Dummies have been around for ages. They are known as pacifiers for an excellent reason. They definitely soothe your baby and help them settle. There are many different opinions about dummies, so we thought we would give you all the information you need to make an informed decision for your baby. There will always be a love-hate relationship with your baby’s dummies, no matter what. You just need to decide if you love them enough to use them or hate them enough to do without them!
Benefits of Dummies
- Babies can satiate sucking needs when not breastfed
- They can soothe babies
- They can aid in your baby falling asleep
- Dummies may help protect against SIDS
- It is easier to wean from dummies than thumbs
Disadvantages of Dummies
- Middle ear infections can supposedly occur more frequently
- The stress caused by misplacing the dummy
- The dependence that babies form towards their dummies can lead to sleep problems or speech problems
- Babies may have more dental problems
- The more a dummy is used, the harder it is to wean a child off
Weaning for Dummies
Weaning your child off of their dummies can be an absolute nightmare for both you and your infant. Children may choose to give up their dummies on their own. The majority of the time, it is parents who decide to stop their child from using a dummy. You are the best person to make the decision regarding whether or not your child is ready to give up the dummy. Weaning a baby off their dummy is one of the most popular approaches. Let your child use his or her dummy just at bedtime and during naps. After that, you can wean them down to just bedtime. When it’s time to take away the dummy at bedtime, start by waiting until they fall asleep before removing it completely. You can then move on to the final stage of putting them to bed without a pacifier. There are other approaches like going cold turkey and just taking their dummy away, or you could offer your baby a replacement. The decision is up to you and your baby.