Choosing a dummy for a breastfed baby can feel surprisingly loaded. You might hear “avoid pacifiers completely” — or be encouraged to use one early on - often without any explanation of how different dummies actually interact with a baby’s mouth, tongue, and nervous system.

As a midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), I take a balanced, functional approach.

I’m not against pacifiers, or any parenting tool that genuinely helps babies regulate and feel safe. Early infancy is intense — for babies and parents - and thoughtful tools absolutely have a place.

What matters most is how a dummy is used, for how long, and whether its design supports or works against breastfeeding mechanics and oral development.

What Makes a Dummy “Breastfeeding-Friendly”?

A breastfeeding-friendly dummy isn’t about clever branding or what looks most like a nipple.

It’s about function.

During effective breastfeeding, a baby needs to:

Open their mouth wide
Lift and elevate the tongue
Cup the tongue around the breast tissue
Create suction through rhythmic tongue movement - not jaw clenching or biting

A dummy that stays in place without these skills can reinforce patterns that don’t translate well to breastfeeding.

Why Some Pacifiers Can Work Against Breastfeeding

Many common pacifiers:

Are firm or rigid
Can stay in the mouth through jaw clenching alone
Encourage biting rather than tongue-led suction
Sit shallowly in the mouth

For some babies - particularly those early in their feeding journey or already experiencing challenges - this can:

Interfere with tongue mobility at the breast
Reinforce shallow latch patterns
Mask feeding difficulties rather than address them

This doesn’t mean every baby will struggle. Many babies use standard pacifiers without obvious issues. But when breastfeeding is still being established, mechanics matter.

The Ninni Pacifier: A Functional, Feeding-Informed Overview

Ninni + Co

In my clinical work, I sometimes use the Ninni pacifier as a suck training tool, not just as a settling aid.

This decision is based on how it behaves in a baby’s mouth, not on marketing.

What Makes the Ninni Pacifier Different?

The Ninni pacifier is:

Very soft and flexible
Designed to collapse without suction
Unable to stay in place through jaw clenching alone

To keep the Ninni in their mouth, a baby generally needs to:

Open their mouth wide
Cup the tongue around the base
Maintain tongue lift
Use rhythmic tongue movement rather than biting

For some babies, this more closely mirrors breastfeeding mechanics, which is why it can be useful in specific situations.

Regulation Matters — and So Does Thoughtful Use

I want to be very clear here:

I am not against pacifiers or any parenting tool that helps regulate a baby’s nervous system.

Settling, calming, and helping babies feel safe is important. Tools that support regulation — when used thoughtfully — can be incredibly helpful in early parenthood.

What I encourage is intentional use, rather than constant or default use.

Pacifiers as a Settling Tool — Not a Stand-In

From both a feeding and oral development perspective, my preference is that pacifiers are used:

For short periods of settling
To support a baby transitioning to sleep
When feeding needs have already been met

Rather than:

For long, continuous periods
To delay or replace feeds
Or remaining in the mouth for the entire duration of sleep

Why Duration Matters: Tongue Position During Sleep

One key reason I encourage mindful dummy use — especially in the early months — is tongue posture during sleep.

When a baby is in deep sleep, we ideally want:

The tongue resting elevated against the palate (roof of the mouth)
The jaw and facial muscles relaxed
Clear, unobstructed airway positioning

Prolonged dummy use during sleep can, for some babies:

Encourage a lower tongue resting position
Reduce time spent with the tongue elevated to the palate
Influence oral rest posture if used constantly

This doesn’t mean pacifiers are harmful — it simply means how and how long they’re used matters.

Using a dummy to help a baby settle, then allowing it to fall out once sleep is established, supports both regulation and oral development.

When the Ninni Pacifier May Be Helpful

In practice, I most often recommend the Ninni pacifier for:

Breastfed newborns where dummy use is desired
Babies learning or rebuilding sucking coordination
Babies transitioning between bottle and breast
Babies where biting or jaw clenching is interfering with feeding

It’s not about using a dummy more — it’s about choosing one that respects how breastfeeding actually works.

Important (and Honest) Considerations

The Ninni pacifier:

✔️ May support oral skill development
✔️ Encourages tongue-based suction rather than biting
✔️ Can be useful as part of a broader feeding plan

But it’s important to know:

❌ Not all babies will accept this style
❌ There is often a learning curve
❌ No dummy fixes feeding issues on its own

If your baby has:

Ongoing pain with feeds
Poor weight gain
Clicking, slipping, or difficulty maintaining latch
Suspected oral restriction

A feeding assessment is always the appropriate next step.

So, What Is the Best Dummy for a Breastfed Baby?

There is no one perfect dummy for every baby.

But from a functional, breastfeeding-informed perspective, the Ninni pacifier is one of the few designs that requires breastfeeding-like oral skills to use — rather than bypassing them.

That’s why I stock it.

That’s why I use it clinically.

And that’s why I recommend it when appropriate.

Ready to Try the Ninni Pacifier?

If you’re looking for a dummy that:

Supports regulation without undermining feeding
Prioritises oral function
Is chosen for how it works, not how it’s marketed

You can purchase the Ninni pacifier directly through my website here:

Shop Ninni Pacifiers / Dummies

And if feeding feels anything less than comfortable, or you’re unsure what’s right for your baby — support matters. A dummy should support your baby, not replace assessment, feeding, or connection.