Babies are soothed by the action of sucking as it reminds them of feeding, so it makes sense that parents have been using dummies, soothers and pacifiers since the dawn of time (or thereabouts). While there is an ongoing debate on whether or not children should use a dummy, if you’re here, you’ve likely already decided which side of the fence you sit on.
Choosing the right dummy is inevitably going to be decided by you and your little one's needs, which you should bear in mind whilst reading our guide. We'll also show you the ten best options available from brands like Mam, Nuk, Nuby and Tommee Tippee to give you the peace of mind of knowing they’re safe for their age and their teeth.
Quick List - Top Dummies
NUK
As Close to a Universally-Accepted Dummy as Possible
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Without further ado, let’s jump into what you should be looking for from a dummy. We’ll be taking into account the shape of the ‘nipple’, which materials to look for, the different sizes available, and why ventilation holes offer more than you may think.
The main choice when picking a dummy is whether you want to go with an orthodontic teat or a cherry one. While there are differences, the big take away is that as long as your baby doesn’t use either of them past the age of two, any contracted dental issues will be avoided.
Orthodontic teats have a round top and a flat bottom. This design encourages the baby’s tongue to lie flat, which means their jaw will remain in the correct 'natural' position while they have it in their mouth. They are supposed to encourage babies to suck in the same way as they do when they’re breastfeeding.
However, this style can cause nipple confusion for younger babies and can result in them feeding in a different manner, which in turn can mean cracked and sore nipples for the mama.
Although they can come in elongated forms, cherry dummies kind of look like a small ball on a stick – hence the cherry moniker. Their shape and style best imitates the breast, which is why they are also referred to as ‘most-like-mother’ soothers.
Cherry dummies are generally considered a better choice for younger children as they will cause less confusion when it comes to feeding time.
There are two choices when it comes to the type of material: silicone or latex. We’ll quickly break down the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Silicone is the most commonly used material and is almost always safe to be washed in the dishwasher (on the top rack, normally). This material will probably be a bit tougher for your baby, but, on the plus side, they do tend to last a bit longer.
Latex dummies, on the other hand, are much softer and more flexible than their silicone counterparts. They will wear out faster, though, and they require hand washing. Unlike silicone, these are known to retain odours.
This part is pretty straightforward, but worth mentioning nonetheless – you should always choose a dummy that is the right size for your baby’s age. Essentially, the bigger the baby, the larger the teat required.
Most dummies on the market come with the recommended age range on their label, for example, 0 – 6 months, though sometimes they can be categorised by S, M or L.
If this is the case, you can use the following guide:
Small/S = 0 – 6 months.
Medium/M = 6 – 18 months.
Large/L = 18 months and older.
When we think of the small holes in the side of a dummy, we believe they are there to stop our babies from choking, and this is certainly true. Nevertheless, a baby managing to get the whole dummy stuck in their mouths is unlikely, although admittedly not impossible.
However, there is another reason for these clever additions. They’re also there to prevent saliva build-up, which can cause skin irritation and rashes. With this in mind, the more holes – and the larger their size – on your little one's dummy, the better.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | NUK Koala and Tiger Silicone Soother |Pack of 2 | ![]() | As Close to a Universally-Accepted Dummy as Possible | |
2 | Zooawa Giraffe Pacifier Holder | ![]() | A 2-In-1 Dummy and Teddy Bonanza | |
3 | Philips AVENT Pacifier |Pack of 2 | ![]() | Crafted From Hospital-Grade Silicone | |
4 | Tommee Tippee Cherry Soothers|Pack of 2 | ![]() | A Great Set of Soothers at an Even Greater Price | |
5 | MAM Glow in the Dark Baby Night Soothers|Pack of 2 | ![]() | An A* All-Rounder | |
6 | Tommee Tippee Ultra-Light Silicone Soother | ![]() | Static-Free to Protect Against Dirt | |
7 | MAM Air Soother|Pack of 2 | ![]() | Super-Soft Silicone With a Sterilising Travel Case | |
8 | NUK Genius Baby Dummies|Pack of 2 | ![]() | A Dummy With British Dental Health Foundation Approval | |
9 | Nanobébé Flexy Soother|Pack of 2 | ![]() | Designed With Oral Development in Mind | |
10 | Nuby Orthodontic Dummy and Dummy Steriliser Pod | ![]() | Keep Everything Bacteria-Free With This Dummy and Steriliser Set |
This range from NUK is called 'Space Soother', namely because they are designed to leave as much space around the mouth area as possible, and touch as little skin as possible, thus reducing the chance of skin irritation. The teat itself has an approved orthodontic shape that reduces any risk to the teeth or jaw.
The company has some impressive statistics, saying that 95% of babies will accept their product, and 99% of mothers would recommend this soother. And we all know how hard parents can be to please. For these reasons, as well as the undeniably cute design, of course, this brilliant set takes our top spot.
A relatively new take on the dummy, this offering from Zooawa has a giraffe teddy attached to encourage your young one to take to it. It also has the added benefit of not being as easy to lose, which if you've ever been through the dummy stage before, you know is almost a guarantee.
