Dummy

In science experiments, a substance without any active ingredient, a placebo.

In the UK, a pacifier: an artificial nipple, usually made of plastic, upon which an infant can suck to gain some solace and quiet down.

Dummies have been claimed to cause early weaning.

However, a study (JAMA, July 18, 2001) was done of women who were planned to breastfeed for at least 3 months.

All of the women were told how to soothe a crying or fussy child, but one group of women was told to avoid giving their baby a dummy.

Advising women not to give their baby a dummy had no effect.

The rate of early weaning was the same in both groups.

The use of a dummy does <U>not</U> cause early weaning.