Pacifiers are small, inexpensive, and bought in huge numbers, because babies are picky and pacifiers get lost. The four below are the top-selling pacifiers on Amazon right now, each with around 20,000 or more ratings. They differ in nipple shape more than anything else, and nipple shape is what decides whether a baby accepts one. Here are the best pacifiers of 2026.
Philips Avent Soothie
The Philips Avent Soothie is the number one best-selling pacifier on Amazon and the green pacifier handed out in many hospital nurseries. It is molded in one piece from medical-grade silicone, with a round, symmetrical nipple and a simple circular shield.
The one-piece design has no joints or seams where moisture and bacteria can collect, and it stands up to hospital-strength sterilization by boiling or steam. The open back lets a parent slip a finger inside to help a newborn latch and suck, which is useful in the first weeks.
The Soothie is sized for newborns up to 3 months, with a larger 3-18 month version available. Its round shield sits close to the face, and some babies leave a light ring mark from it. A few babies also find the firm nipple harder to keep in than a contoured one.
Best for: Newborns, especially babies who started with a Soothie in the hospital.
Age: 0-3 months
Nipple shape: Round, symmetrical, one-piece silicone
Price: About $10 for a 4-pack
NUK Comfy Orthodontic Pacifier
The NUK Comfy is the best-selling orthodontic pacifier on Amazon. Its nipple is asymmetrical: rounded on top to fit the palate and flatter and scooped on the bottom to leave room for the tongue. NUK designed the shape to support natural oral development.
Like the Soothie, the Comfy is one piece of 100 percent medical-grade silicone, so it is easy to clean and sterilize. The heart-shaped shield dips under the nose so breathing is not obstructed. It is soft and flexible against the face.
Orthodontic nipples only work one way up, so a baby or parent has to orient it correctly. Babies who are used to a round nipple sometimes reject the flatter shape, and the reverse is also true. At well under two dollars per pacifier in the 5-pack, it is an inexpensive one to test.
Best for: Parents who want an orthodontic shape in a one-piece silicone pacifier at a low price.
Age: 0-6 months
Nipple shape: Orthodontic, asymmetrical
Price: About $8 for a 5-pack
Dr. Brown's HappyPaci
The Dr. Brown's HappyPaci is built around one idea: the nipple has the same shape as a Dr. Brown's bottle nipple. For the very large number of babies fed with Dr. Brown's bottles, that familiarity makes acceptance much more likely.
It is a lightweight, one-piece, 100 percent silicone pacifier with a contoured butterfly-shaped shield that curves away from the face and leaves room for the nose. Vent holes in the shield let air reach the skin to reduce irritation, and the open back lets a parent place a finger inside to soothe.
Babies who do not use Dr. Brown's bottles gain less from the matching shape, although plenty take it anyway. The light weight helps small babies keep it in.
Best for: Babies who use Dr. Brown's bottles and refuse other pacifiers.
Age: 0-6 months
Nipple shape: Bottle-nipple shape, one-piece silicone
Price: About $8 for a 4-pack
MAM Original Glow in the Dark Pacifier
The MAM Original is the favorite of parents whose babies reject firmer pacifiers. MAM developed it with orthodontists and pediatric dentists, and its symmetrical nipple is made from a thin, textured SkinSoft silicone that feels closer to skin. MAM reports a 94 percent acceptance rate.
The nipple is symmetrical, so there is no wrong way up. The curved shield has large air holes and small dimples on the inside to keep skin from getting sore. This version glows in the dark, which sounds like a gimmick until a pacifier falls out of the crib at 3 a.m.
The MAM is a multi-piece pacifier with a hard plastic shield, so water can occasionally get trapped in the nipple after washing; squeeze it out and let it dry. It is also the most expensive of the four per pacifier.
Best for: Breastfed and picky babies, and easy night-time finding.
Age: 0-6 months
Nipple shape: Symmetrical, soft-textured silicone
Price: About $16 for a 4-pack
How to Choose a Pacifier
Buy singles of several shapes first
Babies choose their pacifier, not parents. Try a round nipple, an orthodontic one, and a soft symmetrical one before buying a multi-pack of anything. Once a baby has a favorite, buy several of the same.
One piece or multi-piece?
One-piece silicone pacifiers are the easiest to keep clean and cannot come apart. Multi-piece pacifiers offer more shapes and softer nipples but should be checked regularly for cracks or trapped water.
Follow the age sizing
Pacifier sizes are based on mouth size and shield width. A pacifier that is too small for an older baby can be a choking risk, so move up when the pack says to.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a newborn start using a pacifier?
Formula-fed babies can use one from birth. For breastfed babies, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests waiting until breastfeeding is well established, usually around three to four weeks.
Do pacifiers reduce the risk of SIDS?
The AAP recommends offering a pacifier at nap time and bedtime because studies link it to a lower risk of SIDS. It does not need to be put back in if it falls out once the baby is asleep, and it should never be attached to a cord or clip during sleep.
How often should pacifiers be replaced?
Replace pacifiers every one to two months, and right away if the nipple is torn, sticky, discolored, or swollen. Pull on the nipple before each use to check that it is intact.