If giraffes aren't your, or their, thing, there are seven different teddy designs you could choose instead, from ducks to pink owls. One thing you'll surely be glad to know is that they are completely machine washable, so you don't have to fear in case of any accidents.
Crafted from hospital-grade silicone, these dummies from Philips are a brilliant option for newborns. The orthodontic teat is sized and shaped perfectly for babies' mouths, and features a hole on its reverse side so your young one won't struggle to breath when using the dummy.
Additionally, thanks to the one-piece construction, there are no nooks and crannies so they are super quick and easy to sterilise. Overall this a brilliant dummy, and we can understand why they're often the choice in hospitals too.
These latex soothers are exceptionally designed, with many parents saying that they were so happy they found these after their children struggled to take to any other dummies. Plus, they're an absolute bargain!
The pacifiers are aimed at babies from 0 - 6 months old, which probably explains the choice of material, though the brand do make a similar set for babies of 6-18 months. We think this would be a good buy to test the waters with if you haven't yet introduced a soother to your baby.
This set of dummies from MAM come with a big claim - that they're accepted by 94% of babies. We feel this could go a long way to explaining why this is the number 1 dummy sold on Amazon UK. They have plenty of ventilation holes and sturdy yet comfortable teats, making them a brilliant all-round choice.
The silicone dummies glow brightly during the night, which is perfect for parents as they can easily spot them in the dark and replace it without disturbing your cherub. Plus, this product comes with a self-sterilising travel case for simple and straightforward cleaning.
This soft one-piece silicone soother is designed to stay put when in your baby's mouth, saving you from having to pick it up and replace it every few minutes. Thanks to this construction, the soother will help keep your baby happier and calmer for longer.
Another factor we like about this is that it is static-free. Therefore, it shouldn't attract any dust particles and will stay that little bit cleaner. It is on the expensive side in comparison to other products on the market, but there's no denying the brand know how to make a reliable baby product.
How cute is this set of dummies from MAM? Each product comes with a child-friendly design on the front, with other colours and age suitabilities available. Though made from silicone, the teats are super-soft for a familiar feeling for your little ones.
As the name suggests, they are extra ventilating too, with larger handles than most for increased air flow and skin kindness. Additionally, the pack comes with a sterilising travel case for keeping them safe and hygienic – just place them in the case with some water and pop them in the microwave for a few minutes.
If you want your baby to look every inch the prince or princess they've surely been acting as, you could always opt for this golden number from NUK. All this company's dummies are approved by the British Dental Health Foundation, which means you can rest assured they won't be causing any damage to your child's teeth or jaws.
They are built from a soft latex material too, in order to mimic a mother's breast. However, while the choice of material might be comfortable, some reviewers have found that there is a lack of air or padding in the teat, so your baby may be missing some texture.
This set of soothers are lightweight, ergonomic, and designed with oral development in mind. The one-piece silicone design pretty much ensures that there'll never be a choking scare. Plus, they're also labelled 'extra-soft' by the company, which may be better for younger babies.
While ventilation holes are important, they are only a small part of a dummy's design, so we can see why Nanobébé may have overlooked them. Just be aware that the holes they have included are rather small so they may not drain any excess saliva too well.
This offering is certainly more about the additional feature than the dummy itself, although it does include a pretty decent one so it still makes the cut. The dummy is made from silicone and comes with ample space for ventilation, while the steriliser will kill bacteria in only three minutes, without any water or a microwave.
While this is all very appealing, and it truly is, there is one glaring issue. This steriliser will not work on latex dummies, meaning it's pretty much redundant if your child ends up preferring that type of material.
There are many pros and cons when it comes to the use of dummies. Some benefits are that it helps babies to satisfy their sucking instinct as well as help calm them. On the other hand, some reported disadvantages of dummies are that it’s bad for breastfeeding and for their teeth development.
It’s good practice to clean a dummy after each use to prevent any germ buildup. To do so, simply wash and rinse it in hot soapy water and let it air dry. Due to frequent use and the need to constantly clean them, dummies wear down easily, so consider investing in several.
Introduce the dummy once a proper breastfeeding routine has been established - which should be around 1 month - so as not to hinder the process. However, if you are choosing to bottle-feed then you may introduce a dummy from birth. The NHS also advises weaning the baby off the dummy by 12 months.
Looking for someone to lend a hand in choosing the best items for you and your baby? With a seemingly-infinite list of things to buy, do, and make, every little helps. Here are three more handy articles to check out.
Now we have shown you the most comfortable and safest dummies available online in the UK, we are hoping and praying that your baby likes them as much as we do! With the excellent prices of some of these products, you could even pick up a couple to try out.
Author: Lewis Clark
No. 1: NUK|Koala and Tiger Silicone Soother |Pack of 2
No. 2: Zooawa|Giraffe Pacifier Holder
No. 3: Philips|AVENT Pacifier |Pack of 2
No. 4: Tommee Tippee|Cherry Soothers|Pack of 2
No. 5: MAM |Glow in the Dark Baby Night Soothers|Pack of 2
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