Many parents use the dummy to help soothe their child. This is understandable, as most babies have a strong sucking reflex and there is not doubt that the dummy can, in many cases, settle the child.

However, speech therapists have found that some children who have speech problems are sucking dummies continuously beyond the time when the child should need these as a comforter.

This continuous dummy sucking can result in incorrect positioning of teeth. It also prevents the tongue from using the full range of movements which are very necessary for the production of all speech sounds.

• If a dummy is necessary, use only for a few minutes to settle the child.
  
  
• A dummy must be sterilised before use.
  
  
• NEVER put a dummy in your mouth before putting it in baby's mouth.
  
  
• Only have one dummy in use, to be available when necessary.
  
  
• Wait til your child asks for the dummy rather than automatically giving it to her.
  
  
• If your child wants to talk to you, remove the dummy before she starts. Talking with the dummy in the mouth can lead to uneven development of teeth.
  
  
• "Father Christmas" and "fairies" can "magic" the dummy away and leave a small present for discarding it!