The Best Pacifiers to Soothe Your Little One

In a nutshell:
Based on expert advice and survey feedback from over 300 members of The Bump community, we chose the NUK Comfy Pacifier as the overall best pacifier, due to its breastfeeding-friendly design, orthodontic nipple and safe construction.

When I was expecting my first child, it felt like I was faced with endless decisions: midwife or ob-gyn, breast- or bottle-feed, crib or co-sleeper? Even smaller choices—like whether or not to use a pacifier—felt fraught. But once my partner and I had weighed the pros and cons and opted to try giving baby a pacifier, we were faced with an overwhelming number of options. Search around online or stroll down the aisle of your local baby store and you’ll see what I mean. There’s a wide selection of baby binkies, all claiming to be the best pacifiers on the market. How is a bleary-eyed new parent supposed to choose? And how much does it even matter?

“Pacifiers can be an excellent aid to soothe a crying or fussy baby, but choosing the right one is key to promoting proper oral development,” says board-certified pediatrician and lactation consultant Mona Amin, DO. I asked Amin, along with pediatric dentist Liel Grinbaum, DMD and Scott Cashion, DDS, MS, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), to weigh in on what parents should look for in a pacifier. Read on to find out what they said and to shop our picks, from the best newborn pacifier to teething-friendly pacifiers and every type of binky in between.

How We Chose the Best Pacifiers

“Pacifiers come in all shapes, sizes and materials,” says Grinbaum—something I knew from my own experience, and which is even more true now than it was when my kids were infants. So how did we narrow down the many pacifiers on the market and decide which ones to include in this roundup?

• In May of 2023, we surveyed over 300 parents in The Bump community, and asked them to tell us about their favorite pacifiers. We took their comments (some of which are included below) into consideration when crafting this list.
• We consulted with pediatric dentists and pediatricians to find out what to look for in a top-quality pacifier.
• We adhered to safety guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In keeping with these guidelines, we only considered one-piece pacifiers.
• We browsed options from an array of leading baby brands and trusted online retailers, considering factors such as product size, nipple size and shape, value, number of pieces, material, specialty designs and how easy they were to clean.
• To get a better idea of how these pacifiers worked for real families, we read user reviews and didn’t consider any with less than an average four-star rating.

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The Best Pacifiers to Shop

What to Look for in a Pacifier

The truth is, baby will have the final say in which pacifier they’ll tolerate when the going gets tough. But there are a few important things to keep in mind when you’re deciding which ones to offer. Consider factors like your child’s age and whether you’ve been breast- or bottle-feeding them (or what you’re planning for the future). Then choose a selection of pacifiers that aligns with what they’re already used to. (If you’re nursing, you can also enlist the help of a lactation consultant for suggestions on the best pacifiers.) In terms of the pacifier itself, you’ll want to look for the following:

• One-piece construction. Grinbaum urges parents to favor one-piece pacifiers: “You want to make sure that the material is one-piece and sturdy to prevent any choking risks,” he explains. The AAP agrees, advising parents to look for a one-piece model with a soft nipple. One-piece pacifiers also have the benefit of being easier to clean; multi-piece pacifiers can get water and soap trapped in the nipple.
• Size. Pacifiers aren’t a one-size-fits-all accessory. If you’re buying a pacifier for a newborn or an infant under 6 months, you’ll want to prioritize options that are small and not too bulky, so they don’t overwhelm baby’s little mouth. You also don’t want it to be so small that it poses a choking hazard. The AAPD’s policy on pacifiers recommends options with a shield that’s at least 1.5 inches across. Babies who are older can take a pacifier with a larger silhouette. “The size of the whole pacifier can also be a health hazard concern,” says Grinbaum. “If the shield around the silicone is too small, the baby can insert it whole into the mouth. Alternatively, if the shield is too large it can cover the nose and cause a breathing hazard. It is imperative to check the manufacturer’s recommendations for sizing.”
• Orthodontic nipples. There are a bunch of different pacifier shapes to choose from, but Cashion notes that for parents who plan to use pacifiers, the AAPD recommends orthodontic nipples. “This type of pacifier is specifically designed with baby’s developing teeth in mind,” says Cashion, “as the shape of the nipple is designed to support the developing jaw. Orthodontic pacifiers also help to reduce misalignment that can be caused by traditional round pacifiers.” Grinbaum agrees, telling us, “The rounder a pacifier tip is, the more it will lead to a narrowing palate, protruded and open anterior bite, and a cross-bite in the back teeth." That being said, babies can be picky about what kind of pacifier they’ll accept; rounded nipples may be too big for some babies and make them gag, while orthodontic nipples may be too thin for others and feel awkward in their mouth. Even just the nuances between a glossy and matte nipple can influence baby’s decision one way or the other. The AAP recommends trying a number of different nipples and seeing what baby prefers.

How Many Pacifiers Do You Need?

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, stock up on baby’s top pick, because pacifiers have a universal tendency to disappear—particularly when you need one the most. We suggest buying at least four to six pacifiers to get started. Be sure to bring at least two pacifiers whenever you and baby head out of the house, in case one drops or gets lost. If you live in a multi-level home, keeping one or two on every floor and in easy rotation is another smart strategy.

Having a variety of pacifiers at home also helps baby become more tolerant of different types—because favorites do get lost every so often. Some brands even have sampler packs that let you test-run a few different designs. And even when you’ve found the one baby takes to, Amin cautions that finding the best pacifier is an ongoing task. “It’s essential to swap baby’s pacifier as they grow,” she tells us. “Pacifiers are offered in different age ranges to ensure the materials, shape and size of the pacifier support baby’s oral development.”

All that said, sometimes no matter how many different types and sizes of baby pacifiers you try, baby simply isn’t interested. This ended up being the case with both of my daughters—after all our wrestling with whether or not to give them pacifiers, and which ones to try! If your infant is spitting out their binky time and time again, the AAPD says not to force it. Eventually, they’ll develop an alternate way to self-soothe.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Plus, more from The Bump:

The Pros and Cons of Pacifier Use

7 Tips to Keep Pacifiers Safe and Sterile

The 10 Best Baby Bottles, Parent-Tested and Baby-Approved