9 Doctor-Approved Pacifiers to Soothe Your Baby

If your baby is given a pacifier in the hospital, there’s a good chance it was a Philips Avent Soothie. This pacifier is a constant favorite among parents in the What to Expect community, winning Best Pacifier in the What to Expect Mom Must-Have Award and What to Expect Sleep Award multiple years in a row — so if you’re wondering which pacifier brand is best, there’s a strong argument to be made that it should be Philips Avent. 

This baby pacifier is made from durable, medical-grade silicone and has an orthodontic-friendly nipple that ensures the natural development of baby’s teeth and gums. It’s also one of the most affordable pacifiers out there, coming in at around $3 per pacifier — and you can find it at just about any drugstore or retailer that sells baby products.

Both of my sons used Soothies, which were first given to us in the hospital; they quickly became a major part of our lives until we eventually weaned them off. As many parents learn, babies often won’t take all pacifiers — and a major selling point of the Soothie is the fact that you can find them pretty much anywhere. If one goes missing, say, while you’re visiting Grandma’s house, there’s a very good chance you’ll be able to find a quick replacement at the local pharmacy.

Many parents like the hole in the middle that you can put your finger in to help baby latch, too.

"We have used the Philips Avent Soothie for years," says Jamison Hermann, What to Expect Senior Video Producer. "The design is simple and straightforward, cleaning is easy and both my daughters took to the pacifier very quickly."

Soothies are available in two sizes: 0-3 months and 3-18 months. Switch to the bigger size once your baby reaches the 3-month mark, as the larger version is made of stiffer silicone that little ones with teeth won’t be able to bite through.

All of the pacifiers on this list are dishwasher-safe, but if you’re after one that’s especially easy to clean, the Chicco PhysioForma Pacifier is a popular pick among What to Expect parents. These pacifiers have a unique construction that was developed in partnership with an advisory panel of neonatologists, pediatricians and orthodontists to help position baby’s tongue forward to maintain an open airway and support better breathing. The orthodontic-friendly nipple also has a narrow base to support baby’s oral development. 

In addition to its orthodontic shape, parents appreciate the large built-in loop handle, which makes it easier for little hands to hold. What’s more, it also comes with a reusable carry case that keeps the pacis from gathering dust and debris in your diaper bag. You can use that same case to sterilize the pacifiers in the microwave in three minutes, making it even easier to clean.

Some pacifiers look enormous and are heavy on a newborn’s face, making Tommee Tippee Ultra-Light Silicone Pacifier a popular choice for the littlest babies. At 2.4 ounces, this pacifier is one of the lightest on the market. Its lightweight design also makes it more likely to stay in place, which is helpful for newborns who can’t yet adjust it on their own, and the symmetrical shape means there isn’t a right or wrong side up, either. 

As with the other pacifiers on this list, it’s dishwasher-safe and easy to clean, and the material also has hygienic, anti-static properties that prevent dust from settling on it.

There are a number of color options available (all sold in packs of four), and it’s also one of the few pacifiers on the market that’s available in sizes up to 36 months: helpful if your newborn ends up loving theirs as they get bigger. (Although there is no hard-and-fast rule, the AAP recommends starting the pacifier weaning process around your child’s first birthday.)

Searching for the closest pacifier to a breast? Consistently ranked among the best pacifiers for breastfed babies, the Nanobébé pacifier’s flexible (but still one-piece) construction contours comfortably on baby’s face, while the soft, rounded nipple is designed to offer a familiar shape and feel. The built-in vent holes allow air to flow, helping provide comfort and prevent irritation.

Many pacifiers on the market are round, so some parents appreciate that the design of the Nanobébé pacifier makes it a little less likely to roll far away from you should you drop it on the ground (an always-frustrating situation for parents!). The downside is that these pacifiers are mostly clear, which can make them a little harder to locate in a diaper bag or in baby’s room at night.

Some parents do note that Nanobébé’s sizing can be a little confusing — there are three sizes available, but the largest is appropriate for little ones 4 months and older. So if you intend on continuing to use a pacifier after the 3-month mark, your best bet may be to invest in the largest size and skip the 3-6 month size, since you’ll otherwise have to replace it sooner.

