NEWBORN dummy

Yes, dummies can be used from birth. At Medela Baby we designed our NEWBORN soother specifically for newborn babies.

If you are breastfeeding, research has shown that dummy use in healthy breastfeeding infants, started from birth or after lactation is established, does not significantly affect the prevalence or duration of exclusive and partial breastfeeding up to four months of age. ¹

However, you may prefer to first offer the soother when you and your baby are already comfortable with breastfeeding. Read our article ‘When and how to introduce dummies to babies?’ for more information.

When a sterilisation box is included with your dummy, it can be used to sterilise your Medela Baby dummy in the microwave. Please follow these instructions:

Before use, remove any stickers from the box and wash the dummy and box with warm water. Then follow these steps:

1. Fill water up to the marker 10 ml/0.3 fl.oz for 1 dummy or 25 ml/0.9 fl.oz for 2 dummies.
2. Place the dummy(s) in the box.
3. Close the box and sterilise the dummy for 3 minutes in the microwave (max. 1000W).
4. Allow to cool for a minimum of 3 min before opening the sterilising box.
5. Squeeze out any residual water from the dummy teat.

WARNING: Take extra care when handling and opening the sterilising box. Hot steam from within the box can cause burns. Always check the temperature of the dummy before use.

There is currently no evidence from research to support that the use of a dummy can help babies with reflux,² even though it is mentioned sometimes in articles as a possible help.

Gas and colic are two different phenomena.

If babies swallow a lot of air when they are sucking on a dummy, the air in their stomach could cause discomfort, referred to as gas. But this does not occur frequently. 

The cause for colic is still unknown, but there are some theories such as an immature digestive system, lactose intolerance, allergies, or changes in the normal bacteria of their digestive system.³ Swallowing additional air during feeding can aggravate the situation. It is often difficult to calm babies during a colic episode, they cry intensely and long, often with clenched fists and curled up legs.

Doctors often diagnose infant colic based on the ‘rule of three’ ^3,4

• crying for more than three hours per day,
• more than three days per week, and
• persists for three weeks in a row or longer. 

Symptoms usually start to improve around 10–12 weeks.

One tip to help soothe your baby is to offer a dummy. ⁴ For many babies, suckling can be soothing and helps them calm their emotions.

No. The shape of Medela Baby dummy shields has been designed according to the safety regulation EN 1400, which states how large the shield should be to prevent babies from swallowing their dummies. If at any time your baby should get the entire soother into the mouth, remain calm and gently remove the dummy. There is no danger of choking because the air holes in the shield allow for a constant exchange of air.

Requirements for dummies have been recommended by speech-language pathologists. The following features should be incorporated into a dummy's design to help support the natural movement of the mouth muscles. ^5,8

• Thin neck teat – minimises the space between the upper and lower jaw
• Flat teat – takes up less space in the mouth allowing for more tongue movement
• Flexible and elastic teat – allows for additional tongue movement
• Lightweight – minimises the work of the facial muscles
• Ergonomically shaped shield – fits the contour of the face and prevent pressure points

At Medela Baby we want our products to make every gesture more gentle, intimate and assured. Baby skin is sensitive and we strive to make all our products gentle to the skin. Sensopearls™ are smooth little nubs on the inside of the shield of all our dummies. They are placed on the top and bottom of the shield to reduce – in addition to the air holes – the risk of redness and irritation on your little one’s delicate skin.

At Medela Baby we want our products to make every gesture more gentle, intimate and assured. Baby skin is sensitive and we strive to make all our products as gentle to your little one’s skin as possible. These holes together with our Sensopearls™ enhance airflow and avoid skin irritation increasing child safety.

Even in the unlikely event that your little one happens to get the whole dummy into their mouth, the holes will allow air to flow. It is important not to block these air holes, for instance by attaching cords or ribbons as it might limit airflow.

The shape and features of a dummy are very important to help support the oral development of your baby when it is used with purpose and responsibility. Speech-language pathologists recommend that dummies should have a symmetrical shape with a thin shaft and a flat teat, which takes up less space in the mouth allowing for more tongue movement.^5,8

All Medela baby dummy teats are orthodontic as they have been developed using criteria defined by speech-language pathologists.^5,8 They have a symmetrical teat and a thin neck.

• The thin neck teat allows lip contact and minimises the space between a baby’s upper and lower jaw.
• A flat shaped teat that takes up less space and the flexible silicone allow for increased free movement of the tongue.

