Use of Dummies in babies and toddlers
It is crazy the amount of parents (or mums to be) that I come across who do not want to use a dummy, or they are embarrassed that they ‘gave in’. Why do dummies have a stigma attached to them? In my opinion if they are used in the correct way and removed at the correct time, its fine. I believe it is better for a child to take comfort from a dummy which can be removed at controlled instances, better than the alternative and taking comfort from their fingers or thumb, which cannot be removed.
There is information out there that states dummies used in sleep can reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome, however, there is a lack of research available to support this statement.
Although NHS England do recommend that if you do choose to use a dummy, then giving it to your baby consistently at the beginning of every sleep whether its during the day or night time and there is no need to keep putting it back in if it falls out during sleep time.
With regards to safety in using dummies there are few things to consider.
- Do not use dummies with neck chords or any attachment on as they can be a choking hazard.
- Do not put anything sweet on the dummy.
- Do not force a dummy on a baby.
- Keeping the dummy as clean as you can as much as you would a bottle teat.
- Regularly checking the dummies do not have splits or holes in them as they trap germs.
Use of dummies in toddlers that are 12 month and older.
Once a child starts to make sounds, persistent dummy use can impact on the development of their speech and language development. When a baby has a dummy in their mouth they are less likely to copy sounds or babble. Dummy use can also effect the way your child uses their tongue, there are necessary tongue movements for making the speech sounds, if they frequently have a dummy in their mouth, this can lead to delayed speech development or unclear speech.
Dummies can also effect the way the teeth grow, the longer they use the dummy the more effect it will have on their teeth. Prolonged dummy use can also lead to teeth decay, especially the front teeth if the dummy is dipped in sweet things.
Although reading all this can be daunting, it is important not to panic. If your child is still using a dummy and they are only using it for bed time then this shouldn't have an impact on their speech and language development. If you want to remove the dummy but not sure how to or are afraid to, this is totally normal and there are plenty of ways that we can remove a dummy.
Removing the dummy.
The easiest way to remove a dummy is cold turkey but if you are using a dummy for comfort and not just sleep, then maybe just using it for sleep to start with would be the best way.
The NHS advise that you remove a dummy from your child between 6 and 12 months of age. They also advise breastfeeding mothers not to start using a dummy until the baby’s feeding is established. If your child is a little bit older then you can use the 'dummy fairy' or the 'dummy superhero', so your child can give leave their dummies out for your chosen character along side a note or letter. This can sometimes make the process a little more exciting and they are also aware what is happening.
Here are some ways in which to soothe your baby in replacement for a dummy.
- Holding your baby, when you hold your baby close, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin and this helps you and your baby feel calm and happy.
- Rocking, talking, singing and distracting your baby.
- If you are struggling to settle your baby, sometimes just a walk in the pram will give them something else to think about.
With regards to sleeping and dummy use, whenever you change something in a baby or child’s sleep, there is likely to be a slight disruption. Developing a different sleep association will likely be needed, again this is something that you should not panic about.
Remember that you are all doing a great job and whether you use a dummy or not you can do this!!
Please leave a comment below and tell us your thoughts on dummies.
For advice on a smooth journey on removing a dummy at sleep time, get in contact with Lucy at sleeping wonders. Contact us