From an independent study in July 2021 of 416 mums with a 0-36m child, who are currently using a Tommee Tippee® soother:

Sterilising a dummy: your questions answered | Philips Avent

While ‘nipple confusion’ is a concern for many parents, there is no real scientific evidence that supports this. It is however recommended that you wait until your baby is breastfeeding well before offering a dummy, which is usually around three to four weeks of age. If your baby is due for a vaccination or for blood to be drawn, a dummy is great way to reduce the pain and keep your baby calm at the doctor’s office. If you’re thinking about using a dummy, there are several benefits. Here are some of the most common reasons parents choose to opt for newborn dummy use: The curved shield sits comfortably between baby’s chin and nose and the holes in each side allow extra air flow and prevent the build-up of moisture which helps to protect baby’s delicate skin against irritation. The smooth surface of silicone is very easy to clean and won’t absorb stains and odours. The hygienic, anti-static properties prevent dust from settling and as it has a one-piece design, it is really easy to clean - simply pop in a steriliser, wash by hand or in the top shelf of the dishwasher. We recommend that you replace the soother every month and always at the first signs of damage or weakness and we recommend stopping soother use when your child is older than 36 months.

When you’ve gone to the trouble of sterilising a dummy, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t become contaminated in storage, and that’s when knowing how to store sterilised dummies comes in handy. Simply pop it into a sterilised, sealed container to keep the germs off until your baby’s ready to use it.

dummies: A guide to using a dummy safely - Philips Newborns and dummies: A guide to using a dummy safely - Philips

The MAM 0+/ 2-6+ Soothers are ideal up to the age of 6 months as they offer a smaller teat and shield for younger babies. The MAM 6+ Soothers are suitable from 6 months of age until one year as they provide a larger teat and shield than the 0+/ 2-6+ range but a smaller teat than MAM's 12+/ 16+ soother range. The MAM 12+/ 16+ Soothers being the largest of the MAM teats are ideal for older babies to use from 1 year of age until soother use stops. MAM's range of dummies offers both latex and silicone, which both have substantial benefits as soother materials. Silicone does not age, has no taste and is slightly harder than latex. Latex is the more bite resistant of the two, with silicone, which although bite-resistant must be thrown away as soon as the first bite marks appear. If you think your baby may need a soother material that is more bite-resistant then maybe latex would be the better choice for you! Latex is also a naturally grown product, giving it pure and natural qualities which many parents value. Like most things in life, there are some potential downsides of using a dummy. Here are some reasons why you might opt against giving a newborn a dummy: If you’re constantly involved in ‘find the dummy’ hunts, the Philips Avent Ultra Soft Snuggle will help both you and your baby keep tabs on their soother – it’ll be attached to the super-cute plush animal! It’s easy to detach the dummy from the plushy for sterilising and cleaning. The toy is compatible with all Philips Avent soothers, all of which are orthodontic, durable and BPA free, helping to support natural palate development.Our orthodontic** Ultra-light soothers feature an oval, reverse ortho baglet that is vented meaning it compresses more easily than traditional, air-filled baglets and therefore reduces pressure on baby’s developing teeth and gums. The symmetrical, silicone baglet that is fully reversible and has no ‘wrong’ side-up so the soother will always be placed correctly in your baby’s mouth. Another benefit of using a dummy is that it can encourage your baby to self-soothe when he or she is crying or upset.