Dummy Weaning. Gentle Support for Little Companions

Home » Dummy Weaning. Gentle Support for Little Companions

For many babies and toddlers, the dummy is far more than a soother. It is a little friend, a tool for self-regulation. And that is precisely why weaning from it is sometimes not so straightforward..

Dummy: Yes or No?

Breast is best. Breastfeeding fulfils a baby’s natural sucking need most effectively. That said, there are situations where a dummy can be a sensible choice:

  • After a difficult birth During
  • A stay in the neonatal unit
  • For babies with a strong sucking need
  • As practical support for parents

If You Use a Dummy, Use the Right One

Every dummy acts like a small foreign object in the mouth and can influence the bite much like a brace. What to look out for:

  • Small and soft, as light as possible (around 10 grams)
  • Flat in the palate area, to avoid narrowing the upper jaw
  • Silicone is better than latex, less deformation over time
  • A good dummy is an active dummy: it falls out when the child is not actively sucking
  • Always stay with the smallest size

Large, heavy dummies or those attached to soft toys and wooden beads are unfavourable. Both for dental development and for later weaning. Dummy chains should be as light as possible and used at home without a cord. Luminous dummies may contain questionable ingredients and are not recommended.

And the thumb? The thumb is neither flat, soft nor easy to wean from. A dummy is clearly the better choice when a child sucks their thumb strongly.

When to Wean?

Ideally within the first year of life, after that, it becomes increasingly difficult. Between the first and second year, children form deep attachments, and the dummy becomes a true companion. From the age of four to five, outside support can be very helpful.

Why Is Weaning Sometimes So Difficult?

The dummy fulfils deep needs and it is worth understanding these before simply taking it away:

1. The latching need is real.
Infants regulate themselves through sucking. It is a neurobiological mechanism for self-soothing, not a bad habit.

2. Cranial tension.
Some babies, particularly after difficult births, carry tension in the skull and neck area. Sucking helps them regulate this tension and relieve the craniosacral system.

3. The tongue cannot find its spot.
At rest, the tip of the tongue should touch what is known as the spot, a point just behind the upper front teeth on the palate. This point stimulates the vagus nerve and supports relaxation and self-regulation. In some children, the tongue position is unfavourable and they simply cannot find this point. The dummy then takes over this regulating function.

4. The dummy as a bridge.
Older toddlers who still rely on a dummy are often not yet able to self-regulate sufficiently, inner tension cannot simply be let go. The dummy helps them find calm.

How I Can Help

As a complementary therapist, I can gently accompany the weaning process, by addressing the underlying causes, not just the symptom.

Through manual treatment, cranial and fascial tensions that sustain the sucking need can be released. Alongside this, I work with the Balancer to train tongue position and help the child develop new pathways for self-regulation, entirely without the dummy.

In this way, weaning does not become a struggle, but a natural process that the child carries with them.

Hast Du Fragen oder möchtest Du einen Termin vereinbaren?

Kontaktiere mich gerne telefonisch. In einem persönlichen Gespräch finden wir gemeinsam heraus, wie ich Dich oder Dein Kind bestmöglich begleiten und unterstützen kann.

Kontakt & Termine
  • All
  • Babies & Newborns
  • Children & Adolescents
  • Mouth, Tongue & Jaw
  • Prevention & Vitality
  • Sensitive Life Phases

Dummy Weaning. Gentle Support for Little Companions

For many babies and toddlers, the dummy is far more than a soother. It is a little friend, a tool for self-regulation. And that is precisely why weaning from it is sometimes not so straightforward..

When the bucket overflows, regulation difficulties

You might know this feeling: a day that was perfectly normal. Not too much, not too loud, nothing particularly exciting. And yet it ends with a child who simply can't settle. Who cries, screams, writhes and you no longer know what else to do. That's not bad parenting. That's a full bucket.

