A dummy offered when your baby goes down to sleep is linked with a lower risk of SIDS, and the major safe-sleep bodies in Australia, the UK and the US all say it's a reasonable choice. If you're breastfeeding, wait until feeding is going well, which sources put at about 3 to 6 weeks. Offer it for every sleep, don't force it, don't put it back if it falls out, and never attach it to your baby for sleep. When to stop differs by country, from 6 to 12 months in UK advice to phasing it out after the first birthday in Australian advice.
Do dummies reduce the risk of SIDS?
The evidence points that way, but nobody knows exactly why. The AAP's safe sleep guidance says dummies help reduce the risk of SIDS, even if the dummy falls out after your baby is asleep. Red Nose in Australia says consistent dummy use is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS, and that the protective mechanism isn't yet fully understood.
In the UK, the NHS SIDS guidance suggests thinking about using a dummy to settle your baby to sleep, because some research suggests it can help lower the risk. The Lullaby Trust agrees that we don't yet know exactly what it is about a dummy that lowers the risk.
A dummy is an optional extra, not a replacement for the basics. Back sleeping, a clear cot and room-sharing matter whether or not your baby uses one. Our safe sleep guide covers the full checklist.
When can you introduce a dummy?
It depends mainly on how your baby is fed.
| Feeding | When to offer a dummy | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Breastfed | Once feeding is going well, about 3 to 4 weeks | AAP (US) |
| Breastfed | Once well established, around 4 weeks | Lullaby Trust (UK) |
| Breastfed | Once established, around 4 to 6 weeks | Red Nose (Australia) |
| Formula-fed | From birth or whenever you like | AAP, Red Nose |
The AAP's dummy guide says to wait until breastfeeding is going well, which usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks. The Lullaby Trust says that once breastfeeding is well established, a dummy shouldn't make it more difficult. If your baby is still learning to latch or you're working on supply, you may prefer to wait a little longer; breastfeeding in the first week covers the early days.
Premature babies and babies in special care are a different situation. The Lullaby Trust notes that health professionals sometimes recommend a dummy earlier, for example to comfort a baby during procedures or to help a premature baby develop the muscles used for feeding. Follow your care team's advice in that case.
How do you use a dummy safely for sleep?
- Offer it at the start of every sleep. The Lullaby Trust says to offer it for every sleep, day or night, not just some. Red Nose says consistency matters.
- Let your baby take it or leave it. All three sources say never to force a dummy on a baby who refuses it.
- Don't put it back if it falls out. Once your baby is asleep, there's no need to reinsert it.
- Don't offer it instead of a feed. The AAP says not to use a dummy to replace or delay a feed, and to offer it only when you're sure your baby isn't hungry. Learn your baby's hunger cues.
- Keep it off the sleep space and off your baby. The AAP says never to tie a dummy to the cot or around your baby's neck or hand, and not to attach it to their clothing while they sleep. The Lullaby Trust advises against neck cords and dummy attachments altogether.
- Never coat it in anything sweet. Red Nose and the Lullaby Trust both say this, and the Lullaby Trust gives honey as an example of what not to use.
The Lullaby Trust also suggests not offering the dummy during awake time, so it stays a sleep cue rather than a constant habit.
How do you choose, clean and replace a dummy?
The AAP's dummy safety advice gives practical checks:
- Choose a one-piece design that can't come apart, with a firm shield at least 3.8 cm (1½ inches) across with air holes, so your baby can't fit the whole thing in their mouth.
- Use the right size for your baby's age as shown on the pack. Older children can sometimes fit a newborn dummy entirely in their mouth and choke.
- Never make one from a bottle teat. The teat can pop out of the ring if your baby sucks hard and cause choking.
- Inspect it often and replace it if the rubber is discoloured or torn, or past any expiry date on the pack.
For cleaning, the AAP says to boil a new dummy or run it through the dishwasher before first use, squeezing the hot water out of the teat with clean hands. It suggests cleaning it this way often until about 6 months, after which soap and water are enough. Red Nose says to clean dummies regularly and replace them often.
What if my baby wakes every time the dummy falls out?
The AAP notes that a baby who relies on a dummy to fall asleep may wake when it falls out. Many families run into this at some point.
- Popping it back in to resettle a crying baby is fine. The AAP says the protective effect holds even if the dummy falls out after your baby is asleep, so you don't need to replace it while they're sleeping.
- As their hand skills improve, some older babies learn to find and put back their own dummy.
- If night wakings for the dummy are wearing you down, gently reducing reliance on it is a reasonable choice. See night wakings and feeding or rocking to sleep for ideas.
When should you stop using a dummy?
This is where advice differs most.
| Source | Advice on stopping |
|---|---|
| Lullaby Trust (UK) | Gently stop between 6 and 12 months |
| Red Nose (Australia) | Begin phasing out after age 1; stop between 2 and 4 years |
| AAP (US) | Strong sucking beyond 2 to 4 years may affect teeth |
The Lullaby Trust says longer-term use can cause problems such as misaligned teeth and ear infections. Red Nose says you can begin gently phasing it out once your baby turns one, and to stop between 2 and 4 years to lower the risk of dental misalignment, and says babies with repeated ear infections should have dummy use limited and see their GP. The AAP says that if the habit stops before the permanent front teeth come through, there's a good chance the bite will correct itself.
Ways to wean off the dummy
- Under 12 months: limit it to sleep only, then to the start of sleep, then try settling without it. Many families find extra cuddles and a steady routine help.
- Toddlers: explain the plan simply and pick a calm time, not during illness, travel or a big change. The AAP suggests praise and small rewards rather than teasing or punishment, and keeping hands busy if the dummy is used out of boredom.
- Go gradual or all at once: both can work. Choose what you can stick with, and expect a few unsettled nights.
When to get help
See your GP or child-health nurse if your baby has repeated ear infections, as Red Nose suggests limiting dummy use in that case. Mention at the next check or dental visit any worries about your child's teeth, bite or speech, or if you're finding it hard to stop. For choking first aid, see choking vs gagging.
A simple note of when your baby uses the dummy, and how often night wakings are about finding it, can help you decide whether and when to start reducing it.