Symmetrical teat means the teat has the same shape on the upper and lower parts.
A dummy with a symmetrically formed teat is easily accepted, as it supports the natural physiological tongue, mouth and facial muscle movements and the natural palate growth during this period of development.

Yes. Our dummies are designed to fit the developmental growth stages of your baby. Your little one is growing the fastest in the first few years of life. The dummy teat length and width of the different sizes fit the average growth measurements of the oral cavity during these developmental periods: newborn <2 months, 0–6 months, 6–18 months and 18+ months.

The dummy should fulfill the purpose of calming your baby. When the teat size fits properly in the mouth, is not too big and not too small, this provides better support for the natural suckling movements.

The Medela Baby shields were developed with an ergonomist and designed to fit children’s faces, preventing pressure points under the nose or on the chin and cheeks. Our angel-wing-shape design does not interfere with babies’ breathing and facilitates smelling the comforting scent of the mother. Its light weight minimises additional stress on the orofacial muscles.

The air holes and Sensopearls™ allow for movement of air around the face which helps reduce possibile redness or skin irritations.

Medela Baby dummies are made without BPA.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical component of polycarbonate (PC) plastics and is used in packaging and containers that come in contact with food products. It can also be used in the linings of canned foods and beverages and metal jar lids. Under certain circumstances, it can leach from the material.

This can occur when the container is used for heating food in the microwave, keeping food warm over long periods or when there are cracks, scratches, or damage to the material surface.

There are concerns about the influence of BPA on the hormone balance of infants and small children, which is why all Medela Baby dummies are made without BPA.

Medela Baby products do not contain BPS or plasticisers.
Bisphenol S (BPS) is similar to BPA. It is used in the production of plastic containers and can also be found in food and beverage can linings and various paper products. It appears to have the same health risks as BPA, with concerns about its influence on the hormone balance of infants and small children, which is why all Medela Baby dummies are free of BPS and BPA.

Plasticisers, also known as phthalates are used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics to improve the flexibility and durability of the material. This chemical can also leach out of the product. Some plasticisers have caused concerns about the influence on hormones in children and adults. That is why we specifically use only phthalate-free PVC in our products.

No, the limited and responsible use of a dummy should not cause problems with misaligned teeth. Dummy use should be limited to less than six hours per day.⁶ Choose a dummy shape that supports oral development, usually signalled by the word ‘orthodontic’.

Limiting the hours of daily use and early weaning from a dummy can help prevent misaligned teeth^6,7. Weaning a baby from a dummy can begin as early as 6 months.⁹ Each child’s mouth and teeth develop differently. The use of dummies for children older than 24 months should be a decision made by each parent, based on consultation with a medical or dental healthcare provider. At the latest, weaning should start by 36 months^7,9 as recommended by pediatric dentists.

All Medela Baby dummies are orthodontic and designed to help support the natural movement of mouth muscles. Their shapes come with:^5,8

• Thin neck teat – minimises the space between the upper and lower jaw 
• Flat teat – takes up less space in the mouth allowing for more tongue movement
• Flexible and elastic teat – allows for additional tongue movement
• Lightweight – minimises the work of the facial muscles
• Ergonomically shaped shield – to fit the contour of the face and prevent pressure points

• Before its first use, boil the dummy in hot water for 5 minutes.  Allow it to cool thoroughly before giving it to your baby and squeeze out any residual water that may still be in the teat.
• We recommend to clean the dummy by washing it with warm water before every use.
• To ensure safety and good hygiene, sterilise the dummy if it is heavily soiled or you live in a country in which water may be unsafe.
• Parents often decide to sterilise the dummy more frequently in the first 3 months of life of their baby.

We recommend to replace dummies that are in daily use every 1–2 months, to ensure a safe, hygienic condition of the dummy and help prevent any bacterial contamination.

Before each use, pull firmly on the teat and inspect it for tears or holes. Always replace the dummy at the first sign of wear or damage.

Replace dummies immediately after your little one has had any infectious disease (e.g. a cold, stomach flu).

Medela Baby packaging is recyclable, both the carton and the plastic blister and steribox are made of PP.

Our one-piece dummy, the Soft Silicone is fully made of silicone, it is recyclable and can be handed over to recycling centers where available.

Our other dummies (Newborn, Original and Day & Night) are made of 2 materials (PP and silicone teat) that are ultrasonic welded and not detachable to ensure your baby safety. As they are not detachable, they are not recyclable.