NUK

The History Behind NUK
The unique NUK orthodontic shape was developed over 50 years ago after intensive research by two German orthodontists, Professor Dr. W Balters and Dr. med. dent. A Muller.  Their research found that prolonged use of conventional round teats and soothers could cause oral abnormalities like open bite.  They therefore decided to develop a teat that is based on the shape of a mother’s nipple during breast-feeding.  By closely mimicking the sucking action of breast-feeding, NUK teats and soothers encourage the correct oral development for your baby.

Because of NUK's experience and expertise, their teats are used in many maternity and neonatal wards throughout the UK.  In fact, NUK is currently used in over 200 hospitals, including Great Ormond Street, Alder Hey and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.  The NUK orthodontic teat is recommended by 93% of paediatricians and 87% of midwives2 and is the only teat approved by the British Dental Health Foundation.

Why is the NUK orthodontic shape so special?
To help the birthing process, babies are born with under-developed jaws.  The mouth, tongue and jaw muscles are then developed by the natural sucking action used in breast-feeding, which makes the baby ‘work’ for his feed.  By developing these muscles correctly, there will be sufficient space for correct development of the teeth. 

It is this natural sucking action that the NUK teat mimics, so feeding from a NUK teat will encourage healthy oral development, which is why the NUK teats are approved by the British Dental Health Foundation.  And because the NUK teat is based on the shape of a mother’s nipple, it will also make switching between breast and bottle easy. 

This special shape is also found on all NUK soothers. This is because all babies are actually born with a natural instinct to suck. Some even suck their fingers or thumbs in the womb. NUK soothers are therefore designed specifically to satisfy the natural needs of babies and ensure the correct healthy oral development of their teeth and jaws. 

The NUK Air System
All NUK teats have an air vent on the upper side which compensates for the difference in air pressure in the bottle. This helps to prevent the teat collapsing and the baby swallowing harmful air, which helps prevent colic.
 

The NUK Air System is also featured on all NUK soothers, where the air escapes through a small vent when the mouth piece is compressed, so the soother stays soft and flexible.

British Dental Health Foundation Approval
For extra reassurance, all NUK teats and soothers are approved by the British Dental Health Foundation.  NUK is the only brand to have this accreditation, so you know you are using the best quality products for your baby.

NUK sizes and feed holes
Our teats and soothers are available in different sizes, making sure they can encourage the correct oral development for your baby at any age.  NUK teats are also equipped with different size feed holes to suit your baby’s needs.  Teats are available with Medium feed hole, which is suitable for breast or formula milk, and Large feed hole for hungrier babies or thickened feeds.
 

NUK Soothers
Babies have a natural instinct to suck, which is independent of the desire to feed.  NUK soothers, which have NUK’s unique orthodontic shape, satisfy this need whilst encouraging healthy oral development.