Honest product review: Clipp dummy

Weaning a little one off their dummy is one of those parenting milestones that people don’t talk about enough. It’s emotional, unpredictable and it often brings big feelings for both child and parent. When we reached the stage where my son was ready to start saying goodbye to his dummy, I wanted a method that was gentle and respectful of his attachment.

So when Clipp Dummy reached out and gifted us their new, innovative weaning tool, we were curious to give it a try. The dummy is designed to help little ones naturally lose interest through a gradual reduction in suction – something we hadn’t seen before.

After using it from start to finish, I would happily recommend it. It genuinely helped us move through the weaning process in a way that felt positive and manageable. However, it did come with a couple of unexpected hiccups that are worth mentioning. Here’s my honest, detailed review and how it worked for our family.

Making it a big deal: Introducing the ‘Rainbow Dummy’

Because my 19-month-old was very attached to his dummy, we decided early on that the introduction needed to feel special, not disappointing. So we made a big, exciting deal about his ‘new dummy.’ We hyped it up all day, talked about how grown-up he was, and even let him open the packaging like it was a present.

We also had to take a practical step: hide every single old dummy in the house. If even one turned up, I knew he’d immediately revert to the old comfort version, and all progress would fly out the window.

To make the process fun, we gave it a special name: the ‘Rainbow Dummy’. The Clipp Dummy uses different coloured shields that gradually make the teat smaller, so we turned each new shield into a little event – surprising him every time it ‘changed colour.’ This made the gradual changes exciting rather than frustrating. Each time we added a new shield, we talked about how his dummy was transforming, and he genuinely looked forward to the next rainbow change.

The step-by-step weaning process

The structure of the Clipp Dummy turned out to be one of its biggest strengths. The decreasing suction works by adding small shields that make sucking less satisfying. We followed a fairly steady progression:

Days 1–2: no shields

For the first two days, we used the dummy in its most basic form. This eased him into the concept of a new dummy without overwhelming him. He accepted it straight away: no drama, no tears. It was actually a much smoother transition than I anticipated.

Day 3–Day 10: First shield

After two days, we added the first shield. We made a whole event of it, calling it the ‘first rainbow change.’ He was thrilled. The suction was slightly reduced, but he didn’t seem to mind much at all.

One week later: Second shield

After a week, we added the second shield. This was the first time we noticed a real difference in his sucking pattern. He still used it at bedtime, but he would often let it fall out or forget about it. The attachment was already loosening.

Two weeks later: Third shield

At this point, we added the third shield. The dummy was getting noticeably smaller and harder for him to suck. He still accepted it, but the reduced suction meant he wasn’t as interested in keeping it in his mouth for long periods. This was exactly the effect we were aiming for: the dummy was becoming less satisfying and was allowing him to fall asleep without using it. We let him get used to this stage for about a month before considering the final shield.

Six weeks later: Fourth and final shield

After giving him several weeks to adjust, we added the fourth and final shield. By this stage, the dummy barely had suction. And then something unexpected happened:

He started losing interest in it on his own.
There were nights he didn’t even ask for it. Other nights he’d hold it but not actually use it. It naturally phased out, which was exactly what we wanted. We even had one shield left, but he really didn’t need it.

Overall, the gradual approach absolutely worked for us, and seeing him slowly move away from the dummy with no tears made it worth every step.

Positives: What we loved about the Clipp dummy

⭐ 1. It made weaning gentle and child-led

I didn’t want to take his comfort object away abruptly. This dummy allowed the attachment to fade naturally. There were no tantrums, no bedtime battles and no guilt – just a slow, kind transition. 

⭐ 2. The excitement of the ‘rainbow dummy’ helped massively

Turning the shields into a game worked better than I could’ve imagined. The novelty of the colour-changing ‘magic’ made every stage feel positive, even when suction began to decrease.

⭐ 3. He accepted it instantly

This was huge. I was prepared for resistance, but he took to the new dummy straight away, probably because it felt familiar enough while still being new and exciting.

⭐ 4. It genuinely reduced his reliance

By the end, he barely cared about using it at all. The design does what it promises. Though in true toddler fashion, he still tries to nab his baby brother’s dummy now and then – old habits die hard!

Negatives: Things that could be improved

While the Clipp Dummy worked overall, there were definitely a few downsides worth noting.

1. Frequent drops led to a cracked shield

My son has a habit of throwing things. Not out of frustration with the dummy, but simply because that’s what he does! So it spent a lot of time being launched onto the floor. After enough drops, one of the shields eventually cracked. This wasn’t a huge surprise given how often it hit hard surfaces, but it was still disappointing considering the shields feel fairly sturdy.

2. Difficult to remove a broken shield

I understand that the shields are designed to be difficult to remove – not only for safety, but also to discourage your child from returning to a regular dummy. That said, when one of the shields broke, we still had to remove it, and it took a lot of force – far more than I expected. We then had to replace it with one of the unused shields, but this wasn’t an issue, as he had already stopped using the dummy before we even needed to add a fifth shield.

3. The glow-in-the-dark front actually melted under a spotlight

This one really surprised me. We held it under a spotlight to charge the glow-in-the-dark feature (something we’ve done with standard dummies many times) and part of the front melted. It didn’t affect safety, but it definitely affected appearance and durability. We’ve never had this happen with a normal dummy before.

These drawbacks didn’t stop the product from working, but they did knock a couple of points off my final rating. 

4. Not the cheapest option

While we were gifted this product to review, when purchasing through Amazon prices can range from £20-28, which is quite expensive. I would be happy to purchase it at this price as it genuinely worked for us, but the cost may put other families off.

Final result: A dummy-free child with no tears

By the end of the process, my son had naturally lost interest in his dummy. He stopped asking for it, stopped depending on it, and eventually forgot about it entirely. And the best part? There was no emotional upheaval. No crying for the old dummy, no dramatic final farewell. Just a smooth, steady shift. For that alone, the Clipp Dummy feels like an enormous success.

Final verdict: 8/10

The Clipp Dummy is a clever, gentle and well-designed tool for helping children wean off their dummy without distress. It’s not perfect (the shield design and durability could definitely be improved) but the core concept works brilliantly.

If you’re looking for a gradual, child-friendly way to help your little one part with their dummy, the Clipp Dummy is absolutely worth trying – just be sure to avoid charging it under a spotlight! It helped us through a milestone I’d been dreading and made the process surprisingly positive, even a little magical. We’ll definitely be using another one when his younger brother is a bit older.

Helping your little one sleep better while weaning off their dummy
If bedtime battles or dummy struggles feel overwhelming, you don’t have to tackle it alone. As a gentle sleep coach, I offer personalised guidance and practical strategies to support you through these milestones, helping your child gain independence while keeping routines calm and positive. If you’d like to find out more, you can book a free discovery call to explore what approach might work best for your family.

And if you’re ready to try the Clipp Dummy for yourself, you can learn more about it here.