When can babies put their own dummies in?
From about 8 months of age, most babies can learn to put in their own dummies.
This can be good if your baby needs a dummy to fall asleep or needs your help to put the dummy back in when it falls out during the night.
How to teach your baby to put their own dummy in
Here’s how to help your baby manage their own dummy:
- When you put your baby to bed, put their hand onto the dummy. Then guide the dummy into their mouth.
- Say something like ‘Get your dummy’ while you’re guiding your baby’s hand. After a while, your baby will get their own dummy when you say those words.
- Each time you have to put the dummy back in, make sure you put your baby’s hand onto the dummy. Then guide the dummy into their mouth, making sure they keep a hand on it.
It can take 3-4 nights or longer for babies to learn how to put the dummy back in by themselves.
Is it safe for your baby to sleep with a dummy?
It’s safe for your baby to sleep with a dummy that meets Australian Standard AS 2432:2015. You can get the details of AS 2432:2015 at Product Safety Australia – Baby dummies and dummy chains mandatory standard.
If you use a dummy chain, check that it meets Australian Standard AS 2432:2015.
It’s not safe to use ribbons, strings or cords to attach a dummy to your child’s clothing, hand, neck or cot. Ribbons, strings and cords are strangulation risks.
How can you stop the dummy from falling out of the cot?
There isn’t a safe way to stop the dummy from falling out of the cot or out of your baby’s mouth.
If teaching your baby to replace their own dummy hasn’t worked and the dummy keeps falling out of the cot, another option is to phase out the dummy.
You can do this gradually by using the dummy less when:
- re-settling your child during the night
- comforting your child during the day.
Our article on giving up the dummy has more information. You can also read more about changing your baby’s sleep habits so that your child learns to settle themselves without a dummy.