How To Choose a Pacifier

Choose the right pacifier for your baby’s age. Pacifiers come in three sizes—those for babies six months and younger, for babies from six to 18 months, and for babies over 18 months old.

Choose a well-made pacifier. The best pacifiers are one piece, with the nipple and base firmly attached—pacifiers with multiple parts could come apart and pose a choking hazard.

Choose a pacifier with a soft and pliable nipple. Despite the availability of so-called “orthodontically-shaped” pacifiers, the only thing that really matters is that the nipple feels right to your baby.

Choose a pacifier with a wide shield—that’s the part of the base that presses against the outside of the baby’s mouth. It should be at least an inch and a half wide—any narrower and it could fit inside a baby’s mouth. It should also have air holes to help keep moisture from building up beneath it, which could lead to a rash.

Choose a brightly colored pacifier. They’re easier to find for both the baby—who may wake and look for it during nap-time—and for you, when you’re trying to locate it under the sofa or dig it out of the depths of a diaper bag.

Choose a pacifier that’s dishwasher-safe.

Lastly, but most importantly, choose a pacifier your baby likes. Offer her several different models to choose from; she’ll know what she likes—and spit out the rest!