Choosing the best dummies for your baby is a must for a lot of parents as they're a brilliant item that can help soothe your little one when they're feeling distressed, help encourage them to fall asleep, and prevent them from crying. The Lullaby Trust even says that using a dummy at night time may even reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). But with so many on the market from lots of parent-trusted brands, it can be difficult to determine which are the best dummies for your baby.
Suckling is part of a baby's natural instinct, it's almost like a comfort mechanism, which is why dummies are popular with some babies. If you're keen to try giving your baby a dummy there are a few things you need to be aware of if you're looking for the best dummies for breastfed babies, such as establishing a good breastfeeding routine first.
Editor's choice:
• Best dummies for newborn and premature babies: MAM Comfort All-Silicone Soothers
• Best ultra-light dummies: Tommee Tippee Ultra Light Silicone Soother
• Best value dummies: Asda Little Angels Day + Night Soothers
Waiting until your baby is at least one month old is also recommended (we explain more as to why in the FAQs at the bottom of this article). It's also important that your baby's dummy is made from latex or food-grade silicone, is BPA-free and phthalate-free, and that you choose one from the correct age range for your baby.
Don't forget about additional purchases, such as dummy sterilisers and dummy clips, to make sure they stay clean and at the ready! Check out our round-up of the best dummies below, as well as answers to all your dummy-related questions further down.
Best dummies for newborn and premature babies
Won Bronze at the Mother&Baby Awards 2023 for Best Product For A Newborn - 0-4 Months
The MAM Comfort Soother is small and lightweight - the smallest in the MAM range, in fact. Its size and design helps best mimic the natural suckling action of newborn babies whilst not adversely affecting oral development.
The MAM Comfort Soother is more expensive than some other supermarket alternatives, although it has been developed alongside speech therapists and paediatricians and so can boast it's research-led in design.
"You can tell that this product has been thoroughly well researched and developed by the company and it would cover bases that are not normally covered by your standard dummies you would find in every supermarket," said our Mother&Baby mum reviewer. "The thing that I liked the most about the product was the shape and size of the teat. When my son used this product I didn’t feel that his mouth or teeth would be affected by it."
Another happy reviewer said: "Can not recommend these dummies enough! My baby girl only has a small mouth and found all other sizes and shapes uncomfortable for her. These are absolutely brilliant!"
Some parent reviewers found the teat was too small, however, so it's certainly best to upgrade to a larger design once your baby is a few months old or showing signs of needing a larger one.
Packed in a convenient steriliser box, the MAM Comfort Soother can quickly be sterilised in three minutes in the microwave - handy for the many occasions a new baby will spit it out onto the floor!
Read our full MAM Comfort Soother review.
Pros
- Small orthodontic teat supports natural sucking
- Available in three colours
- Promotes healthy oral development
- BPA and BPS-free
- Comes in a carry box
- Can be sterilised in the microwave in 3 minutes
Cons
- Some testers found it too small
Best eco-friendly dummy
Boots www.boots.com
The care of a new baby does undoubtedly bring about a lot of waste, but in recent years there's been a surge in demand for more environmentally-friendly baby products. In the dummy sphere, the MAM Pure Carbon Neutral Soother is a great option for environmentally-minded parents, it being the first carbon-neutral soother made of bio-renewable material. Attractiveness hasn't taken a backseat, however, as the cute animal designs also look very sweet.
"When my son saw this dummy, it was love at first soothe," Mother&Baby Parenting and Lifestyle Product writer Hannah James said. "It feels much nicer than other plastic dummies on the market. I love the flat and symmetrical design with MAM, and this design seems to be a favourite with my little one. I have used MAM for all of my children. I am overjoyed that this brand has created an eco-friendly dummy."
The flat, symmetrical design Hannah mentions was created with the help of orthodontists, so there is some peace of mind for parents that this soother is expert-tested as well as being overwhelmingly liked by little ones, judging by the reviews.
Pros
- Made from bio-renewable materials
- Kinder to the environment
- Self-sterilising box
- Symmetrical shape designed with orthodontic input
- Multiple colour choices
Cons
- For 16+ months only
- There are not many online reviews
Best dummies for babies with sensitive skin
Won Bronze at the Mother&Baby Awards 2022 for Best Product For A Newborn
These Philips Avent Soother Pacifiers are ideal for babies with sensitive skin. They've been designed with extra large air holes so the delicate skin around the baby's mouth can be kept soft and dry.
