Yes, newborns can sleep with a dummy. The NHS and The Lullaby Trust say some research suggests using a dummy at sleep time can lower the risk of SIDS. If you're breastfeeding, wait until it's well established (usually around four weeks), offer the dummy for every sleep, and if it falls out once your baby's asleep, there's no need to put it back in.
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A dummy (also called a soother or pacifier) is a small, soft teat your baby can suck on for comfort between feeds. Most have three parts: the teat, a shield that sits against their lips, and a handle (very handy for finding it in the dark).
Babies are born with a strong sucking reflex. A dummy gives that natural instinct somewhere calm to go, day or night.
A dummy can help your baby settle, and it comes with a few well-supported perks:
No, there's no need to take it out. Your baby can keep sleeping with the dummy in, and if it falls out during sleep, The Lullaby Trust says there's no need to put it back in.
If they're sleeping soundly without it, let them be. A sleeping baby is best left to it.
A few simple habits from The Lullaby Trust help keep dummy use safer during sleep:
The Lullaby Trust suggests gently stopping between six and 12 months, to avoid problems linked to longer-term use, like misaligned teeth and ear infections.
There's no need to go cold turkey. Gentle and gradual usually works best:
Comfort doesn't stop at the dummy. Soft, snug-fitting sleepwear keeps your baby cosy without loose blankets in the cot, which is exactly what safer sleep guidelines recommend.
The Swaddle Up™ is designed to let babies sleep in their natural arms-up position, so they can bring their hands to their face to self-soothe, just like they did in the womb. Pair it with a dummy and a calm bedtime routine, and you've got a settling setup that works with your baby's instincts, not against them.
It's completely your choice, and there's no right or wrong answer. The NHS suggests thinking about using a dummy to settle your baby to sleep, as some research links it with a lower risk of SIDS. If you're breastfeeding, wait until it's well established, usually around four weeks. And if your baby isn't keen, that's fine too.
Not in the early months. Longer-term use can lead to issues like misaligned teeth, which is why The Lullaby Trust suggests gently stopping between six and 12 months. Choosing an orthodontic dummy and keeping it free of anything sweet also helps protect those first little teeth.
If your baby wakes and is unsettled, it's fine to offer the dummy again to help them drift back off. Over time, many babies learn to settle back to sleep on their own. If you're on dummy duty several times a night and it's causing more wake-ups than it solves, that may be a sign it's time to start gently weaning.
Yes. Your baby can sleep with a dummy through the night, as long as it's clean, in good condition and not attached to anything. If it falls out while they're asleep, there's no need to put it back in.
A dummy can be a helpful part of your newborn's sleep, and some research links using one at sleep time with a lower risk of SIDS. Wait until breastfeeding is well established, offer it consistently, keep it clean and unattached, and don't stress if it falls out. When the time comes, wean gently. Paired with snug, comfy sleepwear and a calm routine, it's one more way to help your little one (and you) get some hard-earned sleep.
For more expert baby sleep advice, visit the Love to Dream™ blog.
