Desperate parents are spending hundreds of dollars on these discontinued dummies.

They’re the children’s dummies selling for more than $100 online. They’re not a designer brand, they’re not made from any especially valuable or unique material.

In fact, they used to be sold in supermarkets for around $5.

But now the Tommee Tippee Super Soft Comforters and Happy Baby Cherry Soothers have been discontinued by their maker. And desperate parents are prepared to part with big money to ensure their children remain pacified.

Made from natural latex with an air-filled teat, the previous designs have been replaced by ones involving a vented teat and more contoured shield. But the demand for the old version remains strong, and eBay prices are reflecting that.

As reported by Kidspot, a standard three-pack of the out-of-production Happy Baby dummy for babies aged 6-9+ months recently sold on the retail site for $110.50.

Another for nine to 18-month-olds is currently sitting at $102.50 with a day left to bid.

For Adelaide mother of three, Karina Fry, it's no surprise that people are willing to spend so much on the soothers.

She purchased them for her youngest on the recommendation of a midwife, who told her that the cherry-shaped teat would reduce the need to suck and would help minimise his wind. It worked. But it wasn't long before the style disappeared from the shelves.

"I got a bit panicked by this as it took a while to find something that satisfied my little one. The new style did not satisfy him and he would cry and not settle," the 33-year-old told Mamamia.

"Now if I ever go into a new service station, supermarket, convenience store or chemist, I always check the shelves and ask if they have any old styles left."

After some research, Fry recognised she was not alone in her quest and launched a Facebook page, 'Bring back the original cherry soothers', in a bid to pressure the Tommee Tippee brand into relaunching the former design. She's since accrued more than 640 sympathetic followers.

"Babies aren't favouring the new style. The baglet isn't as squishy and the shield is restricting," she said.

And so parents are paying up for the old ones.

"The story that has stuck with me most is the mum that paid $80 per pack for two packs, plus postage. Another mum paid hundreds as her child was due to go into hospital and she needed extras," Fry told us.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Unfortunately for Karina and other parents, a re-launch of the old style doesn't seem likely.

In response to the consumer backlash, Tommee Tippee yesterday re-published a statement to social media explaining the decision to alter the popular products.

"The change of design was as a result of a move to the manufacturing facility that produces Tommee Tippee comforters across the globe. As all other comforters have a vented teat, it has resulted in this design requiring a change, as we do not produce air filled elsewhere," the statement read.

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"We have replicated the original design as closely as possible, whilst maintaining Australian safety standards and we have supported some parents by providing remaining stock of the original design where possible.

"We truly understand the attachment a little one can have to a soother and the frustration parents feel when their little one rejects a change in design. We sincerely apologise for the upset these changes have caused."

You can read their full statement here.