NEWBORN dummies are either considered the best thing to ever happen to parents - or a really bad habit you should never let your kids develop.
Until you know which side of the fence you're on - and this can change depending on whether you're still pregnant or sitting with a screaming baby in your lap - we've rounded up the best newborn dummies you can buy online now.
As any parent who uses a dummy will tell you, a dummy is both a lifesaver and a real nuisance. Babies will keep losing them, and you'll need to keep cleaning them (or sterilising if your child is under six months).
If your baby chucks the dummy, picking it up and sucking on it before inserting it back into the baby’s mouth is a useful trick when on the go (in fact, a study says doing that is good for babies).
As a baby gets older, a dummy can also prove useful when it comes to soothing teething troubles - although experts say you shouldn't use them beyond the first year to minimise potential speech and dental issues.
These days, you can find a dummy in any design and shape you can imagine, from novelty dummies to natural ones, as well as dummy clips to attach the dummy to pushchairs and clothing (check out the clothing brand Pop My Way, which has modular designs and dummy clips which snap onto garments easily).
With most dummies costing a few quid apiece, there is some flexibility when it comes to finding a dummy that your baby likes – and replacing it when it’s inevitably lost at home or on the go.
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Hevea
- Hevea Star and Moon orthodontic pacifier 0-3 months, £8 at Smallable - buy here
Hevea dummies are made from a single piece of natural rubber so they're completely free of any nasties.
They're also easy to clean (there are no ridges or cracks for dirt to accumulate in) and have an ergonomic, orthodontic nipple that babies find easy to suck.
Hevea's soothers come in subtle designs like crowns, ducks and cars to appeal to style-savvy parents.
MAM
- MAM Night Glow in the Dark Soother with a sterilisable travel case, £6.39 for a pack of two at Amazon - buy here
These glow-in-the-dark soothers are made with a soft silicone teat and come with a handy self-sterilising case - perfect if you or your baby drop the dummy while you're out and about.
This dummy also has an orthodontic shape developed with dentists and orthodontists to help reduce the risk of dental misalignment, a worry for parents whose babies use dummies.
It's also popular with parents of breastfed babies and these dummies are super easy to find in the cot at night thanks to their glowing design.
Philips Avent
- Philips Avent Soothers, £10.79 for a pack of two at Amazon - buy here
This newborn dummy is a smart choice when out and about, accepted by 98 per cent of little ones.
It's BPA-free and comes in a range of colourful designs, plus gets the orthodontic seal of approval to ensure the natural development of teeth and gums.
The Philips Avent Ultra Air Soother is made with a simple silicone teat in a natural shape and designed to let the baby's sensitive skin breathe.
This can be sterilised in its box in the microwave.
NUK
- NUK Signature baby dummies, £3.99 for a pack of two at Amazon - buy here
Designed to mimic the shape of a mother's nipple, the NUK signature soother, made from flexible silicone, is approved by the British Health Foundation for promoting good oral development and is designed to reduce pressure on the baby's jaws and teeth. Parents love how the shape of the dummy slants upwards - just like a nipple and the designs are super cute too.
Dr. Brown's
- Dr. Brown's PreVent orthodontic 0-6 months soother, £5.99 for a pack of two at Amazon - buy here
Crafted with a bottle-shaped teat so that it can easily stay in the baby's mouth, this Dr. Brown's dummy is suction-free to help prevent dental issues and palatal pressure - as it was developed by a paediatric dentist. The dummy is extremely gentle on the baby's mouth and teeth, thanks to its thin-stem design.
Parents swear this is the dummy their kid will take even if they've spat out all other dummies.
Tommee Tippee
- Tommee Tippee Ultra-Light Silicone Soother, 0-2 Months, £6.49 for two at Boots - buy here
Tommee Tippee is a well-regarded brand and its newborn soother features a symmetrical teat help support natural orthodontic development.
Parents like the small size and how this dummy mimics a bottle teat, and others say it works like a charm for their babies with reflux.
This dummy is also very easy to clean as it is dishwasher safe while the anti-static properties help prevent dust from sticking to it.
Dentistar
- Dentistar® Orthodontic Silicone Baby Soother, 0-6 months, £10.99 for three at Amazon - buy here
The Dentistar dummies have an exceptionally thin tip that's constructed of medical-grade silicone and they are orthodontic approved and tooth-friendly - they can be used up until the first teeth start coming in. The small teat in the design is there to allow the tongue to move freely without causing any discomfort to the baby.
The dummies come in packs of three and in a variety of colours and designs, like stars, bears and hearts.
Bibs
- Bibs Silicone Dummies, 0-6 months, £13 for two at Smallable - buy here
For nearly 50 years, the Danish brand Bibs has been making the highest quality dummies that have been proven to be a big success with newborns, thanks to their ergonomic design that is precisely tailored to fit the mouths of newborns.
They come in sets of two under £15 and are made from organically sourced silicone rubber latex.
These dummies are also BPA-free and phthalates-free.
Is it OK to give a newborn a dummy?
Many parents worry that their newborn baby will struggle to use a dummy if they’re breastfed, but that’s often not the case.
Of course, breastfeeding the baby will typically soothe them, but if you need to be hands-free or to get something done around the house, then a dummy can also do the trick.
Just make sure that breastfeeding is well-established (typically a month to six weeks), before introducing the newborn dummy to your baby.
A newborn dummy needs to be cleaned just like a baby bottle for newborns, so parents should sterilise it.
According to The Lullaby Trust, giving a newborn baby a dummy when you put them to bed - every time - may reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
It's recommended that parents stop using a dummy when their child is between six and 12 months old. Prolonged dummy use can lead to potential dental problems down the line, as well as issues with speech development.
Never dip dummies in anything sweet.
Which dummy is best for newborns?
An orthodontic dummy can help newborns, especially those born prematurely, establish good sucking habits.
Orthodontic dummies are also a favourite with experts since they take away pressure from the child's gums and teeth - using them shouldn't hinder your child's mouth and jaw development.
The orthodontic shape can also mimic the mother's nipple, so is a good choice for a newborn that's breastfeeding.
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