The dummy is one of the most debated subjects in a paediatric clinic. On one side are grandparents who say a baby should never be given one; on the other, exhausted parents who have come to depend on it to get their child to sleep.

The truth lies between the two: the dummy is neither harmful from the start nor a habit that can continue without limit. What matters is timing.

What Does a Dummy Do?

Sucking is a need in babies independent of feeding. It is called non-nutritive sucking, and it calms the baby and makes the transition to sleep easier.

The recognised benefits of a dummy:

  • It calms. In babies given a dummy during crying episodes, vaccinations and blood tests, the pain response has been shown to be reduced.
  • It makes falling asleep easier.
  • Used during sleep, it has been reported to reduce the risk of sudden infant death. This is the dummy's strongest benefit and the main reason it is recommended in the early months.
  • In premature babies it supports the development of sucking.

When Should It Be Started?

There is a distinction here.

In breastfed babies it is advised to wait about three to four weeks, until feeding is established. Latching onto the breast and sucking a dummy are different movements, and a dummy given very early can disturb that latch and make breastfeeding harder.

In bottle-fed babies there is no such restriction.

Once feeding is established, giving a dummy before sleep is considered safe.

When Does Harm Begin?

The problem is not the dummy itself but how long it is used.

Age Position
0-6 months Benefits predominate; use during sleep is advised
6-12 months Use may continue; daytime use begins to be reduced
12-24 months The period for stopping; the aim is around the second birthday
2-3 years Changes to the bite become more pronounced
Over 3 years Risk of lasting dental and jaw effects, and effects on speech

Teeth and jaw. Prolonged dummy use can tip the upper front teeth forward and create a gap between the upper and lower teeth. In children who stop by the age of two, these changes have been reported to correct themselves largely on their own. Beyond three years the risk of them persisting increases.

Speech. A dummy constantly in the mouth reduces the child's opportunity to make sounds and try out words. Between eighteen and thirty months, when speech is developing fastest, having the dummy in the mouth during the day is not desirable for language development.

Ear infections. Prolonged dummy use has been reported to increase the frequency of middle ear infections. For that reason, giving up the dummy is a separate consideration in children with recurrent ear infections.

How Is It Given Up?

There is no single correct method; it depends on the child's age and temperament.

  1. First remove it during the daytime — no dummy while playing, in the car or out and about.
  2. Keep the dummy in one place only (the bedroom); the child does not carry it around.
  3. Remove it at all times except falling asleep.
  4. Last of all, stop it before sleep.

Stopping at once: this can work in children over about two and a half who understand an explanation. A day is chosen in advance, explained to the child, and the dummies are removed that day. The first two or three nights are hard.

  • Putting a bitter substance on the dummy
  • Shaming, mocking, calling the child "a big baby"
  • Linking it to punishment
  • Trying during a difficult period — attempts are postponed during illness, the birth of a sibling, starting nursery or moving house

During the process the child needs another way to settle: a book before sleep, a cuddle, the same routine kept. If the dummy is withdrawn and nothing replaces it, the process drags on.

Dummy Safety

  • The dummy should be one piece; two-part models carry a risk of separation and choking.
  • It should never be hung round the neck on a string or chain. A short clip to clothing can be used.
  • Check it regularly; a dummy that is torn, sticky or discoloured is discarded.
  • Nothing sweet should be put on it. Honey carries a risk of infant botulism in babies under one year, and any sweetener causes dental decay.
  • A dummy that falls on the floor is washed, not cleaned in an adult's mouth — that transfers oral bacteria to the baby.

Dummy or Thumb?

Giving a dummy to a baby who sucks their thumb is sometimes preferred. The reason is this: the family can decide when the dummy stops; they cannot decide that for the thumb. The thumb is always with the child.

The reverse is not appropriate: a child using a dummy should not be directed towards thumb sucking.

In Summary

A dummy is useful in the early months and its use during sleep is advised. The aim for stopping is around the second birthday. Use continuing beyond three years should be assessed for its effect on teeth and speech.

Do not rush the process, and postpone it during difficult periods — but do not leave it entirely open-ended. We can plan the right timing for your child together at check-ups.