The use of a dummy is a very personal one. For some parents they would prefer to avoid it all together to ensure they don’t become dependent on it and for other parents it is viewed as a life saver as it help babies to settle when going to sleep.
Other advantages include relieving baby and parents distress in the early months and useful when establishing a routine. Where the disadvantages include hazards such as tooth decay, possibly causes changes to the growth of the teeth and there is some evidence that states the use of dummies can increase the incidence of ear infections and respiratory infections.
At Tresillian they recommend that children start to be weaned off the dummy after the age of 12 months. They believe that the longer a baby uses the dummy the higher, the chance that it may cause a change in the way their teeth grow. This may be something you may notice if your child uses a dummy past the age of 2 or 3 years old.
Here at Spunky Monkeys as part of our dental Care policy we believe that the use of a dummy is not necessary or appropriate for a child 3 years or older. Educators will work with the parents in order to wean the child off its use.
If you would like any further information on dummies or tips for letting go of the dummy you could visit your local dentist or the following sources.
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