Babies drop pacifiers constantly, and it’s rarely something you’re doing wrong. Most of the time, the pacifier falls out because your baby’s sucking muscles are still developing, the pacifier doesn’t fit their mouth well, or they simply haven’t learned to keep a seal on it yet. The good news: a few practical adjustments can make a real difference, and this is a problem most babies outgrow within weeks.
Why Babies Can’t Hold a Pacifier In
Mature sucking involves two coordinated actions: suction (creating negative pressure inside the mouth by lowering the jaw while the lips seal around the nipple) and expression (compressing the nipple against the roof of the mouth with the tongue). These two components develop in stages. Babies first learn expression, then suction, then the rhythmic alternation between them. A newborn who hasn’t fully developed suction simply can’t generate the vacuum needed to keep a pacifier in place.
This isn’t a sign of a problem. Oral feeding and sucking depend on the integration of physical and neurological functions that are still maturing in the first weeks and months of life. Premature babies, in particular, may take longer to coordinate these skills. Even healthy full-term newborns can take a few weeks before their sucking reflex is strong and rhythmic enough to hold onto a pacifier reliably.
Pick the Right Size and Weight
A pacifier that’s too heavy, too big, or shaped wrong for your baby’s mouth will fall out no matter how strong their suck is. Lighter pacifiers are easier for young babies to hold. The lightest options on the market weigh around 0.3 ounces (about 8.5 grams), while heavier models with attached stuffed animals can reach 1.35 ounces. For a newborn struggling to keep a pacifier in, that difference matters. Start with the lightest option you can find.
Size matters too. Research on pacifier dimensions and infant palate shapes has found that most pacifiers are undersized compared to the actual width of a baby’s palate, meaning they don’t make full contact with the roof of the mouth. This concentrated pressure on a small area can make it harder for the baby to maintain a comfortable seal. Try a few different brands and shapes. Some babies do better with a rounded, symmetrical nipple, while others prefer a flattened “orthodontic” shape. There’s no evidence that one type is universally better for suction, so let your baby’s preference guide you.
Also check the age rating. Pacifiers labeled for 0 to 3 months have a smaller nipple than those sized for 6 months and up. Using a too-large pacifier in a small mouth makes it nearly impossible for a baby to create a proper seal.
Techniques That Help
The simplest trick is one that feels counterintuitive: once the pacifier is in your baby’s mouth and they start sucking, give it a very gentle tug. Not enough to pull it out, just enough resistance that your baby reflexively sucks harder to keep it. This activates the rooting and sucking reflex and helps train the muscles involved in maintaining suction. You can repeat this a few times during a single session.
Holding the pacifier lightly in place for the first 30 seconds or so also helps. Many babies lose the pacifier in the transition between accepting it and settling into a rhythmic suck. Keeping a finger on the shield (not pushing it in, just stabilizing it) gives them time to establish their rhythm. Once you feel steady, consistent sucking, you can let go.
Timing matters too. Offering the pacifier when your baby is calm but starting to fuss works better than waiting until they’re crying hard. A screaming baby has their mouth wide open, their tongue up, and their jaw tense, all of which work against creating a seal. Brushing the pacifier gently across their lower lip or cheek can trigger the rooting reflex and get them to accept it more naturally.
Temperature can also play a role. Some parents find that briefly cooling the pacifier in the refrigerator (never the freezer) makes it more interesting to a baby and encourages them to suck on it longer. The novel sensation can capture their attention just long enough for the habit to take hold.
What Not to Do
It’s tempting to rig something up to hold the pacifier in place, especially at 3 a.m. when you’re reinserting it for the tenth time. But propping a pacifier with a blanket, stuffed animal, or any other object is a suffocation risk. The American Academy of Pediatrics is explicit: never attach blankets, plush toys, or stuffed animals to pacifiers, and never hang a pacifier around your baby’s neck or clip it to their clothing during sleep. Pacifier clips and leashes are fine during supervised awake time but should always be removed before placing your baby in a crib.
When the Problem Might Be Physical
If your baby consistently can’t maintain suction on a pacifier despite trying different sizes, shapes, and techniques, it’s worth considering whether a physical issue is involved. Tongue-tie is one common culprit. This condition, where a short or tight band of tissue anchors the tongue too tightly to the floor of the mouth, limits tongue movement. Babies with tongue-tie often can’t lift their tongue to the roof of the mouth or extend it past their lower gum, both of which are necessary for creating the seal that holds a pacifier in.
Signs to look for include a tongue that looks heart-shaped or notched at the tip when your baby cries, difficulty latching during breastfeeding (chewing instead of sucking), and a clicking sound during feeding. Tongue-tie is common, affecting up to 10% of newborns by some estimates, and is usually straightforward to address.
A high palate, lip tie, or low muscle tone can also make it harder for babies to hold a pacifier. If your baby is also struggling with feeding (slow weight gain, long feeding sessions, frequent choking or gagging), mention the pacifier issue to your pediatrician. It can be a useful clue that points toward a treatable cause.
The Pacifier Drop During Sleep
Losing the pacifier during sleep is the most common frustration, and it’s also the hardest to solve because you can’t hold the pacifier in place or use any kind of attachment in the crib. The reality is that once a baby falls into deep sleep, their jaw relaxes and the pacifier falls out. This is normal and expected.
The good news is that the protective effect of pacifier use during sleep (its association with lower risk of SIDS) appears to hold even if the pacifier falls out after the baby is asleep. You don’t need to reinsert it. If your baby wakes and fusses for it, reinserting it is fine, but there’s no medical reason to keep it in all night.
Around 7 to 8 months, most babies develop the motor skills to find and reinsert a pacifier on their own. Some parents place several pacifiers in the crib so the baby can find one by feel in the dark. Until then, the nighttime pacifier chase is a temporary phase that resolves on its own.
Trying a Different Pacifier Shape
Research on pacifier surfaces has shown that texture and firmness affect how a baby’s mouth responds during sucking. A softer, more flexible nipple conforms more closely to the palate and may create a better seal for some babies. A firmer nipple provides more resistance, which some babies prefer because it gives them something more defined to compress against.
If your baby rejects one pacifier, try a completely different style rather than buying the same shape in another brand. The main categories are symmetrical round nipples (like the Philips Soothie), flattened orthodontic nipples, and cylindrical nipples. Babies can have strong and unpredictable preferences. It’s not unusual to go through three or four brands before finding the one your baby will accept and hold onto.