Yes, for babies under 6-12 months, you need to sterilize dummies daily and before first use; after 6 months, you can switch to washing with warm, soapy water, though sterilizing once a day remains a good practice, especially if it falls on the floor, with the key being to keep it clean and replace it often.
How to sterilise and clean dummies. You should clean and sterilise any new soothers you buy your baby before you use them for the first time, and again before every use.
Do You Need to Sterilize Pacifiers, Bottles and Bottle Nipples? If you use bottles or pacifiers, you'll want to sterilize them before their first use and regularly afterward, but it's not necessary to sterilize them after every use.
Dummy hygiene at home
With easy access to running water, cleaning your baby's dummy is easy. You should, however, still sterilise it daily using a cold water method or steam steriliser, using products like our Milton's Sterilising Starter Kit for extra safety.
Pacis in particular, when they're used for long periods of time, sterilized repeatedly, and/or stored improperly, break down & can become unsafe. Some (more pliable) items can also become brittle over time, even if they're not used regularly, due to storage conditions.
While there is no firm evidence, dummies that have already been used by one child can be cracked or have damage to the plastic.
Before first use, steam sterilise the dummy, or put it in boiling water for three to five minutes. After that, clean the dummy with hot soapy water after each use (or if it is dropped on the floor/another multi-use surface).
The "5-3-3" baby sleep method is a sleep training strategy where a baby sleeps for 5 hours, stays awake for 3 hours, then sleeps for another 3 hours, often used around 4-6 months to encourage independent sleep by reducing nighttime feeds and establishing routine, but it requires strict adherence and consulting a pediatrician, as it might be too rigid for some babies or caregivers.
The new 'green' Milton Wipes are totally rinse free and food safe, this means parents can use it to wipe clean soothers, teats, teething rings, plates and cutlery without worrying about the need to rinse afterwards. Ideal for travel and quick clean ups at home or on the move with baby.
Place disassembled feeding items into a pot and cover with water. Put the pot over heat and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove items with clean tongs.
Dummy hygiene at home
With easy access to running water, cleaning your baby's dummy is easy. You should, however, still sterilise it daily using a cold water method or steam steriliser for extra safety.
Potential complications of pacifier use, particularly with prolonged use, include a negative effect on breastfeeding, dental malocclusion, and otitis media. Adverse dental effects can be evident after two years of age, but mainly after four years.
Replace the pacifier every two months, before damage occurs. Never dip the pacifier in sugar or honey. This will damage the teeth.
New dummy? Sterilise it before the first use. Then, sterilise dummies before every use until your baby's at least 12 months old. If it's been dropped on the floor (and let's face it, it will be), it needs sterilising again before you give it back.
The "4-4-4 rule" for breast milk is a simple storage guideline: fresh milk is good for 4 hours at room temperature (up to 77°F/25°C), for 4 days in the refrigerator (39°F/4°C or colder), and up to 4-6 months (or longer) in a standard freezer (0°F/-18°C). It's a handy mnemonic, though some organizations like the CDC recommend up to 6 months in the freezer and the AAP up to 9 months, with deeper freezers offering even longer storage.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends pacifier/dummy use to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This recommendation is based on studies that have shown pacifier use reduces the risk of SIDS even under conditions regarded as increasing the risk of SIDS.
Milton sterilising fluid is a form of diluted bleach, containing 2 percent sodium hypochlorite. It can be bought in most supermarkets and pharmacies. Milton baths use a gentle mixture of diluted bleach and water, very similar to the chlorine used in swimming pools.
Microwave Method
Boil: Submerge pacifiers in a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes. Dry: Carefully remove and place them on a clean towel to air dry completely. Once cooled, squeeze out any excess water from the nipple valve.
Why Does SIDS Peak at 2-4 Months? The widely accepted explanation for the SIDS peak has to do with the timeline of brain development. “Up to 4 months old, the part of the brain that controls breathing and wakefulness is under a lot of development,” Juliet explains.
The hardest weeks with a newborn are generally the first 6-8 weeks, characterized by extreme sleep deprivation, feeding challenges (breast or bottle), overwhelming emotions, and adapting to constant demands, with crying often peaking around weeks 4-8 as the baby's immature systems mature, making the first few weeks a chaotic but temporary adjustment period before routines emerge and things gradually get easier.
Yes, the Navy SEAL sleep trick (an 8-minute power nap with elevated legs) is a real technique for quick rest, popularized by former SEAL Jocko Willink, that helps improve alertness and reduce fatigue, though its effectiveness depends on individual relaxation skills and it's not a substitute for full nighttime sleep. The method involves lying down, elevating your feet above your heart (on a chair or couch), relaxing facial muscles, dropping shoulders, and clearing your mind for about 8-10 minutes to promote relaxation and blood flow, preventing grogginess.
Dummy hygiene at home
With easy access to running water, cleaning your baby's dummy is easy. You should, however, still sterilise it daily using a cold water method or steam steriliser, using products like our Milton's Sterilising Starter Kit for extra safety.
While the pacifier itself won't help your baby pass gas, sucking on the pacifier can calm them enough that they fall asleep, gas aside.
Sterilise the parts in the same way that you sterilise bottles and teats. Sterilising after each use is especially important if the baby is less than two months old or premature. After sterilising, leave parts on a clean tea towel or piece of kitchen towel to air dry thoroughly.