Understanding stress, when the body stays stuck in alarm mode

Stress is part of life. It helps us meet challenges, make decisions, and perform well when it matters most. But not all stress is the same. While some situations energize us, others can place a long-term burden on our body and nervous system.

Tongtie

During embryonic development, this tissue typically regresses. When it remains present, it may restrict tongue mobility and interfere with several important functions. As the tongue plays a crucial role in feeding, swallowing, breathing, speech, and craniofacial development, the effects of a restricted tongue can extend well beyond the mouth and influence overall function and development.

The Diaphragm, the Centre of Breathing, Posture and Vitality

«Breathing is the first and last thing we do in life. It is our constant companion on our journey.» The diaphragm is a broad, dome-shaped muscle that forms a decisive boundary between the thoracic and abdominal cavities. It not only plays a central role in the process of breathing, but is also of fundamental importance for body mechanics, digestion and even emotional wellbeing.

What the Reflex Zones of Your Teeth Reveal About Your Body

From day 44 after fertilisation, the first tooth buds emerge. Not at some random point, but in parallel with the development of your organ systems. Heart, liver, kidneys, lungs and simultaneously, in the same biological rhythm, the foundation for every single tooth in your mouth.

Bedwetting

Children with sleep disorders often sleep restlessly and have a raised arousal threshold. This means: they do not wake up in time when the bladder is full, despite restless sleep, the conscious wake-up signal is simply absent.

The Moment My Training Came Full Circle

There are moments that change everything. For me, it was a specialist article. On holiday, officially switching off. I was sitting in the sun, my book lying unread beside me and then this article about Dentosophie fell into my hands. Within minutes, it was clear: this is the missing piece. Not only for my patients. For myself too.

One Small Misalignment. A Whole Body Out of Balance.

You have headaches, but the neurologist finds nothing. Your neck is chronically tense, even though you go for regular massages. Your teeth are becoming more sensitive, even though you take good care of them. And one day, someone says: «Have you ever looked at your jaw?»

Flat Head Syndrome

The shape of the skull is not merely a cosmetic concern. The skull is the housing for the brain, the meninges and the craniosacral system. That delicate network of fluid and membranes that extends from the skull all the way to the tailbone. When bones are under constant pressure or form asymmetrically, this can influence the mobility of the entire system.

What Lies Behind Your Baby’s Positional Preference

Newborns spend months in a tight, often asymmetrical position in the womb. Then comes the birth itself: pressure on the skull, traction on the neck, sometimes a very fast or very long labour. All of this leaves traces in the tissue; in the neck musculature, in the joints of the cervical spine, in the fascia that holds everything together. Your baby does not turn their head to one side out of habit. They turn it to where they feel less resistance.

More Than a Latch Issue, What Your Baby’s Body Might Be Telling You

When breastfeeding isn't going smoothly, most people look at technique first. The latch is adjusted, a lactation consultant comes by, maybe a tongue tie is diagnosed. All of that makes sense, no question. But sometimes the real cause lies elsewhere, in your baby's body.

How does stress affect the vagus nerve?

The vagus nerve is one of the longest nerves in the body. When it's functioning well, your body recovers. When it's under pressure, the body stays stuck in alarm mode, even long after the actual danger has passed.

Self-healing powers: How to activate your “inner doctor”.

Self-healing is the body's ability to overcome states of illness and return to health. This has nothing to do with esotericism. A simple example: a wound that closes on its own is a typical form of self-healing. However, certain factors, such as invading germs or stress, can hinder this healing process.

The Menopause, A Time of Transition, Transformation and New Beginnings

In the Western world, menopause is shaped by los. Loss of fertility, of youth, of hormones. Yet other cultures tell a different story: in the indigenous traditions of North America, a woman becomes the Wise Woman; in Japan, Konenki describes a time of renewal and energy; and in African and Asian cultures, she is honoured as an Elder, keeper of wisdom and pillar of the community. Menopause is not an ending. It is becoming.