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How and When to Wean your Baby off a Dummy

Many parents swear blindly that they will never give their child a dummy or pacifier. Such theoretical certainty is all very well but, for better or worse, when faced with the reality of an inconsolable baby, it’s not surprising that many parents quickly change their minds. However, there is inevitably a limit to how long you can and should give your child a dummy.

It can be difficult to know when to stop using a dummy. NHS guidance suggests that if a dummy is introduced early it should be used until six months and then you should try to stop using a dummy by the time your baby is one year old.

In the article below we look at some of the most important considerations and questions you will face when weaning your child off a dummy.

A note on when to give your child their first dummy

Midwives and paediatricians agree that you should not give your baby a dummy in the weeks immediately following birth. This is because studies indicate that children who are given dummies during the early weeks are likely to exclusively breastfeed for a shorter duration (1), most probably because it causes them to experience so-called “nipple confusion”. As such, parents should wait until breastfeeding is established before giving a dummy to their child.

For more information on making the decision to use a dummy, try our “Dummies – the Pros and Cons” article.

Why your child has grown attached to a dummy

Before you begin the process of weaning your baby from the dummy, it can be useful to understand why she is so attached to it. Typically, babies are attached to their dummies for one or more of the following reasons:

Reactions to dummy weaning – every child is different

Every baby is different and every baby will react differently to the dummy weaning process. Some will hardly notice, some will become very agitated and others may develop compensatory behaviours such as thumb-sucking.

Bad-timing – when not to try weaning your baby from the dummy?

If yours and your baby’s life is a little stressful or you are dealing with a change in circumstances or environment, it is probably best to wait before attempting to take the pacifier away. Examples of instances when it may be a good idea to postpone dummy weaning for a while include:

When to wean your baby from a dummy

Although there is evidence to suggest that using a dummy may reduce the chances of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), the evidence is not strong. As such, the sooner you wean your baby from the dummy the easier it will be.(2)

In fact, the longer your baby uses a dummy, the greater the chances that it will result in some adverse developmental impact such as the following:

For more information on babies and language skills we have a paediatrician-written page on language development milestones.

It is also worth noting that regular use of a dummy may lead to increased stomach, mouth and middle ear infections, so, as a general rule, try to wean your baby from a dummy at the earliest opportunity.(4)

How to wean your baby from the dummy

In many circumstances it may be best to gradually and gently wean your baby off the dummy. For example, if a situation is relatively low-stress, try not to offer the dummy. Instead, reserve it for those times when your baby is most distressed or perhaps when it is bedtime and you need her to settle. By offering it only sparingly, your baby will have more opportunity to develop self-soothing techniques. Importantly, if you are still giving your baby a dummy at bedtime, try to take it away as soon as she is asleep and then slowly try getting her to bed without it.

Other ideas for baby dummy weaning include:

Summary

There are many reasons why your child might have grown attached to a dummy. However, eventually a time will come when they need to be weaned from it. This can be challenging but with love, nurture and discipline both you and your baby will get through the process.

1. https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/news-and-research/baby-friendly-research/infant-health-research/infant-health-research-miscellaneous/#:~:text=Two%20studies%20explore%20impact%20of%20dummy%20use%20on%20breastfeeding&text=At%20three%20months%2C%2085.8%25%20infants,pacifier%20group%20were%20exclusively%20breastfeeding.
2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/reducing-risk-cot-death/
3. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/dummies
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5408445/