Find it easily at night thanks to its clever glow in the dark feature. We also love that the travel case, which comes with these dummies, doubles as a steriliser — add some water to it and pop it in the microwave.
Orthodontically approved and durable, these soothers may not be the cheapest on the market but they are from a reputable brand and do get great reviews. They are BPA-free, made with medical-grade silicone, and tailored for a baby up to six months of age.
One of our parent reviewers, Louise, said she would definitely recommend this product. "The fact it is orthodontically approved is reassuring and reduces the hesitation factor against trying dummies. The glow-in-the-dark element is fantastic, too, making it very easy to ease a waking child by quickly finding the soother without having to turn on any light and disturb everyone. The case is really useful for sterilisation, storage and transportation."
Read the full Philips Avent Soother review.
Pros
- Comes with sterilisation and travel box
- BPA-free
- Glow in the dark button
- Medical-grade silky silicone teat
- Available in three colours
Cons
- Have to 'charge' them to glow and not all are glowing designs so purchase carefully
- Silicone tends to pick up fluff
Best ultra-light dummies
Tommee Tippee is another recognisable and trusted brand in the baby world and these soothers - the lightest made by Tommee Tippee - get the great reviews you might expect. The teat is made from BPA-free and medical-grade silicone and is very soft to give your baby a skin-like feel. A particularly great feature is its anti-static properties, which prevent dust from sticking to it.
"My baby seems to be a lot calmer when using this product and keeps the pacifier in his mouth longer than he does with other brands due to its texture and lightness," said Victoria, one of our Mother&Baby parent reviewers. "It's also is anti-static which means it's great at repelling dust so when it does drop out of his mouth, I don't constantly need to wash it, and it feels hygienic."
Another of our reviewers, Ashley, said her breastfed son took to them well, which is not always the case with soothers.
Read the full Tommee Tippee Ultra Light Silicone Soother review.
Pros
- BPA-free
- Dishwasher safe
- Anti-static properties
- Two in pack
- Comes in a carry box
Cons
- Doesn't glow in the dark
- Some of the colours aren't popular with reviewers
Best glow-in-the-dark dummies
The MAM Night Soother is accepted by 94 per cent of babies so, if you're a parent who likes the security of stats in decision-making, this is comforting news!
If you prefer to rely on tried and tested reviews, these are also overwhelmingly positive - including this one from our own Mother&Baby reviewer, Charlotte**:** "First time using this product my little boy took to it straight away. Looked comfortable and did not leave any marks on his skin. It allowed some time to catch up on chores whilst he napped peacefully whilst sucking his dummy."
Like other MAM soothers, the Night Soother has been designed in cooperation with paediatricians and orthodontists and has a soft silicone teat. Named due to its glow in the dark feature, it glows brightly at night, making it easy for any parent to find in the dark without disturbing their little one.
Read the full MAM Night Soother review.
Pros
- Great for healthy jaw and teeth development
- Glow in the dark feature
- Travel case to keep dummies self and to sterilise
- BPA-free
Cons
- Not many colours to choose from
Best dummies for breastfed babies
The Nanobebe soother is perhaps most renowned for its success with exclusively breastfed babies as the smooth, soft, rounded teat is designed to mimic the feel of a nipple. There are options for newborns and babies older than three months. One mum reviewer graduated from the smaller to the bigger size and had success with both.
"My little one took to these fine from 5 weeks old,” she said. “He's now 5 months and has moved up to the next size and is still using them happily to soothe himself when he's uncomfortable and for sleeping. I've been exclusively breastfeeding and these haven't affected his latch."
Some less than positive reviews claim the teat is too small and that the silicone material – although lovely and soft – picks up fluff when dropped. However, the vast number of happy reviews oughtweigh the negative, earning the Nanobebe Soother a spot in our best dummies round-up.
Pros
- BPA-free; made from the highest quality, food-grade silicone
- Familiar shape and feel prevents teat confusion
- Range of colours available
Cons
- Some reviews found the teat too small
- Silicone tends to pick up fluff
Best natural dummies
www.notino.co.uk
This Chicco Soft Ergonomic Silicone Dummy is created by paediatricians and approved by orthodontists. Made from one single piece of silicone, it’s designed to fit correctly within the mouth and not affect developing teeth.
