When my first son was born, the dummy — or pacifier, as some call it—quickly became the most debated item in our household. Some extended family members insisted it was a lifesaver, a magic wand to soothe my baby during the toughest moments. Others argued it was the gateway to bad habits, dental issues, and dependency. As a mum, I found myself caught in the crossfire of opinions, research, and those knowing glances from other parents.
The truth is, the dummy debate is more complex than it seems, and navigating it is just another chapter in the endless adventure of parenthood.
On the one hand, I’ll admit the dummy was a godsend in those early weeks. My son found comfort in sucking, which helped when he had problems settling at night and didn’t need a nappy change or want to be fed. It also gave me a moment of peace during long car rides or grocery store trips that felt impossible without it.
I remember reading at the time that some research even suggested that pacifiers can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when used during sleep. But I couldn’t ignore the concerns. My biggest one was the terrifying thought of how I was going to wean him off it when the time came? On the other hand, the thought of my toddler permanently attached to a dummy made me almost have an anxiety attack. (Remember Maggie from the Simpsons!)
In the end, I realized that like most parenting decisions, the dummy debate isn’t about “right” or “wrong.” It’s about what works for you and your child. For my family, it came down to balance. We used the dummy when we needed to but after a few months he didn’t take it anymore so we stopped offering it. My second son was never interested in taking a dummy. The key is listening to your child’s cues and trusting your own instincts.
Whether you’re pro-dummy, anti-dummy, or somewhere in between the real win is finding what brings peace and happiness to your family — because no parenting debate is bigger than that.
