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10 Best Pacifiers for Breastfed Babies

Explore Pacifiers Most Like Breastfeeding

BY: ADRINA PALMER

Introduction

Whether you call it a binky, pacifier, dummy, or something else entirely, you’re certainly not alone in using one to help soothe your baby. They’re ideal for helping your baby feel comfort, keeping them quiet, and enhancing their ability to feed, but which one should you choose?

To help you skip endless hours of research, we’ve round up 10 of the best pacifiers for nursing and breastfeeding babies on the market.

10 Best Pacifiers for Breastfed Newborns

BIBS BPA-Free Natural Rubber Baby Pacifier

Price: $14.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon

Although pricey, these pacifiers have a sturdy design and thick rubber to help with teething over time. If you love Scandinavian styles, you’ll love this all-natural BPA-free pacifier.

Benefits

This pacifier is stylish and comes in a wide range of colors. It’s also got almost 4,000 5-star reviews, so it’s well trusted.

Downsides

Due to the natural rubber, they do swell some over time – it’s recommended you replace them every 2 months. They’re also a little pricy for a pacifier.

Why we love it

Stylish, affordable, and natural, they’re a great option for any nursing baby.

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Nanobebe Baby Pacifiers

Price: $5.49 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon

Flexible and ergonomic, these transparent pacifiers come 2-in-a-pack for ultimate affordability.

Benefits

Extremely budget-friendly, these pacifiers are designed to curve comfortably with your baby’s face and come in 0-3 months and 3+ months to cater for your baby. They’re 100% silicone and PBA-free.

Downsides

The transparent plastic isn’t that attractive, and some parents have found their babies can’t take to these.

Why we love it

The affordability is hard to beat for an ergonomic pacifier.

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Tommee Tippee Woodland Wonders Breast-Like Baby Pacifier

Price: $9.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon

This pacifier mimics the shape of breasts to appeal to babies and encourages them to take to the pacifier.

Benefits

Designed to flex and stretch, it helps babies feel close to mom even when they’re apart. They’re designed for better airflow, BPA and BPS-free, and are designed to support the healthy development of your baby’s mouth and teeth.

Downsides

While the design is great for babies, it can also catch dirt easily inside the outer plastic. There are also a few accounts of babies getting their fingers stuck in the airflow holes for 10+ minutes.

Why we love it

Affordable and breast-like, this is a great option if your baby won’t take to more traditional styles.

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MAM Day and Night Pacifier Value Pack

Price: $8.39 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon

With a cute design, rave reviews and pacifiers designed for day and night in the pack, this is a must-buy.

Benefits

Each pack comes with 2 pacifiers for daytime use and one for night, and the SkinSoft silicone nipple is designed to feel like mom’s breast. With a full 5-stars on Amazon at over 3,000 reviews, they’ve been well tested.

Downsides

Designed for babies 6+ months.

Why we love it

With almost no complaints, these pacifiers are loved by babies and parents alike. They’ve covered every need, and so if your baby is over 6 months, these are definitely the pacifiers to add to your collection.

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Evenflo Feeding Balance Plus Stage 1 Cylindrical Baby, Newborn and Infant Pacifier

Price: $3.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon

Developed with nursing baby experts for babies under 6 months, these pacifiers are a safe choice for little ones.

Benefits

At just $4 for two, you’ll struggle to find a more budget-friendly pacifier on the market. They’re well-reviewed, easy to clean, and most babies take to them quickly.

Downsides

Some babies do find the nipple a little long initially, and the semi-translucent color isn’t that attractive and is difficult to lose compared to brightly colored options.

Why we love it

They’re so affordable that they’re ideal for trying for young babies and those who won’t take to other pacifiers.

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NUK Sensitive Orthodontic Pacifiers

Price: $4.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon

With a pretty subtle color and a range of options for babies of different ages, these pacifiers are designed to mimic a breast and are shaped for easy breathing.

Benefits

With over 10,000 5-star reviews, these pacifiers are well-loved for their durability, softness, and for being easy to clean.

Downsides

Some parents have had the nipple split on them and are concerned with the potential choking hazard, but they are definitely in the minority. They sometimes go out of stock, so you need to stay on top of ordering if your baby loves them.

Why we love it

Soft and easy to clean, they’re a great affordable option for little ones.

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Dr. Brown’s PreVent Contour Glow in the Dark Pacifier

Price: $9.98 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon

Dr Brown PreVent Contour Glow in the Dark Pacifier

Cute blue or pink designs that glow in the dark, these pacifiers are a great idea if you want to use pacifiers at night.

Benefits

With 4 in a pack, these are extremely affordable, and the glow-in-the-dark feature means that you’ll always be able to find it should your baby lose it at night. Parents have found this feature to be extremely beneficial when you have to get up in the early hours.

Downsides

For the best glow-in-the-dark effects, you need to keep them in the sun during the day. The nipple is quite skinny, which is great for some babies, but others can’t get used to it if they’ve been using a larger nipple.

Why we love it

Affordable, they stay in overnight, and most importantly, there aren’t any complaints about the pacifier breaking, which will put your mind at peace at night.

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JOOVY Silinoogie Pacifiers

Price: $6.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon

Stylish and BPS, BPA, Latex and Phthalate-free, they’re a great choice for sensitive babies.

Benefits

Glow in the dark options mean babies and parents can quickly locate the pacifier at night, they’re dishwasher safe, and come in a 2-pack.

