The Internet's Latest Odd and Damaging Obsession: Adult Pacifiers

Beginning as a buzzing curiosity in China's self‑care sphere, the adult pacifier trend has rapidly gone viral across borders, as many are finding that the toys intended for infants and toddlers are effective at managing stress for all ages. However, medical experts have warned that extended use can cause negative long-term side effects.

In China, adult-sized pacifiers, often whimsical versions of baby pacifiers, have seen a surge in demand on e-commerce platforms like Taobao and JD.com. Reports estimate some sellers are moving thousands of units each month, priced anywhere between 10 yuan (roughly $1.40) and 500 yuan (about $70).

Users say these "stress suckers" provide a quick trip to childhood comfort. One buyer told the South China Morning Post, "When I'm under pressure at work, I feel a sense of safety from childhood." Others claim they help with sleep, reduce smoking cravings, or simply give something calming to occupy hands and mouth.

Psychologists have interpreted this through the lens of the "regression phenomenon" caused by overwhelmed adults seeking solace in early-life comforts rooted in deeper emotional memory, making these pacifiers a curious modern-day coping tool.

Still, the trend has triggered alarm among medical professionals. Dr. Tang Caomin, a dentist from Sichuan, has warned that extended pacifier use can distort adult bite patterns, cause jaw stiffness, shift teeth alignment, and even pose choking or suffocation risks during sleep. Similarly, orthodontist Dr. Ben Winters cautions that prolonged use can lead to misalignment of the teeth or jaws and encourage dysfunctional swallowing patterns, such as tongue thrusting, which are difficult to reverse in adulthood.

Behavioral experts, too, caution that while pacifiers might offer a temporary emotional crutch, they're not a solution. Psychologist Zhang Mo suggests that real resilience comes not from regression but from confronting and managing stress head-on through healthier strategies.

Meanwhile, the trend has surfaced in Western media and pop culture. TikTok is buzzing with videos of stressed-out adults sucking on pacifiers, riding in traffic, tackling workplace burnout, or trying to sleep, and users continue to share claims of calming effects. The fad has even reached mainstream television news outlets.

On The Five, Fox News host Jesse Watters lampooned the fad. He mocked younger generations' stress levels, then dramatically popped a pacifier into his mouth on-air, joking it made him feel better. Co‑host Greg Gutfeld delivered a biting critique, dismissing emotional stress as a "fear of inconvenience." The segment spotlighted a cultural gap in how coping mechanisms are viewed across generations.