Best Pacifiers for Breastfed Babies: A Comprehensive Guide

breastfeeding baby using pink soothie pacifier

Want the research-backed facts on pacifiers and breastfed babies? You’ll find that (and the best pacifiers!) in this article.

This article was written by Jocelyn M. Wood, Speech-Language Pathologist.

As a speech-language pathologist, I used to counsel people away from using pacifiers with their babies. If only I knew what I know now about the world of pacifiers (and am about to share with you!).

Quick shop: best pacifiers for breastfeeding babies

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For many years, I was told that not only the use of a pacifier can be detrimental to a child’s oral development when used too long or in older babies, but we have all heard they can lead to nipple confusion and drops in mom’s milk supply.

This is the advice that I thought I would bring into my sessions with parents and patients. That is until I had a baby and actually dug into the research that I realized pacifiers – when introduced correctly and in the right size and design – are a good thing for many babies.

When I brought my own baby home, we struggled to establish breastfeeding, both due to supply issues and tongue/lip ties. After a few weeks of very little sleep, my husband suggested introducing the pacifier.

“Okay,” I figured, “As long as I know the research surrounding pacifiers and take it away early, I’ll be fine.” So, that’s what I did.

I read all the pros and cons of introducing a pacifier to a newborn baby (ideal to wait 4-6 weeks), and I realized many more positives than negatives.

I also quickly understood that the nipple confusion we had all been threatened with was probably not accurate if you introduced a pacifier once breastfeeding was established.

Expert picks: best pacifiers for breastfeeding babies

Before I share some options, it’s essential to consider that you might have to try different ones until you find the perfect pacifier for your breastfeeding baby.

If you’re unsure, it’s okay to reach out to a lactation consultant to understand the use of pacifiers, the different sizes, and your baby’s needs, and discuss your preferences before finding the best choice for your family.

1. Ninni Pacifier

This great pacifier is backed by lactation consultants and tongue-tie experts; the Ninni Pacifier is known for its wide base and short nipple, which promotes a secure latch and the same movements needed for breastfeeding.

It has rave reviews from parents worldwide.

2. Philips Avent Soothie

The Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier is an OG one-piece pacifier used in hospitals around the world. Thanks to its clever design, it also makes for easy cleaning.

This silicone pacifier has a hole for you to insert a finger while your child is sucking to assist with getting them to move their tongue and secure their latch.

3. Nanobebe Flex

A simple silicone design with a cut-out for the baby’s nose for easy breathing, the Nanobebe Flex Pacifiers are soft and breathable and also have a hole to assist with suck training. They’re a great choice for breastfeeding babies!

What to look for in a pacifier for your breastfed baby

With hundreds of pacifiers on the market, you may be wondering what you should be looking for in a pacifier for a breastfed baby.

Ideally, look for a baby pacifier made of soft silicone, which mimics skin texture, and those with a pacifier nipple that has a round tip tend to be best for breastfed babies, not an orthodontic design.

Each baby is a little different, and it may take trying a few to find the best fit for your little one. It’s a good choice to add different pacifiers to your baby registry, including a pacifier clip or two.

When we think about what an infant’s mouth needs to do while breastfeeding (flange the top lip, wrap the tongue, use a rhythmic motion), we see that most pacifiers encourage these movements.

What research says about breastfeeding and pacifiers

When introduced 4-6 weeks after birth, milk supply should not be impacted
Baby falling asleep with a pacifier can encourage safe sleep
They won’t limit the duration of your breastfeeding journey

Babies are born with a suck reflex, which helps them to feed, but which also helps to soothe them. Even though it is reflexive, some work has to go into those early weeks of feeding.

As a breastfeeding parent, the first month is spent figuring out your flow (literally and figuratively). You want to establish a bonding relationship, get a latch, and help your supply to come in.

During this early time, some studies have shown that introducing a pacifier can interfere with establishing milk supply and hunger cues.

After the first 4-6 weeks, however, you get into a routine, and you can begin to experience some of the many benefits of pacifiers.

1. Pacifiers can encourage safe sleep

Top of mind for most new parents in safe sleep. In a meta-analysis study (the highest level of research), it was found that pacifiers can significantly help reduce the risk of SIDS in infants.

Don’t worry if the pacifier falls out of the baby’s mouth while sleeping—the positive impact appears to come from falling asleep with the pacifier in but not maintaining it throughout the night.

This benefit alone seemed like a pretty big reason for introducing a pacifier.

2. Pacifiers won’t limit the duration of your breastfeeding journey

Another concern that breastfeeding parents may have is that using a pacifier can impact the breastfeeding relationship.

What if the baby comes to prefer a pacifier? In this regard, studies have shown no difference in the length of time parents breastfeed based on pacifier use.

What this means is that if you do choose to introduce a pacifier, it will not limit the amount of time you can continue your breastfeeding relationship, and your baby will keep coming back to you for milk and comfort.

In addition to these benefits, pacifier usage can have a profound positive impact on maternal mental health by allowing for more extended periods of sleep and a secondary mechanism for soothing when breastfeeding may not be possible (i.e., caring for a child while a parent is at work).

I know that in my newborn journey, I could use all the extra mental health benefits I could find.

Not only did I find the benefits of pacifier usage abundant in the literature, but I found limited support for pacifiers impacting dental and oral development in babies under 24 months old.

So as long as the pacifier is eliminated within the first two years of life, dental development should be able to continue normally.

Final thoughts on pacifiers for your baby

Whether or not you decide to use a pacifier on your breastfeeding journey, you can be sure that now you are making an educated decision for you and your family.