12 Best Pacifiers Breastfed and Bottle-Fed Babies 2021
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Pacifiers can be total lifesavers, but it’s hard to know which one your baby will prefer. And let’s be honest, the best pacifier is the one your baby will take, right? Which means you’ll probably have to try a few to find the type your little one loves. So where to start? As you start shopping for pacifiers, here are some questions you may find yourself asking:
What is an Orthodontic Pacifier?
A buzzword you’ll frequently see on pacifier packaging is “orthodontic.” It means that both your baby’s top and bottom jaw are in the correct position when the pacifier is in their mouth, so it doesn’t interfere with jaw growth and development. As your baby grows, you’ll need to make sure the pacifiers do, too—a bigger paci is usually needed at three months and six months (you’ll see the age specifications on the packaging).
Are Silicone or Latex Pacifiers Better?
Silicone is firmer than natural latex, so silicone pacifiers are sturdy and long lasting, and they won’t break down as quickly as latex pacis. But since silicone is a synthetic material and sometimes undergoes chemical treatments, some parents prefer a more natural material like latex rubber (made from the sap of rubber trees). Latex pacifiers are eco friendly since they come from a sustainable source, and they’re softer than silicone ones, but latex also breaks down faster than silicone. Keep in mind that a latex allergy, although rare, is a possibility, so if you think your baby might be allergic to latex, you’ll need to stick with silicone pacifiers.
What About Pacifiers and Nipple Confusion?
Sucking on a pacifier, bottle and mom’s nipple are very different actions involving dozens of muscles in your baby’s face. To reduce the risk of confusion, pediatricians recommend waiting until breastfeeding is well established—around three or four weeks old—before introducing pacifiers or bottles.
Do All Babies Like Pacifiers?
Some babies don’t like pacifiers at all. You may try a few and find that the habit just doesn’t stick or that your child prefers their thumb. Thankfully, trying out a handful of pacifiers won’t break the bank, and the small investment could pay off in a baby who can easily self-soothe.
You can soothe a fussy baby fast with the right pacifier, but there are a lot to choose from.
Whether you call them pacifiers, pacis or binkies, these objects have been hotly debated in recent years. The good news for parents? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that when used correctly, it’s perfectly fine to offer your little one a pacifier.
Not only can pacifiers be comforting to your baby, especially before bedtime, but pacifier use has also been linked to lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Pacifier safety tips
There are a few things to consider when giving baby a pacifier:
- Keep them clean. The AAP recommends boiling pacifiers to sterilize them or running them through the dishwasher.
- Use them to soothe. Pediatricians and the AAP emphasize that pacifiers should be used to soothe (not delay or replace meals).
- Be careful where you leave them. Pacifiers should never be left in your little one’s crib or tied to her feet or hands.
Choosing the best pacifier
Keep these features in mind when shopping for a baby pacifier:
- Is it easy to clean? Dishwasher-friendly pacifiers are especially convenient.
- How many pieces is it? The AAP stresses the importance of choosing one-piece pacifiers. Those made of multiple parts need to be monitored much more closely, since the connection points could eventually wear down and fall off, explains Gary Kramer, M.D., a pediatrician in Coral Gables, Florida.
- What is the shape? You should avoid pacifiers that are contoured to the face without sufficient air holes, as they create a point of contact that allows moisture to irritate the skin under the shield.
Wondering how to find a pacifier that checks all of these boxes? Below, the best pacifiers for newborns, for travel, for nighttime soothing and more.
The 10 Best Pacifiers for a Breastfed Baby
- Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Soother Pacifier. …
- MAM Pacifiers. …
- Evenflo Feeding Balance Cylindrical Pacifier. …
- Ecopiggy’s Ecopacifier. …
- HEVEA Classic Natural Rubber Pacifier. …
- Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier. …
- JollyPop Pacifier Unscented. …
- NUK Newborn 100% Silicone Orthodontic Pacifier.
What pacifiers do dentists recommend?
