In the current age of fast paced life, sleep comes at a price or doesn't come at all. It is a luxury to be able to sleep peacefully, without disruptions and stress making you stay awake at night. In China, a surprising item is finding its way into the shopping carts of young adults struggling with anxiety, sleeplessness, and daily stress, adult-sized pacifiers. Once considered only for babies, these silicone soothers are now being marketed as sleep aids, smoking-cessation tools, and even workplace stress busters.
On major Chinese e-commerce platforms like Taobao and JD.com, prices range from as low as 10 yuan (about $1.40) to as high as 500 yuan (around $70). Some online shops reportedly sell thousands of units each month, according to the South China Morning Post.
Why Adults are turning to Pacifiers
Many users say the habit brings instant comfort-calming nerves during office hours, helping with insomnia, or reducing cigarette cravings. One online review put it simply, “I feel comfortable sucking it. It gives me psychological comfort and makes me not so fidgety.”
Psychologists link the trend to the “regression phenomenon”, where individuals under extreme stress revert to behaviors or objects from childhood that once offered a sense of safety. In this case, the pacifier becomes more than a novelty, it’s a symbolic return to a simpler, worry-free time.
Medical warnings and risks
Health experts, however, are urging caution. Dr. Tang Caomin, a dentist from Sichuan, warns that adult pacifiers aren’t designed for mature jaw structures. Long-term use could lead to bite misalignment, jaw joint issues, and even breathing problems during sleep. “If you sleep with a pacifier in your mouth,” Dr. Tang explains, “it can interfere with breathing, and in the worst case, there is a risk of suffocation.”
The trend crosses borders
What began in China’s online marketplaces has now appeared on TikTok and Instagram, with American adults posting videos of themselves using pacifiers to cope with traffic jams, stressful meetings, and burnout. While some dismiss the fad as odd, others see it as no different from stress balls, fidget spinners, or weighted blankets-just another coping mechanism in modern “stress culture.”
Comfort in unlikely forms
The rise of adult pacifiers reflects a broader truth: when life feels overwhelming, people often turn to unconventional methods for relief. For some, it’s meditation or exercise. For others, it’s the soothing feel of silicone between their teeth-a small reminder of a time before deadlines, bills, and restless nights.
