When choosing a pacifier for your baby, four criteria are enough: the shape of the nipple, the material, the size suited to the child's age, and the shape of the shield. The rest concerns ease of use or marketing. A well-chosen pacifier is accepted without difficulty, does not leave marks on the skin, and is replaced before it becomes damaged.
This page brings together what French public sources say about pacifiers: what they provide, what they cost when used for too long, and how to maintain them without spending much time on it.
How to choose a pacifier for your baby: the four criteria that matter
No shape is universally better. An infant accepts or refuses a pacifier for reasons specific to them. The goal is therefore to eliminate poor choices, not to find the ideal model.
The shape of the nipple
There are three types. The round, symmetrical shape can be given in any direction. The anatomical shape has a flat side facing the tongue. The physiological shape, thinner at the base, leaves more room for the palate and teeth.
Assurance Maladie states that “physiological shapes are recommended.” This is the only shape criterion based on official guidance. The others depend on the child's preference.
The material: silicone or natural rubber
Silicone is transparent, odorless, firm, and resistant to sterilization. It ages slowly and does not change color. It is the default choice.
Natural rubber, amber-colored and soft, comes closer to the feel of the breast. It wears out faster, deforms when exposed to heat, and develops an odor over the weeks. It should also be avoided in cases of a known latex allergy in the family.
In both cases, the point to check is the same: a pacifier is a toy under European regulations and must bear the CE marking, with an identifiable manufacturer's name. Our guidance on this point is detailed in our guide to recognizing a quality baby product.
Size according to age
Manufacturers indicate age ranges: 0-6 months, 6-18 months, then 18 months and older. These ranges correspond to the size of the nipple and the shield, not to a developmental stage.
A pacifier that is too large takes up too much space in the mouth. A pacifier that is too small may be sucked too far in. Move up to the next size when the shield leaves marks on the cheeks or when the child chews the base instead of sucking.
The shield and ring
The shield should be perforated or notched to allow air to circulate and prevent moisture from building up under the nose. A soft, curved edge limits redness. The ring makes removal easier; a flat button fits better under a hat during a nap.
One safety rule allows no exceptions. Assurance Maladie says to “prohibit any necklace, chain, or cord with a pacifier,” because these objects may interfere with breathing during sleep. This also applies to pacifier clips left in the crib.
At what age should a child stop using a pacifier?
Assurance Maladie is explicit: “ideally, the child should be helped to break this habit around age 2 or earlier,” and it is necessary to “prevent it from continuing beyond age 4.” After that, dental advice is recommended.
The reason is mechanical. Prolonged sucking “may interfere with jaw growth and cause misalignment of the baby teeth and then the permanent teeth.” The longer the habit lasts, the longer correction becomes.
Stopping should be prepared, not improvised. First reduce use during the day, keeping it for naps and nighttime, then remove it during those two periods once the child has another source of reassurance. This is exactly the role played by a transitional object such as a comforter.
Does a pacifier really serve a purpose?
Yes, within a specific framework. It meets a need for non-nutritive sucking that exists independently of hunger. It soothes, helps some children fall asleep, and occupies the mouth at an age when everything goes into it.
Regarding sleep, Assurance Maladie makes a cautious recommendation: “if you use a pacifier, offer it to your baby for naps and/or at night, at bedtime.” It adds a clear limitation: “do not force your child to take the pacifier, and do not put it in their mouth while they are sleeping.” A pacifier is therefore not a preventive measure to impose. The other sleep-safety rules are compiled in our article on safe sleep for infants.
Three limitations are worth knowing. Prolonged sucking affects the position of the teeth. A pacifier coated with a sugary solution promotes cavities: Assurance Maladie says not to get the child “used to falling asleep with their bottle or a pacifier coated with a sugary solution.” Finally, in an infant who is still learning to suck, introducing one very early may interfere with establishing breastfeeding.
The need to explore with the mouth is not addressed with a pacifier. It is addressed by allowing the child to handle clean, appropriate objects, as we explain in why babies put everything in their mouths.
How to care for a pacifier every day
Before first use, immersing it in boiling water for five minutes is sufficient. After that, wash it in hot soapy water after each use, then rinse it thoroughly.
Daily sterilization is not necessary after the first few weeks, for the same reasons that apply to bottles: we explain this issue in do bottles need to be sterilized.
One common practice should be abandoned. Cleaning a pacifier by licking it transfers bacteria from an adult's mouth. Assurance Maladie advises against “licking your baby's pacifier to clean it,” just as it advises against tasting the child's food with their spoon.
When to replace a pacifier
Every four to six weeks with regular use, and immediately if it has a crack, becomes sticky, swells, or changes color. A simple test: gently pull on the nipple. If it stretches and does not return to its original shape, the pacifier has reached the end of its life.
Having two or three of the same model avoids difficult nights. A single model lost at 3 a.m. costs more than a spare pacifier.
What you do not need
The baby-care aisle offers many products related to pacifiers. Few are useful.
- A dedicated pacifier sterilizer: a saucepan of water does the same job.
- A pacifier with a temperature indicator: the information has no real use.
- A glow-in-the-dark pacifier: it adds a light source to the crib, which goes against the goal.
- Personalized models bearing the child's name that are sold without identifiable CE marking: avoid them.
- A pacifier clip used in the crib: prohibited under the rule mentioned above.
This approach to sorting applies to all infant equipment. We apply it item by item in our comparison of essential baby gear and gadgets.
What if the baby refuses the pacifier?
Some infants do not want one. This is neither a problem nor a delay, and there is no reason to insist. A child who refuses a pacifier finds other sources of comfort: contact, rocking, a voice, or their own fingers.
Thumb-sucking deserves a note. It has the same dental effects as a pacifier, but it is more difficult to stop because the thumb cannot be put away. This is the only serious argument in favor of a pacifier for a child who clearly seeks to suck.
Finally, a pacifier does not replace a response to discomfort. If crying increases, is accompanied by a fever, or changes in tone, the priorities change. Official guidance on oral health for young children is compiled in our article on brushing a baby's teeth. Our answers to the most frequently asked questions are collected in our FAQ.
Sources
- Assurance Maladie (ameli.fr), “The importance of baby teeth and the risks associated with cavities in young children,” updated April 1, 2025.
- Assurance Maladie (ameli.fr), “How to put a baby to bed safely,” updated October 10, 2024.
- Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 18, 2009, on the safety of toys, Annex II.