It has a super soft teat, too, to provide your baby with as much comfort as possible, even when they're asleep. BPA free and coming in funky colours, these dummies are a great option.
One happy reviewer commented: "Really nice colours and they're also great for my child's teeth. Love Chicco pacifiers!"
However, a couple of reviews said the colours faded with the amount of sterilising.
Pros
- Promotes the correct growth of teeth and gums
- Ergonomically shaped with ventilation holes
- Created by paediatricians
- Comes in a carry box
Cons
- Colour fades with sterilising
- Silicone tends to pick up fluff
Best value dummies
groceries.asda.com
Asda's Little Angels Day + Night Soother is a brilliant on-a-budget option that glows in the dark so parents can locate it easily in the night. BPA-free and featuring cute designs and a clip-on, clip-off handle, there’s no reason not to buy several so you’re never in short supply when you need!
"I like the subtle colours and the pictures on the front of the dummy,” said Our Mother&Baby reviewer Abigail. “I also like that they are BPA-free and that this is made clear."
Harriet, another of our reviewers, found it too bulky overall, and it doesn’t boast some of the features of higher-end soothers. But, on the whole, these are an affordable supermarket choice that get good reviews.
**Read our full Asda Little Angels Day + Night Soothers review.
**
Pros
- BPA free
- Soft silicone teat
- Affordable
Cons
- Not available in a range of different colours/designs
- Not tested or approved by experts such as paediatricians and dentists
FAQs ...
We spoke to Susan Hogan, Co-Founder of The Baby Academy — a platform offering classes and services to a community of new parents by leading healthcare professionals — to answer all your dummy questions.
Will using a dummy affect my baby's teeth and mouth shape?
"While most babies do not require a dummy and may be satisfied with breastfeeding, bottle-feeding or cuddles as a source of comfort, some babies do find comfort sucking on their thumb or a dummy," says Susan. "It is important for parents to understand that prolonged use of dummies may result in misalignment of teeth, such as the upper teeth protruding or the top and bottom front teeth not touching. This can alter the way the teeth come together when biting and may also impact the child's speech development, particularly with regard to the 'S' and 'Z' sounds.
"So if you are using a dummy, the advice would be to wean your baby off the dummy around the one-year mark to reduce this risk."
How often should I clean my baby's dummy?
"The advice we give to parents is to sterilise your baby's dummy before its first use and then to clean it daily, just as you would clean a bottle feeding teat," advises Susan.
"It's important to note that you should never clean a dummy by putting it in your mouth before it goes into your baby's mouth. One tip we always give to parents is to check regularly for cracks, splits and holes, as they can act as germ traps! And it's good practice to renew your baby's dummy often."
The importance of waiting until your baby is at least one month old before giving them a dummy and establishing a good breastfeeding routine first:
In the first month, while your baby is learning the art of breastfeeding, it is important that all the suckling that they do is on the breast, and Susan says this for two reasons.
"Firstly, every time your baby feeds from the breast, they are helping to build towards your milk supply (the more your baby feeds, the more milk you will make). The second reason is an efficient latch when breastfeeding is important for both mum's comfort and to ensure the effective transfer of milk from mum to baby. If your baby is suckling on the soother instead of suckling on the breast, this can result in fewer breastfeeds per day and less practice perfecting that perfect latch."
How do I sterilise my baby's dummy?
Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions first, as these may differ. The most common way to sterilise a baby's dummy though is to use a baby bottle steriliser, popping it in microwavable sterilising bags or popping it in some boiling water. Some dummies will come with sterilising pots that you can fill and pop in the microwave too. Neither of these methods needs to be long, you're looking at around five to 10 minutes each.
About the expert
This article contains expert advice from midwife and co-founder of The Baby Academy, Susan Hogan. Sue's main mission in all of the work she does is "supporting new families, helping them to feel confident and in control during their pregnancy, their birth and as they grow as a family unit."
Stephanie Anthony is the Deputy Digital Editor at Mother&Baby and auntie to four aged 7 to 2 months old. With a particular interest in health, she loves discovering products that make parent’s lives easier.
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How we write our articles and reviews:
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.