Dummies and comforters

A dummy (also called a pacifier or a soother) is a nipple-like device that babies can suck on for comfort.

A comforter is a soft object that can help babies feel calm. It might be a small blanket or soft toy.

Dummies and comforters can offer your child a sense of security and help them settle.

It is your choice if you want to give your baby a dummy or comforter. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

When should I introduce a dummy or comforter to my baby?

If you are breastfeeding, only offer a dummy once breastfeeding is well established. This is usually in the first 3 to 4 weeks after birth. Dummies can be offered to bottle-fed babies from birth.

Your baby's dummy should not be used to replace or delay a feed.

For your baby's safety, you should not let them sleep with a soft toy or comforter when they are less than 7 months of age. The risk of suffocation or strangulation from soft toys or comforters outweighs any of their benefits.

What are the advantages of giving my baby a dummy or a comforter?

There are several advantages to giving your baby a dummy or comforter:

• Dummies are associated with reducing your baby's risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
• Offering a dummy can help your baby settle between feeds.
• Many babies like to suck on a dummy or hold a comforter when they are settling themselves to sleep.
• Sucking on a dummy between feeds can help premature babies with growth and development.
• A comforter can help with separation anxiety.

What are the disadvantages of a dummy and comforter?

There are also some disadvantages to giving your baby a dummy or comforter:

• If your child sucks on a dummy, they may be more likely to develop holes in their teeth (dental caries) or ear infections.
• If your baby is breastfed, they can develop nipple confusion, which can contribute to early breast weaning.
• Comforters, if not used safely, can put a young baby at risk of suffocation as it may cover their nose and mouth.

Whether you choose to offer your baby a dummy or a comforter, it is important to make sure they are safe.

Safety tips for comforters

When offering your baby a comforter:

• check your baby's comforter is in good condition
• avoid offering your baby a comforter with a dummy attached
• do not use soft toys as comforters in your baby's sleeping environment until they are at least 7 months of age because of the risk of suffocation
• make sure the comforter is small, not pillow-like, and does not have a blanket or long fabric attachment that a baby could fold into its mouth

You should remove your baby's comforter from their sleep space if they:

• cover their face or head with it
• are unable to move it away from their face or head
• put the comforter in their mouth or it becomes a choking hazard
• use their comforter to lift themselves up in their cot and risk falling out of it

Dummy safety

If you choose to give your child a dummy, it is important you know how to do so safely and hygienically. All dummies sold in Australia must meet Australian safety standards.

Here are some tips for using a dummy safely:

• Your baby's dummy should be a single piece and made of long-lasting material so that it is not a choking hazard.
• It should have a shield that is wider than your child's mouth with holes to allow air through.
• Replace the dummy if it looks worn out.
• Clean your baby's dummy often.
• Dummies are not designed for older children and should not be used while playing and walking around.

What should I avoid to keep my baby's dummy safe?

To keep your baby's dummy safe, there are some things you should avoid:

• Do not lick your baby's dummy.
• Do not share dummies among siblings.
• Avoid dummies that use batteries.
• Do not tie your baby's dummy with a string to their hand, around their neck or their crib.
• If your baby's dummy falls out when they are asleep, do not put it back in their mouth.
• Do not coat or dip your baby's dummy in anything sweet.
• Avoid leaving your baby's dummy in the sunlight or in hot areas, such as the car — this can damage the rubber.

You can keep your child's dummies clean by:

• washing them with warm and soapy water
• rinsing the dummy well and often
• making sure to squeeze out any fluid that got inside the dummy
• drying the dummy with a clean and dry paper towel
• storing the dummy in a clean and sealed container

If your baby is less than 12 months of age, you should also sterilise their dummies.

Sterilise your baby's dummies according to the instructions on the pack.

An amber bead teething necklace is a string of round amber chips that a child wears around their neck. Amber is formed from fossilised tree resin. It is shaped into round small beads that are threaded onto a piece of string or cord. Manufacturers claim the resin has anti-inflammatory properties when warmed by the skin and that it can help soothe sore gums.

Amber bead anklets and bracelets are also available, although necklaces are the most popular. The beads come in a range of colours.

Are amber bead necklaces safe?

Amber bead necklaces and bracelets are not safe to use. They are a strangulation hazard because they can tighten around your child's neck. They can also break, and your child could breathe in the beads if they mouth or chew the necklace. Some necklaces have a magnetic clasp that, if swallowed, could perforate (tear) the gut.

There is no clear evidence that amber bead necklaces or jewellery help to soothe a teething child.

If you do choose to use them, you should:

• always supervise your child when they are wearing amber bead necklaces, bracelets or anklets
• remove any amber bead jewellery before you leave your child alone
• do not let them go to sleep with amber beads
• never let your child chew on the amber beads

You can start weaning your baby from a dummy when they are 6 months of age.

Speech therapists recommend that you stop using a dummy when your baby is around 14 months of age, so that it does not affect their speech development.

To prevent your child's teeth from becoming misaligned (crooked), they should stop using a dummy by the time they are 4 years old.

You can either stop offering your baby their dummy altogether, or slowly reduce the times you offer it.

Weaning your child off their dummy can be challenging.

Many babies have an emotional and physical attachment to their dummy. It can take a few days to adjust to not having it anymore. It can help to offer them comfort in other ways, with lots of soothing and extra cuddles until they become used to not having their dummy.

• Read more about how to use a dummy safely with Red Nose Australia.
• Learn more about using dummies, including the advantages and disadvantages of dummies, in NSW Health's fact sheet about dummies.
• Visit the Royal Women's Hospital website to learn more about safe sleeping for your baby.

Languages other than English

• Red Nose Australia have a safe sleeping guide, available in many languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

• The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has a resource Sleep Bub Safe — with tips about safe sleeping surfaces, positions and environments.
• Red Nose Australia has a resource about safe sleeping for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.