Dummies can be very soothing for young babies and, as they get older, can become very attached.
But they can also be a source of stress for parents, as there are lots of questions that go alongside dummy use. When should you use them? When should you not use them? How should you react when your little one just won't let go?
We spoke to child psychologist Dr Claire Halsey, child development researcher Dr Michelle Lowe and speech and language therapist Janet Cooper to get some dummy advice.
In the video below we break down some of their top tips for helping your child give up their dummy.
Let's talk about dummies! Something that's used to calm babies down, can be such a source of stress for parents. When to use them, when not to use them, how to react when your little one just won't let go鈥
Yes, a dummy can help settle young babies at bedtime. They can also help them learn how to suck - often used for babies born early. But it's good to wean them off before the age of one, because dummies can be a barrier to speech and language. They can affect growing teeth and stop a toddler's tongue from moving freely. Plus, a little one who has their mouth full with a dummy can鈥檛 babble or chat as much. By weaning them off, you're giving them the chance to become more expressive.
So how can you help your baby lose their dummy without losing their cool? Meet those needs without reaching for a dummy. When your baby cries, rather than rushing for the dummy, think - what is that cry telling you? I'm tired, I'm hungry, I want a cuddle. I really want a cuddle!
Think about what you could give your baby instead. They might not miss their dummy if you give them something else that's comforting, like their fave toy. If your little one's a bit older what about plenty of praise, or a homemade reward chart for when they don't reach for it? And tell them how well they're doing too!
Give it a go, and start weaning them off that dummy step by step. Limit use to key times, like bedtime or when they're ill. Be consistent and be strong!
You'll get there, and your dummy-free baby will be babbling away with you to their heart's content.
What are dummies used for?
Dummies are often used to comfort babies. They can help settle babies to sleep and they鈥檙e sometime used to help babies learn to suck, particularly when they are born prematurely.
Babies find the suckling reflex relaxing and can help when they are particularly colicky or windy.
Not all babies like dummies. If your baby shuts their mouth or turns away when presented with one, they don't want it.
Why should you wean babies off the dummy?
Dummies can affect growing teeth and stop a toddler鈥檚 tongue from moving freely.
Plus, a little one who has their mouth full with a dummy can鈥檛 babble or chat as much as they would without one. By weaning them off it you鈥檙e giving them the chance to become more expressive and to practise their growing language skills.
Do dummies affect speech and language development?
There is mixed evidence on use of dummies and no indication that using them for a short period of time in the first few months has a negative impact on speech.
However, longer term use of dummies (past the age of one) and overuse of dummies can lead to changes in tongue movements and the development of the teeth.
This can lead to slushy sounding speech and changes in how sounds such as 鈥榯鈥 and 鈥榙鈥 are made - often pushing the tongue to the back to sound more like a 鈥榢鈥 or 鈥榞鈥.
Children who use dummies a lot often are more 鈥榙ribbly鈥 and may lisp or sound slushy when they talk.
They may also get a gap between their front teeth which will particularly affect sounds such as 鈥榮鈥 and 鈥榸鈥.
Children who use the dummy a lot may also talk less as the dummy is filling their mouth at times when they may have otherwise been practising babbling or talking. If you spot any of these signs it is an indicator to reduce or remove the dummy completely.
When should babies be weaned off the dummy?
It鈥檚 a good idea to wean babies off the dummy by their first birthday so they can babble and speak their first words.
The NHS recommends weaning babies off the dummy when they are between 6 and 12 months old.
3 tips for weaning off dummy
1. When your baby cries, rather than rushing for the dummy, think 鈥榳hat are they trying to tell me?鈥
- There are all sorts of reasons babies might be crying, so you could try and meet these needs without resorting to the dummy.
- Equally, sometimes babies will cry and cry and a dummy might be a way of helping you cope with it. But before reaching for the dummy, see if there鈥檚 another way of soothing them.
2. Try giving them an alternative comforting object.
- This could be a favourite soft toy.
- As they get older, try praising them and giving them stickers as a reward for not reaching for their dummy.
3. Set limits and stick to them to gradually wean them off.
- Limit dummy use to key times like bedtime or when they鈥檙e ill.
- Be consistent and be strong - there may be tricky moments, but it will pass.
