A question that new parents always have in mind is whether dummies or pacifiers are good for their baby or not. You need to understand the fact that dummies soothe fussy babies. You might be confused what are the uses of the dummy. How to clean them? Which one is right for your baby according to their age? Let’s decode all these questions about dummies.
Are dummies good for babies?
This is one of the most common questions new parents face. Dummies lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. They make sure that your baby is settled.
There are some cons of dummies like they are associated with the risk of infection in the stomach and ears. Sometimes dummies affect dental alignment and create problems.
When is the right time to use dummies?
There are a lot of theories about introducing dummy 2 babies. There is a theory that if we introduce a dummy before newborn breastfeeding is perfectly established they can interfere with breastfeeding. The reason behind these theories is that breastfeeding and dummy sucking use different techniques of sucking. You should do it around 4 to 6 weeks because this is the estimated time for fully established breastfeeding.
You can use a dummy if your baby is bottle-fed from birth.
If your baby has an ear infection or if you have troubling breastfeeding like a sore nipple then stop using dummies.
One should eliminate dummy use by 12 months and by 2 years dummy sucking should be stopped to prevent dental deformation.
How to use them?
After ensuring that you are using a dummy at the right time you should start giving a dummy. Make sure that your baby is not hungry and that the dummy doesn’t interfere with feeding time. Use it after feeding or between feeds. Do not force your baby to take a dummy when they sleep. If a dummy falls out, do not put it back when they are sleeping. Always keep a spare dummy when you go out.
How to clean them?
You should sterilise and clean baby dummies every day. Keep them in a container. Do not put them in your mouth or put any food substance on a dummy. Wash your dummy with soap and water and make sure there is no fluid left inside them.
What are necessary precautions?
- You should always choose a dummy that is recommended by paediatricians.
- Keep a dummy check if it’s torn or leaking.
- Clean and sterilise the dummy properly
- Buy new dummies at a regular interval
- Do not attach any accessories on your own, it can strangle the baby.
- When the baby is teething, avoid using a regular dummy.
Conclusion
Parenting is not an overnight thing to learn, you will learn gradually by making mistakes but with certain tips, you can avoid common mistakes that parents do with their newborns. Using a dummy and how to use it or any other thing is totally up to your intuition.
