China: The Trend of Pacifiers for Teenagers and Young Adults on the Rise

In China, pacifiers traditionally designed for infants are becoming a new trend among teenagers and young adults, with many claiming that they help alleviate stress and improve sleep quality. According to the *South China Morning Post*, these pacifiers, which are now marketed for older users, are gaining popularity on social media platforms, sparking widespread discussions and debates.
Some online stores report sales of over 2,000 of these pacifiers each month. Unlike the smaller versions for babies, these pacifiers are larger and can range in price from 10 yuan (about \$1.4 USD) to 500 yuan (\$70 USD). The products are available in various transparent colors with protective shields and are advertised to reduce stress, improve sleep, aid in quitting smoking, and improve breathing.
One buyer commented on a popular shopping platform, saying, “The quality of this product is quite good, and it feels comfortable. Breathing is not obstructed.” Another buyer shared that it “surprisingly helped with quitting smoking, providing psychological comfort and reducing anxiety during the process.” Yet another user noted, “When work stress gets overwhelming, I use this pacifier. It feels like returning to the comfort of childhood.”
However, health experts have raised concerns about the potential risks of using such pacifiers. Dr. Tang Kaowen, a dentist from Chengdu, Sichuan, warned that long-term use could damage the mouth’s structure. He explained, “If someone uses a pacifier for more than three hours a day, it can affect the alignment of their teeth within a year, leading to difficulty opening the mouth and severe pain while chewing.”
Additionally, Dr. Tang cautioned that during sleep, some parts of the pacifier could be inhaled, posing a potential safety hazard.
Zhang Mo, a psychologist from Chengdu, emphasized that the solution does not lie in reverting to childhood behavior, but rather in addressing and solving life’s challenges. She warned that such behavior may not fulfill a person’s emotional needs in a healthy way.
This unique trend has generated intense debate across Chinese social media, with one platform reporting 60 million views on the topic. Some users criticized the phenomenon, with one comment reading, “The world has become so crazy that adults are using pacifiers.” Another user humorously remarked, “Isn’t this a kind of ‘foolishness tax’?”