Orthodontic pacifiers are designed to prevent the misalignment of teeth. Pacifier use is prevalent in most countries and does not alter the dentition if stopped by the age of two. To minimize the risk of an open bite, pediatric dentists recommend the use of orthodontic pacifiers.
Are Orthodontic Pacifiers better?
The study found conclusive evidence that orthodontic pacifiers cause less prominence of the front teeth, compared to normal pacifiers! … In reality, it is much better for the teeth if pacifier use is stopped before your child is 36 months old, regardless of the kind of pacifier used.
1. Best Pacifiers
So what’s an overwhelmed, exhausted mom to do when faced with all the different types of baby pacifiers available? Check out our picks for the best pacifiers—there’s sure to be at least one baby pacifier here that’ll satisfy your little one.
Photo: Courtesy of Philips Best Pacifiers
2. Best pacifier for newborns
There’s a reason hospitals have been sending new moms home with the Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier: It’s specifically designed for newborns up to 3 months and is an easy, inexpensive option. Made from hospital-grade, BPA-free silicone, the Soothie is also dishwasher safe, so keeping it clean is a breeze.
Buy it: Philips Avent Green Soothie, $4 for two, Target.com
Photo: Courtesy of MAM
3. Best orthodontic pacifier for newborns
MAM Newborn Start Pacifiers are sized for infants up to 2 months old. The lightweight construction is ideal for newborn babies who haven’t yet mastered how to keep a paci in their mouth, and the large cutouts in the pacifier shield ensure that baby can suck and breathe at the same time. One of our favorite features that puts the MAM on our best pacifiers list? It can be attached to a pacifier clip—unlike a number of other newborn baby pacifiers—so it’s always close by when baby needs it.
Buy it: MAM Newborn Start Orthodontic Pacifier, $8 for two, Amazon.com
Photo: Courtesy of Philips
4. Best pacifier for a preemie
The Philips Wee Thumbie is designed specifically for premature babies who can have a hard time handling even a newborn-size pacifier. Ideal for extremely low birth weight infants, the Wee Thumbie’s nipple is modeled after the size and shape of a baby’s thumb (hence the name), in order to mimic the sucking behaviors normally learned in utero. The unique design also allows space for CPAP tubing, mechanical ventilation or tube feeding within an NICU setting.
Buy it: Philips Wee Thumbie Pacifier, 
Photo: Courtesy of The First Years Best Pacifiers
5. Best pacifier for breastfed babies
The First Years GumDrop pacifier has a round nipple and a cutout design that’s shaped to leave baby’s nose free, which helps minimize fussiness. Experts recommend waiting until breastfeeding is firmly established (about three to four weeks) to introduce a pacifier, but once mom and baby have a strong nursing relationship, the rounded shape of the GumDrop nipple will lessen the potential for nipple confusion, making it one of the best pacifiers for breastfed babies.
Buy it: The First Years GumDrop Pacifier, $5 for two, Amazon.com
Photo: Courtesy of NUK
6. Best orthodontic pacifier
The NUK Orthodontic Pacifier is one of the most popular choices among seasoned parents. The orthodontic nipple is ideal for healthy oral development, and the scoop-shaped nipple cavity allows for lots of tongue movement. The NUK is a silicone pacifier that’s BPA free, and it comes in both single and multi-piece versions—not to mention some really cute designs.
Buy it: NUK Orthodontic Pacifier, $10 for two, Amazon.com
Photo: Courtesy of Razbaby Best Pacifiers
7. Best pacifier for teething baby
The RaZbaby RaZ-Berry Silicone Teether is counted among the best pacifiers for a teething baby. Its oversize nipple and bumpy, raspberry-like texture are ideal for soothing baby’s sore gums, and you can even freeze the RaZ-Berry to provide additional comfort. The pacifier’s unique shape makes it easy for baby to keep it in her mouth while doing other activities, and the handle lets older babies pull it out of their mouths themselves.
