Whether you call it a dummy, soother, or pacifier, one thing is certain: dummies can be a real lifesaver for new parents. Offering comfort and soothing babies through the natural act of sucking, dummies are often a go-to solution during those early months. But when is the right time to introduce one, and how do you choose the best type for your baby?
Every baby is different, so there are no hard and fast rules for when to introduce a dummy.
To help you navigate this decision, we reached out to mums in our Grapeviner Facebook Groups to share their experiences.
When Should You Introduce a Dummy?
Here’s what the Grapeviner mums had to say about when they introduced a dummy to their little one:
Sarah:
“We introduced it at a couple of weeks because she wanted to comfort suck and was getting too much milk, which led to her spitting up constantly. She doesn’t really like it, though, and rarely uses it. I won’t let her have it for sleep because I don’t want to be replacing it throughout the night. It’s literally to settle her, and then we take it out once she’s content.”
Kylie:
“Our nurse suggested it on day 3 in the hospital because our baby was trying to eat her hand non-stop. We started then with a BIBS dummy. I’ve begun reducing its use at night – once she’s asleep, I take it out before putting her in the bassinet, and I only use it when she really needs it.”
Hanna:
“My daughter is very unsettled due to wind and reflux, and the dummy helped soothe her. My first never needed one, and I might regret it later, but I don’t know what I would’ve done without it. It was a lifesaver when she would cry endlessly.”
Samantha:
“We started at 6 weeks because the sucking action really helped calm him to sleep. I only used it for naps, and he didn’t fuss when it fell out during the night. I would often remove it once he was in a deep sleep. At 2 years old, he decided he didn’t want it anymore, so we put it away. The dentist recommended stopping by age three, so that was always in the back of my mind.”
Natalie:
“I introduced it at 12 weeks for my first child and took it away at 2 years. It was amazing for soothing, naps, and bedtime. However, my second baby wouldn’t take it despite trying since birth. I was initially afraid due to conflicting advice, but it worked wonders for my first.”
Chloe:
“At five weeks, we introduced one as he was quite fussy in the evenings. We only use it when he’s beyond fussy but doesn’t want or need a feed. We plan to stop at around four months to prevent him from forming an emotional attachment.”
Simone:
“My first had one from three days old because she cried non-stop. My second never needed one, while my third started using one at around 3.5 weeks due to being unwell and needing the sucking to soothe. There are pros and cons, but weaning was never an issue for us.”
From comfort sucking to settling fussy little ones, the mums in our community have shared how dummies can be a game-changer in those challenging early days. However, every baby is different, and finding the right type of dummy that suits your little one can sometimes feel like a guessing game.
That’s why BIBS partnered with us to make this journey a little easier for new parents.
BIBS offers its popular Try-It Pack, designed to help parents find the perfect dummy shape that suits their baby’s unique preferences. By sharing this pack with mums in our Grapeviner Groups, we were able to introduce them to a product that’s already trusted by thousands of families around the world.
The BIBS Try-It Pack is available online at Kollektive ($29.99).
Discover the Perfect Dummy with the BIBS Try-It Pack
When it comes to dummies, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. Babies have unique preferences, sucking techniques, and oral anatomy. That’s why BIBS, a favourite brand among Australian mums, offers a range of high-quality dummies designed in Denmark.
Made from premium materials free from BPA, PVC, and phthalates, BIBS dummies come in a huge range of styles and colours, ensuring there’s something for every baby.
What’s Inside the BIBS Try-It Pack?
The BIBS Try-It Pack was created to help parents find the perfect fit, featuring three different teat shapes:
- Round Nipple: Designed to mimic the shape of a mother’s breast, this teat promotes a natural sucking technique similar to breastfeeding, offering comfort akin to nursing.
- Anatomical Nipple: With a curved top and angled tip, this nipple fits the natural contours of your baby’s mouth, helping guide tongue placement for a breastfeeding-like sucking motion.
- Symmetrical Nipple: The flat-drop nipple is ideal for babies who prefer a flatter shape. It encourages a sucking technique where the tongue rests flat against the palate, making it easier to keep in place.
Mums Recommend the BIBS Try-It Pack
To see how the Try-It Pack worked in real-life scenarios, we sent 50 Grapeviner mums a pack to test which nipple shape their baby preferred. Here’s what they discovered:
“We’d been using a flat, symmetrical dummy, but I was curious to see if my baby preferred another shape. To my surprise, she actually took to the anatomical nipple straight away. I wish we’d tried it sooner, it seemed to soothe her better.” said one mum.
“I was convinced that my baby would only like the round shape since it mimics breastfeeding, but it turned out she preferred the symmetrical nipple. Having all three options in one pack was a real eye-opener.” commented another mum.
Each shape addresses specific needs and preferences, giving parents the flexibility to find the best fit for their baby’s unique sucking technique and mouth anatomy.
The BIBS Try-It Pack is available online at Australia’s official BIBS distributor, Kollektive ($29.99).
Kollektive is Australia’s official distributor for BIBS, and they provided these BIBS products for trial and review. As always, the reviews shared here reflect the honest experiences of our Grapeviner mums, making it easier for you to make an informed choice.