Downsides

Some parents have reported a strong smell that babies rejected even after washing.

Why we love it

Besides a few issues with a smell for some parents, these pacifiers are easily adopted by babies, suitable for all ages, and are great for nighttime use.

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Chicco PhysioForma 100% Soft Silicone One Piece Pacifier for Babies

Price: $5.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon

Chicco PhysioForma Soft Silicone Pacifier for Babies

These easy-to-clean ultra-soft pacifiers are a great choice for babies of any age.

Benefits

These pacifiers come in a 2-pack in clear, blue or pink, and in ages 0-6m, 6-16m, and 16-24m, which means there’s plenty of choice for any baby. With over 8,000 positive reviews on Amazon, you can rest assured that they’re great quality.

Downsides

Some parents and babies don’t love the thicker silicone style.

Why we love it

Their simple and orthodontic design makes them a great choice for babies that love their pacifier.

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Philips Avent Soothie Snuggle Pacifier Holder with Detachable Pacifier

Price: $14.88 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon

More than just a pacifier, this soothie snuggle pacifier can be changed to suit your preferred make of pacifier or with the breast-like nipple it comes with.

Benefits

This soft-toy attaches to your pacifier and gives your baby something soft to snuggle with, perfect if they can typically be found sucking on a corner of their blankie. It comes in a giraffe, elephant, monkey or seal, and two different types of pacifier.

Downsides

The added weight of the soothie means the pacifier is much more likely to fall out.

Why we love it

This cute, soft companion is the perfect addition for any baby that likes to keep hold of blankets or parents’ clothes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What pacifier is best for breastfeeding babies?

For babies under 6 months, the Tommee Tippee (#3) pacifier is a great choice. For any baby over 6 months, the MAM Pacifier (#4) is the best choice.

How soon do you give a newborn a pacifier?

Unless you have extenuating circumstances, it’s best to wait until your baby reliably breastfeeds. For most babies, that means you should wait 3-4 weeks before introducing a pacifier.

Are pacifiers OK for breastfeeding babies?

Yes. While there are rumors about pacifiers being detrimental, studies [1] have shown that pacifiers have a positive or zero impact on breastfeeding babies after age 3-4 weeks.

Do pacifiers affect breastfeeding?

If you introduce a pacifier too early, i.e., before your baby latches consistently and quickly at feed times, you may find you have more problems trying to get your baby to latch. Wait 3-4 weeks until they have the hang of it before you introduce a pacifier.

Can a pacifier help with latch?

In some cases, a pacifier may help. However, in others, it may prove detrimental. If you are having problems getting your baby to latch, speak to your doctor or a lactation consultant.

What to do when the pacifier keeps falling out?

If your baby has trouble holding onto their pacifier, the best thing to do is to “train” them to hold onto it. You can do this by gently pulling on their pacifier when they’re using it properly – this can train them to pull it back into their mouth when it falls out.

Why do babies spit out pacifiers?

Most of the time, the pacifier is simply falling out of their mouth. However, they may also spit it out when they no longer feel the need to suck or if upset.

Do pediatricians recommend pacifiers?

Yes! The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) actually recommends parents introduce a pacifier to their babies from 4-5 weeks of age to help reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) [2].

Are pacifiers bad for newborns?

Not necessarily, though most experts don’t recommend using a pacifier earlier than 3 weeks of age.

How do you tell if a baby is using you as a pacifier?

If your baby is simply clamping onto you rather than actively sucking to feed, they may be using you for comfort as a pacifier.

Do pacifiers make babies gassy?

Generally, no. Babies can get gassy from air getting sucked into the stomach, but this more commonly occurs from excessive crying than from using a pacifier. If you’re worried your pacifier is making your baby gassy, try one with a bigger nipple.

Can a baby sleep with a pacifier all night?

Yes. As we touched on above, the AAP actually recommends it to help lessen the likelihood of SIDS. However, you shouldn’t be concerned if your baby isn’t interested in using one overnight.

At what age can a baby replace its own pacifier?

This varies from baby to baby, but generally, infants start to replace their own pacifier from around 7-8 months old.

When should we get rid of the pacifier?

You should consider starting to wean your baby off of pacifiers at around age 2 (years) and should eliminate it entirely by the age of 4 to avoid dental issues.

Do pacifiers cause speech delay?

Unfortunately, there’s no concrete answer to this. While one study found that children who used a pacifier for a prolonged time had no speech issues, other experts have seen a delay in speech when children seek comfort in their pacifier instead of using language. The best thing to do is watch your child and encourage them to use their words when interacting with you over hand gestures.

At what age does a pacifier affect teeth?

You should start thinking about weaning your child off of pacifiers at around age 2. Typically, dental problems arise if a child is allowed to continue to use a pacifier freely after the age of 3-4.

Are breast-like pacifiers worth it?

Pacifiers are an essential tool for many parents and have the seal of approval from the AAP. However, whether your child needs a breast-like pacifier or another style depends entirely on your child. Since even the most expensive pacifiers are around $15, you don’t need to spend much to experiment and find the style of pacifier your baby loves most. Try out a couple on our top 10 list and you’re sure to find one they love!

Sources:

[1]: aafp.org/afp/2009/0415/p681.html

[2]: healthline.com/health/breastfeeding/no-breastfeeding-moms-you-shouldnt-feel-guilty-about-giving-your-newborn-a-pacifier