08/12/2025
Dummies – what are the facts around dummies? How can they impact upon development? Take a look below for some information about dummy use:
How can using a dummy affect my child’s talking?
It decreases the opportunities for children to experiment with sounds and repeat back sounds/words that they hear.
Children who have dummies in their mouth during waking hours are less likely to initiate verbal communication or interaction.
Cues maybe misinterpreted by parents. For example, children may cry because they are hungry but are given a dummy instead.
The child may start to speak ‘around’ their dummy, impacting on the way they learn to say sounds and words.
Children may adopt an open mouth posture which puts them at risk of increased dribbling and lead to a sore chin.
Changes in the position of the front teeth can affect how the tongue tip moves and affect how sounds are produced.
Children may not use the ‘lips together’ sounds (m, p, b) because the dummy is stopping their lips coming together.
Children may favour ‘back sounds’ (k, g, ng) instead of sounds made at the front of the mouth (t, d, n).
How can using a dummy affect my child’s eating?
The use of dummies can affect the position of the front teeth which can be pushed out of place so that the top and bottom teeth do not meet properly. This is called an ‘anterior open bite’.
Studies have shown that children with an anterior open bite are more at risk from damage to their teeth.
Dummies dipped in sweet solutions may lead to tooth decay.
How can using a dummy affect my child’s development?
Children may wake more frequently in the night looking for their dummy leading to disturbed sleeping patterns for the child and family.
Prolonged use of a dummy can affect the development of more mature eating and drinking skills and progression onto solid foods.
Children who have a dummy may be at greater risk of infections, in particular otitis media with effusion (glue ear).This can lead to reduced hearing levels and affect speech development.