Buy it: RaZbaby RaZ-Berry Silicone Teether, $4, Amazon.com
Photo: Courtesy of Molar Muncher
8. Best pacifier for teething molars
Traditional teething rings only provide relief to localized areas of the baby’s gums and often can’t reach far enough back to soothe those oh-so-painful molars. Thank goodness for the Molar Muncher! Its U-shape extends all the way back to those tricky teeth, ensuring relief for the baby’s entire mouth. This lightweight binky is easy for babies to manipulate on their own and is constructed of nontoxic food-grade silicone.
Buy it: Molar Muncher, $13, Amazon.com photo: Courtesy of Ashtonbee Best Pacifiers
9. Best pacifier for introducing solids
When a baby is first introduced to solid food, she can find the tastes and textures alarming (and she’ll make funny faces to let you know). The Ashtonbee Baby Fruit Feeder Pacifier helps baby gradually adjust to the flavors of fruits and vegetables by releasing small amounts whenever she sucks. Engineered to allow only tiny food pieces through, the Baby Fruit Feeder poses no choking hazard for beginning eaters, and can be used with ice or frozen fruit for teething relief. The silicone pacifier is dishwasher safe and stain resistant, though orange veggies such as carrots and sweet potatoes may cause discoloration.
Buy it: Ashtonbee Baby Fruit Feeder Pacifier, $13 for two, Amazon.com
Photo: Courtesy of Tommee Tippee Best Pacifiers
10. Best pacifier for nighttime
The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Night Pacifier glows in the dark so you’ll never again find yourself searching for a lost binky in the middle of the night. The symmetrical orthodontic nipple design is similar to that of a bottle nipple, which may help encourage baby’s acceptance of the pacifier. It’s also available in three different sizes: 0-6 months, 6-18 months and 18-26 months.
Buy it: Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Night Pacifier, $5 for two, Amazon.com
Photo: Courtesy of Wubbanub Best Pacifiers
11. Best pacifier for a tongue-tied baby
Being tongue-tied can impair baby’s ability to suck effectively, which can make it difficult for him to keep a pacifier in his mouth. The WubbaNub is basically just a standard Philips Avent Soothie pacifier attached to a cute and cuddly stuffed animal. The rounded nipple of the Soothie can be helpful in teaching babies how to suck after their tongue-tie has been repaired, and the adorable animals are sized just right to help little hands grab (and replace) the pacifier.
Buy it: WubbaNub, $14, Amazon
Photo: Courtesy of Doddle & Co. Best Pacifiers
12. Best pacifier for moms on the go
It’s pretty much inevitable that baby pacifiers are going to fall on the ground (eww), which is why Doddle & Co.’s Pop silicone pacifier is so brilliant. Designed by two city-dwelling moms who weren’t sure how to sanitize filthy pacifiers on the go, the Pop nipple retracts into its silicone bubble when dropped. The Pop features a rounded nipple and is ideal for children ages 0 to 6 months. It’s also dishwasher safe, because even the cleanest pacifier on the market still needs to be washed sometimes.
Buy it: Doddle & Co. The Pop Silicone Pacifier, $10, Amazon
Photo: Courtesy of Fawn and Forest Best Pacifiers
The Best Pacifier for Your Baby, According to Parenting Experts. Call it a smoothie, a paci, or a binky, but these pacifiers really work.
Best pacifier for newborns: Philips Avent Soothie. new Best pacifier for breastfed babies: Nanobebe. pacifier for bottle-fed babies: Dr. top Best pacifier for nights: MAM Perfect Night. top Best orthodontic pacifier: Chicco PhysioForma. Best pacifier for sensitive skin: MAM Air. new Best all-natural pacifier: Natursutten Original.
top Best pacifier for teething baby. The RaZbaby Raz-Berry Silicone Teether is counted among the best pacifiers for a teething baby. Its oversize nipple and bumpy, …
Which Pacifiers are best? Best pacifiers
- top Best pacifier for newborns: Philips Avent Soothie.
- Best pacifier for breastfed babies: Nanobebe.
- top Best pacifier for bottle-fed babies: Dr. …
- Best pacifier for nights: MAM Perfect Night.
- new Best orthodontic pacifier: Chicco PhysioForma.
- Best pacifier for sensitive skin: MAM Air.
- Best all-natural pacifier: Natursutten Original.
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