a minimum.
Always insist that your little one takes their dummy out of their mouth when they talk, even if they put it back in straight away.
2. Don't dip the dummy
The good news is that used with care, a dummy need not have a bad long term effect.
Just follow these simple guidelines:
- Use a dummy with an orthodontic teat. Dentists say they’re better for the teeth than ordinary dummies. Choose one that’s the right size for your child, it will tell you the size on the packet.
- Never dip the dummy in anything, particularly sweet, sugary things.
Safety tip: Don’t attach the dummy to a ribbon or string and then onto baby’s clothing. The ribbon or string could choke your baby.
3. Limit dummy time
Try to get into a routine with the dummy so that your baby learns to have it at set times:
- Maybe put it away once they wake up in the morning
- Maybe have it for a little while at lunchtime
- Then after a sleep or a rest, put it away until tea time.
- Have it again to go to bed with
Safety tip: Dummies must be kept clean. They need to be sterilized in the same way as teats and bottles. Never put dummies in your mouth and then give it to your baby, you can pass on infections to your child this way.
4. Hide the dummy and be firm
When you want your baby or toddler to go without their dummy during the day, hide it away, maybe in a high kitchen cupboard.
If it’s out of reach and out of sight you have more chance of it being out of mind too. Make sure you hide all of them, children sometimes have several dummies around the house.
Be firm, babies want their dummies and some will try to get you to let them have it all the time.
Don’t give in, you’ll be amazed how quickly they’ll learn that you mean it.
It doesn’t hurt a child to cry for a bit, just be on hand:
- Use a calming voice.
- Give some extra cuddles when your little one is upset while learning to cope without the dummy.
- Be ready with a special game or toy to distract them.
Safety tip: Dummies need to be renewed regularly, damaged or broken dummies can cause choking.
5. Ditch the dummy
Some babies and toddlers are ready before others to give up their dummy altogether. Aim to get rid of it by the time the child is about 12 months, but by 3 years old at the very latest.
Make a clean break of it, most children only fret for 2 or 3 days which, as long as you’re prepared for it, isn’t too bad.
- Maybe they could give it to Santa for the baby reindeer in exchange for a present.
- Give it to the dummy fairy in exchange for a present. The dummy fairy gives it to new babies.
- Replace it with a new toy or blanket.