Chemical linked to low sperm count, obesity and cancer found in dummies, tests find

Baby dummies found to contain hormone-disrupting chemical linked to serious health problems.

Three major European brands, Philips, Curaprox, and Sophie la Girafe, have been found to produce baby dummies that contain bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical used in the production of plastics, which mimics the female hormone oestrogen. The discovery was made by the Czech consumer organisation, dTest, who tested 19 dummies sourced from shops and online marketplaces across Europe.

The research found high levels of BPA in some of the dummies, with one pacifier containing as much as 3 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) - a level far above the EU's limit of 0.04 mg/kg for BPA migration from baby products. Another soother, marketed as "BPA-free", contained a concentration of 19 µg/kg, which is higher than the regulatory limit set by the European Toy Safety Directive.

Experts warn that exposure to BPA at an early age can lead to serious health problems, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, obesity, diabetes, and altered immune systems. Children are particularly vulnerable as their organs are still developing and sensitive to disruption.

The European Union has banned the use of BPA in babies' bottles since 2011, but these rules have not been extended to pacifiers, which are often used for longer periods and more intensively than bottles. Campaigners argue that this is a "lack of stringent regulation" and that the current laws are failing consumers.

The three brands involved have responded to the findings, with Philips claiming that it has carried out further testing and found no BPA in its products, while Sophie la Girafe disputes the results, saying that the concentration of BPA was "insignificant". Curaprox has removed affected batches of its baby grow from the market and offered refunds to customers.

The discovery highlights the need for greater regulation around the production of baby dummies and other products made from plastics. As one expert noted, "Pacifiers are often one of the first items parents buy, and they do not expect to be exposing their children to hormone-disrupting chemicals from day one."

omg u guys r u serious? those baby dummies r literally poisonin ur little ones! i mean i know we all thought they were harmless but now i'm thinkin twice about buyin one for my niece ‍ i heard curaprox is already removin batches tho but seriously how can they not regulate these products better? its like we r puttin our babies 2 a toxic product just cuz we dont know any betta gotta spread the word, peeps! (btw u should totes check out this article on it: https://www.vice.com/en/article/m4g3n9/bpa-found-in-baby-dummies)

I'm seriously concerned about this BPA thingy... think about it, our kids are already bombarded with so many toxins in their environment and we're still using these baby dummies made of plastics that contain some super nasty chemical . I mean, what's the EU gonna do? They banned bottles back in 2011 but now they need to step up and ban pacifiers too! It's like they say, "what you don't know can hurt you" and we're literally putting our kids at risk for life-long health problems. This is not about regulation or consumerism, it's about being a responsible parent and protecting your child's future . Can't we just make these companies do the right thing without having to resort to campaigns and lawsuits?

ugh this is so concerning those brands need to get their act together it's crazy that some pacifiers had as much BPA as 3 micrograms per kilogram that's like, totally not safe for babies especially with how long some parents use them and stuff i mean the EU banned BPA in bottles already so why not for pacifiers too? it's all about putting our babies first and making sure they're protected from toxic chemicals

ugh these major brands need to step up their game can't believe they're putting our babies at risk like this. i mean, we knew that BPA was a problem, but it's crazy that it's still happening in 2025. and what really gets me is that the EU banned bottles but not pacifiers? it's just so... convenient for these companies to take advantage of parents who are already stressed out enough and the fact that Curaprox just removed affected batches from the market without doing more widespread testing is just lazy can't they do better than this?!

omg, this is so worrying ! i mean, think about it - we're basically putting our kids in harm's way from birth just because we need something that'll make them sleep at night. and for what? so we can get a few winks ourselves? it's like we're not even thinking about their health anymore. and it's not just the brands involved, it's the whole system - we need to be holding our manufacturers accountable for this stuff. i mean, europe already banned bpa in bottles back in 2011, but pacifiers are still off limits? that's just not fair . and what about all the other products out there that could be containing similar chemicals? we need stricter regulations, stat!

