Do babies need dummies? Or can they forego

[amberbamber98]

Me and DF are TTC, in month 2 and of course as time goes on I wonder about little things about parenting!

One thing I did wonder is if babies have to have dummies?

I never thought of this really! But it was a random thought that crossed my head

DH has 2 nephews, 1 was given one and still has it at 18 months. His parents say they regret it as it’s made his teeth grow a certain way (don’t know anything about this just what they said) and delayed and affected his speech? Just as he’s always had one and is quite adamant to not give it up

His other nephew is 4 and never had one they never used one and they’re set on the fact that dummies cause teeth and speech/language issues

I didn’t really think of this as me and my brother never had dummies my mother said! DF had one apparently until he was 5

So does it really affect teeth/speech and language? And can babies go without it?

Or do they need it at one time or another!

I was definitely not going to use one for ds, he however was an incredibly sucky baby and it soothed him to have one. We found out later that he had reflux and the dummy helped soothed that.

He had it for sleeping and he gave it away at Christmas to a baby who needed it more than him when he was 21/2!

It didn't affect his speech or his teeth at all.

Both mine had dummies and I am a retired Speech and Language Therapist!! I always joked with my colleagues that I was worried about getting my registration revoked!!

These things seem so big at the time and yet looking back now (my DC are teenagers) they barely register. I have a very touching memory of my eldest's first night without her dummy (she gave it to Father Christmas when she was 3) - she was very brave until she climbed into bed, and then I remember her little chin quivering and she said "Mummy, I don't think I can manage". But she did, and she had no speech problems or teeth problems, because she only had it for bed, or when she was poorly. Having it in all day long is obviously not helpful but people really need to stop judging others parenting when it comes to dummies. Of course toddlers can't speak properly if they have a dummy in their mouth constantly but selective use can give children (and parents) comfort, in my experience.

It depends on the baby. I had twins. One loved a dummy, the other one refused to take one. Next child up loved his dummy, and it really did help to settle him (excellent sleeper) had to prise it off him at 4. Older 2 no dummies at all and not great sleepers. Go figure,

Never gave mine a dummy. They didn't turn into thumb suckers either .

@Tollergirl

Both mine had dummies and I am a retired Speech and Language Therapist!! I always joked with my colleagues that I was worried about getting my registration revoked!!

These things seem so big at the time and yet looking back now (my DC are teenagers) they barely register. I have a very touching memory of my eldest's first night without her dummy (she gave it to Father Christmas when she was 3) - she was very brave until she climbed into bed, and then I remember her little chin quivering and she said "Mummy, I don't think I can manage". But she did, and she had no speech problems or teeth problems, because she only had it for bed, or when she was poorly. Having it in all day long is obviously not helpful but people really need to stop judging others parenting when it comes to dummies. Of course toddlers can't speak properly if they have a dummy in their mouth constantly but selective use can give children (and parents) comfort, in my experience.

Mine had a star chart with a My Little Pony as the end reward. Even though she only had it at bedtime at that point, it was an emotional thing to do without. I was really proud of her, and that MLP was well earned.

No. Mine never did, never needed one.

My DD was given one in SCBU, liked it for 6 months then found her thumb was much better! She’s still sucking it now aged 3 (mainly at bedtimes or when she’s tired). The dentist said if she’s still doing it by 5 we’d need to try and get her to stop.
I tried everything under the sun to get DS ( 9 months) to have a dummy and he just hated them. I was so relieved when he finally took to a comforter after six months. Weirdly it seems he sucks his thumb through the comforter until it’s in a dummy-like shape then sucks that! Whatever gets them to sleep...

I never gave one to my DD (now 4, so past such things). She was EBF etc, and I was happy for her to comfort feed - it worked well for us, so no need for a dummy. I was quite happy with that as it was something I wouldn’t need to think about later. I’ve got twins now, and they do have a dummy on occasion. They were given one when in special care to help strengthen their muscles and encourage the sucking reflux so we could get them off tube feeding. They’ve been home for a month and don’t need one for that reason any more, but it’s definitely useful if they both wake at the same time - although I don’t give them one for every nap/bedtime, it can avert a crisis if both want to feed at the same time and I need one to wait while I sort out nappies etc, otherwise their crying wakes my older daughter.

Wait and see what your baby is like. Some are massively into comfort sucking, some aren’t.

My DS went through a phase at around 4-6 months when he wanted to suck but he didn't want the breast after he had taken the milk he wanted. A dummy was a godsend at this point as he would get so frustrated otherwise. It was also amazing for comforting him and helping him nap during a long car journey in that period. By 7 months he was pretty much over this and has rejected a dummy ever since!

@SpikeDearheart

My DS went through a phase at around 4-6 months when he wanted to suck but he didn't want the breast after he had taken the milk he wanted. A dummy was a godsend at this point as he would get so frustrated otherwise. It was also amazing for comforting him and helping him nap during a long car journey in that period. By 7 months he was pretty much over this and has rejected a dummy ever since!

That's all to say, it not only depends on the baby but can also depend on their needs at a particular point in time!

None of my DCs have had dummies. I can only think of one friends' DC who had one, and for a long time, but she was fostered and then adopted and it came with her.

I have always liked the idea of dummies especially if bottle feeding and I heard they can massively reduce the risk of SIDS. My first two loved dummies but only after 6 months especially post breastfeeding. But my third DC who is nearly 11 months just has never been interested and still isn't!

I thought they were kind of universal but it definitely depends on the child. Go for whatever your gut tells you and base it on what your baby wants :)