It’s a big, bright world out here for babies so it’s little wonder that they search for comfort by sucking, just like they did in the womb.

Sucking is one of the 5 S’s that help soothe babies; the others are swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing and swinging. And when we think about babies sucking for soothing and comfort, we of course think of soothers … but all soothers aren’t created equal!

We’re taking a look at why the shape of a soother is supremely important, and how NUK has created the ultimate soother shape.

Why Soother Shape Matters

A good soother is designed to mimic a mum’s nipple as she breastfeeds, to help a baby sleep, settle, find comfort and calm or be soothed.

The shape of the soother teat is incredibly important, and should be modelled on the natural nipple shape, so that the baby’s tongue is able to be forward. This tongue placement is similar to breastfeeding, and it’s also helpful because it means that the soother won’t easily slip out during a nap.

The shape of the soother is also really important when considering a baby’s teeth and jaw development, and that’s why we’re thrilled to highlight NUK soothers.

How NUK Created The Ultimate Soother Shape

All NUK soothers feature an orthodontic shape, from the NUK Signature Soother, to the NUK Space Soother, NUK for Nature Latex Soother and the NUK Star Soother.

The unique NUK soother shape is modelled on a mother’s nipples as she breastfeeds, and s study has shown that 95% of babies accept NUK Soothers¹, and 92% of breastfeeding mums confirmed NUK Soothers didn’t affect breastfeeding¹.

So how did NUK develop the ultimate soother shape? With years of research, based on the advice and evidence of experts, including orthodontists. NUK was able to develop a soother that’s right for a baby’s jaw and optimise it so it comes even closer to nature.

The thinner and narrower teat neck reduces pressure on a baby’s jaw and teeth while the flatter baglet and smoother underside give the baby a pleasant mouth-feel and there’s more room for those natural sucking movements. NUK found that 100% of the orthodontists involved in its independent market research confirmed that the new NUK Pacifiers don’t cause crooked teeth or jaw misalignment².

A comparative study of four types of soother shapes³ showed that NUK soothers are the best for the jaw, teeth and palate of babies.The University of Minho, Portugal researchers found that NUK soothers have the lowest risk of teeth realignment and the lowest risk of deforming the palate.

NUK soothers, with their orthodontic shape, tick every box – babies love them, mums love them, and experts love them!

Mouths of Mums is proudly working with NUK to bring you this article. For over 60 years, NUK has been listening to the experts: midwives, doctors, nutritionists and mums and dads, in order to learn about the needs of mother and baby in those vital early years.