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Parents urged to 'Be Dummy Aware'
22.05.15
PARENTS who allow their
babies to use dummies have been warned that soothers
may cause speech, dental and feeding problems in
young children.
A campaign to encourage mums and dads to 'Be Dummy
Aware' urges parents to recognise the possible
side-effects of allowing infants to use pacifiers.
The campaign, including an awareness leaflet, was
launched this week by SureStart Edenballymore, an
organisation supporting parents of children under
four years old in Derry city.
The leaflet is also being made available to
Inishowen pre-schools and creches.
As part of the new campaign, speech and language
therapists have warned that children who use a dummy
may be less likely to communicate effectively when
they are learning how to speak.
Using a dummy may also cause excessive drooling and
dribbling and have an impact on a child’s ability to
chew.
"Dummies may stop your child’s tongue from going to
the right place, this may cause speech
difficulties," said speech and language therapist
Julie Nicholls.
"A child who uses a dummy may tend to speak from the
back of their mouth so the 't' sound becomes 'k' and
'tea' sounds like 'key'," she added. |
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Deputy Mayor of Derry and Strabane,
Cllr Thomas Kerrigan, helps launch the “Be Dummy
Aware” campaign at SureStart Edenballymore at
Hazelbank in Derry. |
The leaflet warns that,
for children over one year, a dummy can cause
communication difficulties; feeding and swallowing
problems and may also affect the proper development
of teeth.
It says children may suffer infections and tummy
upset from using dirty dummies.
Ms Nicholls added: "When your child is playing, take
out their dummy so they can babble and talk. When
your child is upset try not to immediately use the
dummy. Dummies should be a last resort.” Inishowen
creches, preschools or family support groups can
request a digital copy of the leaflet from Ciaran at
SureStart Edenballymore on 04871 371670.
'Be Dummy Aware' tips:
- Ask your child to give their dummy to Santa or the
‘Dummy Fairy’
- Swap dummies for a special present
- Tell older children that dummies are only for
babies
- Leave dummies at home when you go out
- Ask your child to remove their dummy when talking
to you
- Never dip a dummy into anything sweet to avoid
tooth decay
- Don’t clean your child’s dummy with your mouth to
avoid transmitting germs |
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