Frequently asked questions

How long should I boil a soother?

We recommend boiling a new soother for three minutes before using it.

In the first eight weeks, we recommend that you boil soothers in a pan of boiling water every day for three minutes.

For sterilisation in the microwave, use the Difrax steriliser egg. Read the instructions carefully before use!

Once your baby is eight weeks old, boiling twice a week is enough.

You have two soother models: orthodontic and combi. Which should I buy?

Individual babies have their own preferences. Most babies prefer the combi model.

 
The orthodontic soother aids the development of the palate and the muscles of the jaw and mouth. The round part of the teat rests against the palate and the tongue presses against the flat side.

 

The shape of the combi resembles the nipple, and so this model is ideal for breast-fed babies. The teat of the combi soother is completely round; as a result, it does not have a top and bottom.

My soother has fallen to bits. What should I do?

As soon as a soother is shows any damage at all, replace it immediately.

When should I replace a soother?

Replace soothers every six weeks. Give the teat a firm pull every day to check it before giving the soother to your child. If it is damaged, replace it immediately.

Why do Difrax soothers have a butterfly-shaped shield?

The special butterfly design of Difrax soothers allows sufficient air circulation under the shield, which prevents skin irritations.

Are soothers better than thumb-sucking?

It's usually easier to wean a child off the soother than to break a thumb-sucking habit. You can decide if and when to give your baby a soother and when to take it away again – when he or she is sleeping or playing, for instance.

You have so many types of soother. How do I know which is suitable for my baby?

Difrax has soothers to suit all ages. The range has now grown so large that it's understandable that you don't always know which one is suitable for your baby. The table below will help you to find exactly which soother is right for your child.

At what age should I stop letting my child have a soother?

Soothers comfort and calm babies. All the same, it's sensible to wean them off before their fourth birthday. That leaves enough time for any problems with the milk teeth to rectify themselves, and also ensures that the permanent teeth will not be affected.

I have not been able to get my child to give up her soother. What should I do?

Vivienne van Eijkelenborg, Managing Director of Difrax, developed The Giving Up Your Soother Book in collaboration with a paediatric dentist and a speech therapist. It uses a story and games to present a 15-day plan to help children give up their soothers. Soo Soo the soother fairy offers tips to parents to support them through the process and the amusing characters Kate and Kevin entertain and encourage children with their adventures.

 

The book can be downloaded free of charge and the print version complete with sticker sheet can be bought from the Difrax webshop.

My child has even managed to bite to pieces the extra strong solid soother for children of 18 months and older. What do I do now?

The extra strong, solid soother is indeed the strongest soother on the market. If a child bites this one to pieces, it would be dangerous to continue giving him or her a soother and as a general rule it would be best to switch to a teether.

 

So our advice is:
Check the soother every day, by pulling hard on the teat.
If there are any holes in the teat caused by biting, throw it away immediately.

With some children extra strong soothers seem to invite them to bite and chew even harder, and so it may be better (even though this is counterintuitive) to buy the “normal” model.

A teether instead may be the solution.

There is no soother on the market which we can guarantee, with 100 % certainty, will never fall apart, however much we would like to give such a guarantee. We have tens of thousands of satisfied users (just have a go at trying to break this soother yourself and you will see how incredibly hard it is!) and yet in very rare cases things still go wrong. It is important that responsible parents remain vigilant at all times and keep checking their children's soothers.

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