Dummies, pros and cons: your dummy questions answered

Some parents or caregivers give their baby a dummy, also known as a pacifier or soother. They use it to calm the baby and provide comfort until the parent or carer can respond.

Sucking, even when not for feeding, can help reduce pain in both preterm and full-term babies (Ridell et al, 2023). But what is the evidence behind using a dummy? We explore some of the research below.

It’s worth noting that not all babies want to take a dummy in the first place. If they spit the dummy out, don’t force them to take it (Lullaby Trust, 2025).

Dummies and premature babies

Sometimes, premature babies are given dummies with feeding tubes in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This can help the babies go from tube feeding to feeding by mouth. It has also been shown to reduce their time in hospital (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2022; Tolpolla 2022).

Can dummies affect feeding?

Some studies have shown that dummy use doesn’t affect breastfeeding if the mother wants to breastfeed (Jaafar et al, 2016; Tolppola et al, 2022).

However, if using a dummy, it can help to wait until breastfeeding seems to be going well (Lullaby Trust, 2025). If the baby sucks on a dummy rather than on the breast in the early weeks, it can lower milk production. This happens because the breast is not stimulated to produce milk. This might mean the baby doesn’t gain enough weight (La Leche League, 2025).

Observational studies show that babies who use a dummy stop breastfeeding earlier (Tolppola et al, 2022).

Using a dummy can also mask feeding cues, however the baby is fed.

Does using a dummy delay speech development?

Using a dummy for many hours each day can harm speech and language development. This is especially true for toddlers aged two and over (Kanellopoulos et al, 2024; Munoz et al, 2024).

This is because the baby or toddler is babbling less and has less chance to practice speech (Kanellopoulos et al, 2024; Munoz et al, 2024).

However, this is only if the dummy is used for a long time while awake. Another study found the effect was small (Strutt et al, 2021).

Using a dummy frequently for children up to four years old has been shown to lead to a lower IQ in children at the age of six (Guigliani et al, 2021; Kanellopoulos et al, 2024).

When should dummy use stop to minimise impact on speech?

NHS Scotland suggests that parents gently stop their baby from using a dummy between ten to twelve months old. This can help reduce any impact on speech development (NHS Scotland, no date).

Do dummies affect tooth development?

Studies have found that dummies can cause dental malocclusion (where the teeth don’t grow correctly). Using the dummy more often and for longer periods may affect the teeth more (Sadoun et al, 2023).

Orthodontic dummies adapt to the baby’s mouth and can be better for teeth (Lullaby Trust, 2025).

When should dummy use stop to protect teeth?

To minimise damage to the teeth, it has been recommended that dummy use should stop by two years old (Sadoun et al, 2023).

Some studies have found that dental problems usually fix themselves when dummy use stops (American Academy of Paediatrics, 2022).

Ear infections, eczema and asthma

Babies who regularly use a dummy have been found to be at a higher risk of ear infections, although it’s hard to say exactly why this is (Kanellopoulos et al, 2024; Venekamp et al, 2020).

Some studies have suggested that parents who ‘cleaned’ the dummy by sucking it themselves rather than using antiseptic to clean it were less likely to have children with asthma or eczema at 18 months of age. This might be because microbiota in the parent’s saliva can help strengthen their baby’s immune system (Hesselmar et al, 2013).

Overusing sanitiser on dummies has been linked to increased risk of food allergies at six months old (Soriano et al, 2021).

So, how do you clean a dummy?

Dummies don't need to be used with antiseptic sanitiser after every use. Sterilising too much can cause damage to the plastic. Instead:

1. Before first use, steam sterilise the dummy, or put it in boiling water for three to five minutes.
2. After that, clean the dummy with hot soapy water after each use (or if it is dropped on the floor/another multi-use surface).
3. Regularly check the dummy for signs of wear and tear and throw it away if you see any.

Does dummy use reduce SIDs?

It's not really known if dummies reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) (Basis, 2025). There is mixed evidence, so dummies aren't particularly recommended or not as a way of reducing SIDS.

Recent studies suggest that the risk of SIDs might increase when dummies are usually used, but not for the last sleep (McGarvey et al, 2003).

If parents decide to give their baby a dummy, they should do so for every sleep until their baby is around six months old and past the peak age for SIDS. Once asleep, it doesn’t matter if the dummy falls out of the mouth, it doesn’t need to be put back in (Lullaby Trust, 2025).

Don’t use dummy cords or chains around the neck to secure the dummy, as these can be dangerous (Lullaby Trust, 2025).

How to stop using a dummy

Some parents gradually wean the baby off the dummy, while others prefer to stop abruptly (Janwadkar et al, 2023). There isn’t really a ‘best’ way.

It may encourage a baby or toddler to let go of their dummy if they (NHS Scotland):

• Give the dummy away to someone important to them
• Are visited by the ‘dummy fairy’ who takes the dummy away
• Swap the dummy for a cuddly toy or gift.