Simple rules of dummy use

• Whether you're an experienced parent or brand new to the job, here are some simple rules to follow when choosing and using a pacifier.
• Make sure it is made from a single molded piece with holes stamped out to reduce choking risks. Do not use the nipple from a baby bottle as a pacifier. If the baby sucks hard, the nipple may pop out of the ring and choke them.
• Renew your baby's dummy often — as with teats, check regularly for cracks, splits and holes, which can trap germs, and replace with a new dummy immediately.
• Never dip the dummy in sweet foods such as honey or orange juice to stop your baby crying — this can lead to rapid tooth decay .
• Have an identical backup pacifier available. Experienced parents can recount their scrambling to find a replacement for a lost favorite pacifier. Many babies will refuse a substitute pacifier, so don't leave home without it.
• Never tie a pacifier around your baby's neck or hand, or to your child's crib. The danger of serious injury or even death is too great.
• Pacifiers come in many shapes and styles. If you're debating what type of pacifier is right for your baby, you may want to consult your doctor or family and friends who already have children. Differing shapes and firmness options work better at certain times. For example, when teething, many babies like to chew on a tougher pacifier that you've chilled in the refrigerator

Disadvantages of Prolonged Dummy use

Speech problems — Language therapists recommend that children over 12 months old do not use a dummy as it prevents babies from babbling, which is an important step in learning to talk, and discourages toddlers from chatting, which they need to do to develop their language skills. Prolonged use may affect speech by restricting tongue movements, making speech sound unclear or causing a gap in the front teeth that may lead to a lisp.

Dental problems -the British Dental Health Foundation advises discouraging the long term use of dummies or thumb-sucking as both can result in problems as the teeth grow and develop. If your child continues to suck their thumb after the permanent teeth are coming through, then there is a higher chance that braces would be required later on to reverse the dental effects. But as long as the child stops using the dummy or sucking their thumb by about 3 to 4 years of age, especially before the adult teeth appears, it’s unlikely to be a major problem.

Increased ear infections — there is a proven link between prolonged dummy use and middle ear infections. It is thought that sucking on a dummy increases the chance of an infection back tracking from the mouth into the Eustachian tube (the air-filled passage connecting the middle ear with the back of the throat).

Using a dummy on a daily basis interferes with breastfeeding — there is strong evidence that women who use pacifiers are more likely to wean their babies off the breast earlier than breastfeeding mothers who don't use pacifiers on a daily basis.

Coming off the dummy...

If your child is using their dummy all the time or not giving their dummy up as soon as you would like, try these ideas:

• Gradually decrease the times when you let your child use their dummy, but choose the right time to give up - not when you are under pressure.
• Praise your child if they give up the dummy.
• Restrict dummy use to key times during the day, such as bedtime or when your child is ill. Be firm.
• Reward your child with fun activities, stickers or star charts — don't give them sweets instead of their dummy.
• Point out older girls and boys, who don't use dummies, to your child — pre-schoolers love being more grown-up
• Encourage your child to give all their dummies away to a person who is important to them, such as a grandparent or pre-school key worker.

For more information contact Dr. Raymond Lee, Pacific Dental Care