For babies who already use the brand’s popular bottles for feeding, Dr. Brown’s Happy Paci Silicone Pacifier makes for an easy transition from bottle to binkie. It’s designed to mimic Dr. Brown’s innovative nipple shape and size, so it will feel familiar to little ones who drink from the bottles. What’s more, many What to Expect parents whose babies use other bottle brands say the shape of this pacifier seemed to work well for their little ones, too.

This pacifier’s lightweight, one-piece construction features a contoured butterfly-shaped shield that curves away from baby’s face for greater comfort. It has a large handle that’s easy for babies to grip, and at $1.66 per pacifier, it’s also the most affordable option on this list.

Just keep in mind that although this pacifier is nice and lightweight (at 1.44 ounces, it’s even lighter than the Tommee Tippee pick above) the size is a little bulkier than some other options, which means it might be too overwhelming for a newborn. It’s also only offered in a 0-6 month size, meaning you’ll have to wean your baby off of it or transition to another brand around their half birthday. 

Once baby’s teeth start to come in, some pacifiers can be prone to tearing. Ryan & Rose’s PAT pacifier is made with durable, medical-grade silicone, so it can do double duty as a binkie on one side and a teether toy on the other side. Though one of the priciest pacifiers on our list, What to Expect parents appreciate that this unique design offers longer-term use.

Available in two sizes and three nipple designs (bulb, slant and flat, based on what shape your baby prefers), this pacifier is convenient and easy to use. And although appearance is hardly the most important feature to consider, you can’t deny that Ryan & Rosie pacifiers are attractive, and parents love the variety of color options — from basic neutrals to hues like orchid and ivy that are easy to spot in a diaper bag.

However, it’s important to mention that although Ryan & Rosie’s pacifier meets the AAP’s safety standards, you should skip the matching Ryan & Rosie pacifier clip; attachments such as these aren’t considered safe by the AAP. In general, you should never tie a pacifier to baby’s body or crib with a cord.

If you’d like to prioritize a pacifier with an orthodontic shape, the NUK Comfy Orthodontic Pacifier is a solid choice. These pacis have an orthodontic design that promotes healthy oral development as well as a breast-like nipple, making them a good option for breastfed babies, too.

These pacifiers are affordable — just $1.80 each! — and sold in large packs, so you’ll always have one on hand. Parents also really like the bright colors, which make them easy to find in a pinch (say, if they’ve rolled out of your little one’s crib at night or are hiding at the bottom of your diaper bag). 

While they’re easy enough to clean thanks to their streamlined design and dishwasher-safe silicone, some parents do say that the material seems to attract lint, hair and dust, so you might find yourself having to rinse these off more often.

Though it’s a little bulkier than some other pacifier cases on the market, the Ubbi On The Go Dual Pacifier Holder makes up for its slightly larger size with excellent functionality. There are two compartments to hold baby’s pacifiers separately, which means they both stay clean while you’re on the go and won’t cross-contaminate each other. (After all, there’s no point in putting a pacifier that’s just dropped on the ground into a tiny container with another pacifier that’s clean.) 

Also good: The silicone strap makes it easy to attach the case to a stroller or diaper bag, so you won’t risk losing it while out and about. Each pacifier compartment has a separate opening, and the lids are a breeze to snap open and closed with one hand. And best yet, the entire case can be thrown in the top rack of the dishwasher, so the entire thing is easy to clean.

While your best bet is to regularly sanitize your child’s pacifiers (such as by sterilizing them in boiling water or running them through the dishwasher, depending on what the manufacturer recommends), there will be plenty of times when you’ll need to quickly clean baby’s binky on the go. Enter: pacifier wipes. The Munchkin Arm & Hammer Pacifier Wipes are little lifesavers, and the perfect thing to stash in your diaper bag for those inevitable moments when baby’s pacifier drops on the ground while you’re out and about.

There are tons of pacifier wipes on the market, but parents appreciate that these Munchkin wipes are affordable, sold in large quantities (there are 36 wipes per pack, 72 if you buy two packs at once) and have a secure lid that keeps wipes moist over time. (Some pacifier wipes have plastic “lids” that don’t stay fully closed, and as a result the top few wipes tend to dry out in between uses.) Plus, you can use these for more than just pacifiers — you can quickly clean teething toys, bottles, or nipple shields with these handy wipes, too.