Ugh, this is getting ridiculous! Can't these companies even get it right? 19 micrograms of BPA per kilogram in a pacifier? That's insane! I'm like "seriously, how hard is it to make something safe for babies?" And now they're all trying to play down the findings, saying it was an "insignificant" amount... give me a break. And what really gets my goat is that there's no strict regulation on pacifiers yet. Like, when did it become okay to expose kids to chemicals from day one? It's just so lazy and irresponsible. I swear, companies are more concerned with making a quick buck than with putting the health of their customers first...

omg this is crazy I mean, I knew we had some toxic stuff in our plastics but BPA in baby dummies? that's just wrong I'm so glad Curaprox is taking responsibility and removing the batches they had - that's a huge step. Philips and Sophie la Girafe need to step up their testing game too it's not okay for parents to be unknowingly exposing their little ones to this stuff. experts are right, we need stricter laws around baby products gotta protect our tiny humans from harm

I'm low-key freaking out about this BPA thing in baby dummies ... I mean, I knew it was a problem with plastics and stuff, but I had no idea it was that bad. Like, 3 micrograms per kilogram is crazy high! And to think these brands have been selling them like they're safe for our little ones? That's just not right.

I'm all about being pro-environment and all, but this takes the cake. Can't we do better than that? I guess it's good that Curaprox is taking action and removing those affected batches from the market. But what about the ones that have already been sold? Are we gonna be stuck with them forever?

I'm not sure if I can trust any of these brands anymore, but at least Sophie la Girafe is standing up for themselves ... kinda. And Philips seems legit in their claim of no BPA, so fingers crossed they're telling the truth.

Anyway, this whole thing just made me wanna start making my own baby dummies out of natural materials ... who knows if it's a solution, but I'm willing to try anything at this point. What do you guys think? Should we be demanding more regulation from these brands or are they doing enough already?

I'm really shocked by this news, you know? I mean, who wants their baby exposed to a chemical that can cause serious health problems? It's crazy that even BPA-free pacifiers can still have high levels of the stuff. And it's not just about breast cancer and prostate cancer, but also obesity, diabetes... it's like, what are we doing wrong as parents? I think it's time for stricter regulations on baby products, especially plastics. We need to make sure our babies are safe and healthy from day one!

ugh, i'm so down about this! have you seen all these baby dummies just sitting out there on store shelves? like, didn't anyone think that adding a chemical that can mimic estrogen in humans was a good idea?

anyway, the EU has been trying to regulate BPA since 2011, but it's only now that people are really starting to take notice. and honestly, it's kinda scary how much some of these dummies were containing 3 micrograms per kilogram is just straight up disturbing.

i know the brands are trying to downplay it, but like, come on. we need stricter regulations around this stuff. especially when you think about all the time those pacifiers get stuck in tiny little mouths... it's just not worth it

I'm literally shocked by this news ! I mean who knew that baby dummies could have such a huge impact on our little ones' health? 3 micrograms of BPA in one pacifier is insane, it's like we're basically putting poison in their mouths . And it's not just the babies, I'm worried about the long-term effects too, obesity, diabetes, breast cancer... it's all so scary .

I think the EU needs to do better here, banning BPA in bottles was a good start, but what about pacifiers? It's like they're saying "oh, we'll regulate this one later" and it's just not right . We need stricter laws and more testing, ASAP! My friend has an infant and I'm totally going to ask her to check her baby dummy for BPA . We should all be doing that anyway, it's just common sense .

omg how surprising is it that ppl knew about this issue but still let these brands get away with it? i mean come on Philips & Sophie la Girafe u gotta step up ur testing game . i'm so glad Curaprox took responsibility for the affected batches tho . anyhoo, it's just another example of how we need stricter regulations around baby products... like duh . and btw, isn't it crazy that the EU banned bottles but not pacifiers? like, what even is the point of having rules if they're not enforced?