X: Dexerto/SCMPAdult-sized pacifiers are becoming a surprising wellness trend in China, with online retailers reporting thousands of sales each month and users claiming benefits ranging from stress relief to improved sleep.
Sold for between $1.40 and $70, the silicone pacifiers are marketed toward adults for a variety of uses, including aiding breathing, helping people quit smoking, and enhancing focus. Some users have also linked them to managing conditions such as ADHD.
One customer described feeling “a sense of safety from childhood” when using one, while others said the products helped them fall asleep faster.
“When I am under pressure at work, I suck on the dummy,” they said. “I feel I am indulged in a sense of safety from childhood.”
The pacifiers have gained traction on Chinese e-commerce platforms, where some sellers report monthly sales exceeding 2,000 units. They have also started appearing in TikTok videos in the United States, sparking both supportive and mocking reactions.
Medical warnings
Health experts have cautioned against long-term or improper use. Dr Tang Caomin, a dentist, told Chinese media that adult pacifiers could cause bite misalignment, strain jaw joints, affect breathing, and pose a suffocation risk if used while sleeping.
“The potential damage to customers’ mouths by the pacifiers is intentionally played down by their sellers,” said Dr Caomin. “By sucking the dummy for more than three hours a day, the position of your teeth might change after a year.”
Back in 2024, TikTok was taken over by the viral dopamine menus, which offered various ways you could help manage conditions like ADHD and depression.