Dummies

Dummies

The child has a need for a dummy from the moment they are born. The need for a dummy is not just a vital thing, so that the child can get food, it also has an enormous calming effect on the child. When the child uses its dummy, it seems safe and familiar in the big foreign world.

How do I clean dummies?

The first time your child uses the dummy, it is important that you sterilize or boil the dummy for 5 minutes first. After that, it is an advantage if you boil the dummies daily, so that you are sure that there are no bacteria on your child's dummy. You can rub the teat with coarse salt to remove any milk residues or other coatings. To prevent fungus from getting on the dummy, you can rinse the dummy afterwards with a mild solution of vinegar water, and then let the dummy air dry.

If the dummy has a valve, make sure to squeeze the excess water out of the dummy part itself. It is important that you always check the dummy before giving it to your child. If there are signs that the dummy is worn, you must throw it away.

Advantages of dummies

A dummy creates enormous security in the child because it is a familiar movement for the child. A dummy can make it easier for the child to fall asleep, because the motion of the dummy helps to calm your child when the child needs to sleep. The dummy can also help calm your child if your child is very upset or angry.

The dummy is also a good guideline in terms of assessing whether your child is just irritable or if your child is crying because the child is hungry. The child will quickly reject the dummy if the child is hungry. However, the dummy can also help delay the child's need for food if you are in a situation where it is not quite possible to feed your child.

Another advantage of dummies is that they can have a pain-relieving effect on your child. If your child has to have a small operation or vaccination, the dummy can divert your child's attention so that the unpleasant experiences don't feel so bad.

Which dummy is best for my child?

Should your child have a round, anatomical or a completely different kind of dummy? It can be difficult to find your way around, and most of the time the only solution is to try out the different types of dummies and see which dummy your child likes best. However, you can always say that the less pressure there is on the palate, gums and jaws, the better the dummy is for your child. When you have to choose the shape of the dummy, there are several different ones to choose from. There is, for example, the round dummy, which is the classic dummy.

The round dummy looks like a breast, and in this way the natural and correct sucking technique of your child is supported, the round dummies feel very natural for the child to use. The round teats are recommended for children who are breastfed, because the child will use the same sucking technique for both teeths and breast. In this way, your child can more easily switch between breast and dummy, and you therefore avoid dummy confusion.

Another type of dummy is the symmetrical dummy. The symmetrical dummies are drop-shaped and therefore cannot be turned the wrong way in the child's mouth. The symmetrical dummies have a flat neck and flat dummy head, and thus reduce the pressure on the child's palate and gums. A final type of dummy is anatomical dummies, which fit the shape of the mouth. The anatomical dummies put less pressure on the child's palate, jaws and gums and are a very gentle dummy.

Silicone dummies or latex dummies?

It is important to consider what material the dummy itself is made of. You can usually choose between dummies made of silicone or latex. Silicone is a very hypoallergenic material. Silicone is 100% free of harmful and hormone-disrupting substances, such as BPA, PVC and phthalates.

Latex, which is also called natural rubber, is a natural and very flexible material that cannot be easily bitten into pieces by the child's teeth. Latex dummies are healthy for the teeth, and are often softer than silicone dummies. Try out the different dummies and see which dummy your child likes best, all children are unique, and therefore you cannot be sure without trying the different dummies.