Are you not sure what the best pacifier for a breastfeeding baby is? Here are the top choices from breastfeeding mothers to help you decide – these options tend to encourage breastfeeding while offering a great soothing option.
Pacifiers can be a controversial topic for various reasons – especially in the breastfeeding community.
However, many parents want their children to take a pacifier. It can be tricky to know which one is best for a breastfed baby, but in general, what is my advice for the best pacifier for a breastfed baby?
The Best Pacifier is the one your baby will take!
Okay, maybe it’s not that simple. Some pacifiers are a better shape for encouraging sucking skills, which I will discuss in this article. But at the end of the day, if you need to use a pacifier, sometimes you go with what your baby likes until you can figure out why they won’t take a “better choice” pacifier.
If you are trying to decide whether or not to offer a pacifier to your breastfed baby, you may want to read this article: Pacifiers and Breastfed Babies: What All New Parents Need to Know.
However, if you are just here looking for recommendations on what pacifier to offer (or maybe you are frustrated because your baby won’t take one!), you are in the right place.
I did a survey on my Instagram page a few months ago, asking moms what pacifier their baby took to the most. I got hundreds of responses, and the vast majority of those who follow my page are breastfeeding mothers, so I think it’s a pretty good place to look for recommendations!
I have combined these recommendations with my knowledge as an IBCLC. The first recommendations are pacifiers that are best for oral function – the second part of the list are ones that moms recommend.
Best Pacifier for Breastfeeding Baby
When looking for a pacifier, you should get a pacifier that has a cylindrical shape. This allows the baby to cup the pacifier with their tongue and is better for encouraging good sucking behavior.
Philips Avent Soothie
The top pacifier I recommend is the simple and traditional Avent Soothie. It’s inexpensive, easy to find, and the cylindrical shape allows the tongue to wrap around it, which can promote better function of sucking and muscles of the mouth.
This has been my go-to pacifier for all of my children. It’s the one they have taken most easily. They are easy to find and inexpensive, and I don’t see that they disrupt breastfeeding at all. I also love being able to put your finger in the back to help soothe the baby even more.
Many other mothers recommended this pacifier as well for breastfeeding babies.
They come in sizes 0-3 months and 3+ months and are one-piece designs, which allows them to stay in more easily and be less of a choking hazard. They are blue, green, pink, and purple.
It’s certainly not the cutest pacifier in town, but it works well. They have this pacifier’s “shapes” version, which looks like a little teddy bear. These are made from 100% medical-grade silicone and are designed with orthodontia in mind.
Lee Lee and Me
These are a nice alternative to the Philips Avent – it has a slightly wider base, a shorter tip, and it’s a little bit firmer than the Avent, which can be a good option to start off with (I have found with my own kids, they don’t like the more firm pacifiers when they get older, even if we are “supposed” to transition).
This is made of high-quality materials and encourages the tongue to cup the pacifier, get a wider gape, and it can help to encourage good sucking behaviors. This is good for smaller babies because of its smaller size.
Dr. Brown’s HappyPaci
This is another great cylindrical pacifier. It has the widest base of the three I’ve shared, which encourages a wider latch. With that said, the tip is long, which can be hard for smaller babies and those with sensitive gag refluxes. If you find your baby is frequently gagging, you would probably be better off with the Avent Soothie or the Lee Lee and Me.
NinniCo Pacifier
This is a newer pacifier on the market, but it’s one of my favorites. I use it all the time with the families I work with. It is excellent for encouraging appropriate oral function, and it can be beneficial for babies with oral restrictions and oral function issues to help them (keep in mind if they have unresolved issues, it may not work for them for soothing until those are fixed).
Because of how it’s designed, your baby cannot use any compensations to keep it in, as it doesn’t allow for only pressure in the palate. It also allows a baby to keep their mouth slightly more open than some pacifiers.
These pacifiers are more expensive than most pacifiers, and they can take some time for a baby to get used to. They definitely have a different feel than most pacifiers, but I find that with time, most babies without oral restrictions take them quite well. They can collapse but you just need to work with the baby to get them to take it.
I use these a lot with rehabilitation for babies pre and post-tongue tie release. I frequently have parents use this for intentional training sessions 2-3 times a day to help with sucking.
You can use the code KATH10 for 10% off anything on the Ninnico Website.
Here are some additional articles you may also want to read:
- 7 Reasons Your Newborn Won’t Latch
- Proper Breastfeeding Latch: Step-by-Step Guide for Easier Latching
- Why is Breastfeeding Painful? 5 Common Causes of Pain While Breastfeeding
- How to Heal Cracked Nipples Fast
Mom-Favorite Pacifiers
These are pacifiers that moms have said worked best with their babies. These don’t necessarily make my list of the best pacifiers, shape and function-wise, but they are ones that a lot of people love.
BIBS – Popular choice from parents
This brand is popular but not necessarily the best from an oral function standpoint. It can hinder oral function and forces the tongue back. There are some babies that will only take this one, which may actually be indicative of oral restrictions if this is the only one a baby will take
Unlike many pacifiers, they are made from natural rubber. This is meant to help encourage natural sucking, and it’s designed to mimic the shape and feel of the breast as a way to encourage an easy transition back and forth.
They are made from 100% natural latex and are lead and phthalate-free.
MAM
This was, by far, the most mentioned brand of pacifier in my survey when I asked about favorite pacifiers. MAM comes in various sizes and styles, with various options for different sizes.
This pacifier is flattened, which isn’t my favorite. With that said, most babies will take it because they don’t have to work hard to get it in their mouth – they can essentially push it up with their tongue rather than suction it with their tongue. If your baby won’t take anything, they may take this.
Nuk
This brand is fairly inexpensive and easy to find. I have the same concerns with it that I do the MAM, but again, it may be easier for some babies.
Here are a few other mom-popular brands.
So tell me – what is your breastfed baby’s favorite pacifier?
More Posts You May Enjoy:
- Breastfeeding and Introducing Solids: Everything You Need to Know
- Is Your Breastfeeding Baby Biting? Here’s What You Should Do.
- The Ultimate Guide to Dairy-Free Breastfeeding (From a Dairy-Free Mom)
