Study: Dummies may decrease risk of cot death

New medical research has claimed that giving a baby a dummy during the first year of its life reduces the risk of cot death by more than 90%.

Californian scientists compared the sleep habits of almost 200 babies, thought to have died from sudden infant death syndrome, with more than 300 randomly-selected infants.

Researchers say while the findings do not conclusively prove dummies reduce the risk of SIDS, they may help prevent suffocation.

Experts however warn that dummies may have potentially negative effects including problems with breast-feeding.