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Pacifiers spend a lot of time in babies’ mouths, so it makes sense that eco-conscious parents want to go with the safest possible non-toxic pacifiers for their little ones.
As with our baby bottles and teethers, it’s best to look for non-plastic, non-toxic materials such as natural rubber and food-grade silicone to pacify babies who need help self-soothing.
The Benefits of Non-Toxic Pacifiers
Pacifiers can have several benefits for infants, including:
- Soothing fussy babies: Pacifiers can provide a source of comfort and security for little ones, helping soothe them when they’re upset. They can even help to promote self-soothing, an important skill for babies to learn. Infants are often comforted when engaged in their sucking reflex, and pacifiers can help with that when it isn’t time to nurse or bottle feed. When my son was born, he would stop crying as soon as he had a pacifier to suck on (and I’d been planning not to use them, until I saw them work their magic on my crying newborn- ha!).
- Reducing SIDS: Some studies have shown that pacifier use during sleep may reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
However, it’s important to note that pacifiers should be used in moderation and with caution. Overuse or improper use of pacifiers can lead to problems, like dental issues or dependency on the pacifier for soothing for too long (you probably want to set up a cut-off time to wean them off the pacifier from the get-go, then try to stick to it. Mine was six months, and it was relatively easy to take them away, but I know many parents who went a lot longer and had a harder time). It’s always a good idea to talk to your pediatrician about when to stop using a pacifier with your baby or toddler.
The Potential Problems with Pacifiers
While pacifiers can provide several benefits, there are also some potential issues associated with their use, including:
- Dental problems: Prolonged pacifier that goes on for too long into toddlerhood use can potentially cause dental issues and even jaw alignment problems.
- Ear infections: Some studies have found that the use of pacifiers may increases risk of ear infections in young babies.
- Dependency: Babies who rely too heavily on pacifiers for comfort and soothing may become dependent on them later in their babyhood and have difficulty learning to self-soothe without the paci or kicking the binky habit.
- Suffocation: Although rare, pacifiers can pose a choking hazard if they break (this is why you should only buy solid, one-piece pacifiers) or if the baby is able to fit the entire pacifier in her mouth (likely only a risk with older children). Pacifiers should also never be attached to a string or cord while your baby sleeps, as this can increase the risk of choking or strangulation.
7 Best Non-Toxic Pacifiers for Newborns
Here are our favorite non-toxic binkies, divided into categories by material. First up, the best natural rubber pacifiers.
Natural Rubber Non-Toxic Pacifiers
Natural rubber pacifiers are made from the sap of rubber trees and are therefore a more eco-friendly option than silicone. Natural rubber pacifiers are also soft and pliable, which can make them more comfortable for babies to suck on. Natural rubber pacifiers are free of the yucky synthetic chemicals and additives found in pacifiers made with plastic materials.
What wI especially appreciate about natural rubber pacifiers is that they’re biodegradable, unlike silicone and plastic ones. This means they’re more eco-friendly, which is great, if you find ones your baby likes to use. All babies have different preferences when it comes to pacifiers and bottle nipples, so it may take you some trial and error.
A word of caution: natural rubber can sometimes have a bit of a funny taste. We recommend trying out the pacifier before handing it over to your little one, to make sure you’re comfortable with the taste (yes, we know how weird that seems, but you should still try it yourself!).
It is also important to note that individuals with a diagnosed latex allergy should avoid natural rubber products.
1. Natursutten Orthodontic Pacifier 0-6 Months ($12)
The Natursutten Binky has a unique butterfly shape that provides space for the baby’s nose. Its orthodontic design promotes the healthy development of teeth, jaw, and palate. With one-piece construction, it is easy to clean. Simply wash the paci with mild soap and water on a daily basis.
The Natursutten pacifier is also 100% BPA-free and made from natural, biodegradable rubber from Hevea Brasiliensis trees. Even the product packaging is eco-friendly.
2. EcoPiggy Natural Rubber EcoPacifier 0-6 months ($12)
The EcoPiggy natural rubber pacifier is made from 100% pure rubber from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree, which is sustainably grown in Malaysia. We love that it’s both soft and sustainable, making it a win-win for both baby and the environment.
The round shield is designed to lightly touch the child’s nose, creating a soothing sensation that’s similar to breastfeeding. The Ecopacifier is free from harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, PVC, and parabens.
Overall, the Ecopiggy Ecopacifier is a fantastic choice for any eco-conscious parent. It’s sustainably made, soft and natural, easy to clean, and free from harmful chemicals.
In addition to natural rubber, silicone also works well as a non-toxic material for pacifiers. Read on to find out more about some of our favorite silicone pacifiers.
100% Silicone Non-Toxic Pacifiers
Silicone is a popular choice for pacifiers because it’s durable, easy to clean, and non-toxic. Silicone pacifiers are also resistant to heat and cold, so they can be sterilized to keep them clean, and chilled for added comfort.
Silicone is a hypoallergenic material, which means that it’s unlikely to cause an allergic reaction in babies. This gives it a leg up on natural rubber for anyone with a latex allergy.
