In a surprising new trend, an increasing number of Chinese teenagers and young adults are using baby pacifiers as a way to deal with stress, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Once only found in nurseries, pacifiers are now being marketed on major Chinese e-commerce sites as tools for stress relief and better sleep. Priced between 10 and 500 yuan ($1.40 to $70), these products are gaining traction among students and young professionals overwhelmed by academic pressure, job stress, financial worries, and fast-paced urban life.
From Nurseries to Online Marketplaces
Retailers on platforms like Taobao and JD.com report thousands of monthly sales. Many buyers leave positive reviews, saying the act of chewing or biting on a pacifier helps them manage anxiety and fall asleep more easily.
“It helps me stay calm when I feel overwhelmed,” one user commented.
Health Experts Sound the Alarm
Despite the trend’s popularity, dentists and mental health professionals are raising concerns. Prolonged use of pacifiers by adults, they warn, can lead to dental problems such as jaw misalignment and may prevent users from developing healthy ways to cope with stress.
“There’s no doubt many young people are emotionally exhausted,” said a mental health consultant in Shanghai. “But substituting one unhealthy habit for another isn’t a sustainable solution.”
A Symbol of Deeper Struggles
Experts say the pacifier trend points to deeper mental health issues among China’s younger generation — from intense academic and career pressure to emotional burnout and social isolation. For many, using pacifiers offers a sense of comfort and escape from these harsh realities.
Psychologists urge a focus on long-term solutions like therapy, mindfulness, regular sleep, and stronger emotional support systems. While the pacifier may bring temporary comfort, they say it’s no replacement for real mental health care.
For now, the trend continues to grow — a small, unusual window into the emotional toll facing China’s overstressed youth.