However, in a strike against its eco-friendliness, silicone is not biodegradable or recyclable, so these pacifiers aren’t terribly eco-friendly, even if they are inert and non-toxic. That said, they’re pretty small, and you can use them for a long time as long as you keep them clean.
3. NUK Comfy Orthodontic Pacifiers 0-6 months ($9 for 5)
The NUK orthodontic pacifier is designed with newborns’ mouths in mind. Its breast-like nipple shape naturally fits their palate, and it promotes healthy oral development. Made from 100% medical-grade silicone, you can feel good about giving a NUK to your little one. My kids liked their NUK pacifiers, anecdotally. They stayed in their mouths better than some other ones we tried.
The heart-shaped shield of the pacifier fits perfectly under your baby’s nose, allowing for easy breathing. With its thoughtful design and high-quality materials, the NUK orthodontic pacifier is a great choice for a non-toxic silicone binky.
4. Mam Comfort Silicone Pacifier ($9 for 2) – Top Pick
Mam were our favorite go-to pacifiers for the first 5-6 months of our baby’s lives, at which point I gently weaned them both off of them. Mam pacifiers are nice and lightweight and easy for most babies to keep in their mouths as they fall asleep.
This version of the Mam paci is a one-piece design made entirely of food grade silicone. It’s quite lightweight, and either side can face upright. It also makes room for baby’s nose so they can easily breathe while using it.
5. Tommee Tippee Ultra-Light Silicone Pacifier 0-6 months ($15 for 4)
Tommee Tippee’s Ultra-Light silicone pacifier is their lightest pacifier, and it has a design that ensures it stays in place more easily in your baby’s mouth so you don’t have to replace it every few minutes (is there anything more frustrating than when you hear the pacifier fall out of an almost sleeping baby’s mouth? No…no, there is not).
The Ultra-Light pacifier features a symmetrical silicone nipple, so there’s no wrong side up (so you don’t have to squint at it in a dark room, trying desperately to figure out how to place it back in your screaming baby’s mouth). It’s made of 100% medical-grade, BPA-free silicone and is soft and flexible with a skin-like feel.
The curved shield is designed for a comfortable fit between your baby’s nose and chin and the large holes allow for extra airflow, preventing moisture build-up and helping to prevent skin irritation. Tommee Tippee tells us that 97.5% of babies they’ve tried it out on will accept this pacifier. Those are some pretty good odds!
6. Dr. Brown’s HappyPaci 0-6 months ($5 for 3)
The silicone HappyPaci features a contoured butterfly-shaped shield for comfort that curves away from your baby’s face, providing plenty of room for little noses and cheeks.
The HappyPaci is durable and easy to clean with one-piece construction. It’s also dishwasher (top rack) and sterilizer safe. You can rest easy knowing the HappyPaci is BPA-free and made of high-quality, safe materials.
7. Phillips Avent Silicone Soothie Pacifier 0-3 months ($8 for 4)
This is the pacifier used by many hospitals nationwide. It’s a one-piece silicone pacifier that’s shaped for babies 0-3 months old, which sticks to the guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics to promote development of a baby’s teeth and gums. This is the pacifier they handed us in the hospital when our babies were born. If you’re doing a hospital birth, you’ll probably go home with a few of these in your bag.
*However, we don’t totally recommend stocking up on too many of these pacifiers in advance of having your little one. The reason for this is that these binkies are on the heavier side — and our babies (who at 10 and 8.5 pounds respectively were certainly not tiny!) were not particularly skilled at hanging onto this paci for more than a few seconds. They fell out constantly (cue angry baby screams!) and I quickly moved on to a lighter pacifier (thank you, Mam!). But every baby is different — so they might work out better for you!
Final Thoughts on Non-Toxic Pacifiers
Regardless of where you think you stand on pacifiers before having your baby, you may end up trying them at some point, so it’s good to know which of them you can feel safe about placing in your baby’s mouth. Natural rubber and food grade silicone are both great options, as they’re free from harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, PVC, and parabens which you don’t want to expose your newborn to.
That said, there are some caveats. One is that natural rubber pacifiers may taste a little funny (give it a try before you stick it in baby’s mouth to check!). Silicone, on the other hand, should not have a taste at all, but it isn’t recyclable or biodegradable, so it’s less eco-friendly overall than natural rubber.
We recommend getting a pacifier made out of just one piece whenever possible, which all of the ones on this list are, as it reduces the chance of it breaking into two pieces and creating a choking hazard.
A few other things to keep in mind are that each pacifier brand will have different guidelines for how long you should use the pacifier (most are good up to six months of age), as well as how often you should replace them (some natural rubber ones should be replaced every 4-6 weeks). Definitely make note of the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding these limits when you purchase your pacifier.
We hope this guide helps you find some non-toxic pacifiers that don’t suck! If you also need to find some non-toxic teethers and baby bottles, we’ve got you covered there too. And don’t forget the plastic-free sippy cups, for when they’re a little older!
