A binky is simply a pacifier. The term comes from a trademarked brand name first used around 1935 by the Binky Baby Products Company of New York, and it stuck as a nickname that parents still use today. A pacifier is a rubber, plastic, or silicone nipple given to babies to suck on between feedings, satisfying their natural sucking reflex and helping them calm down.
Why Babies Want to Suck
Babies are born with a strong sucking reflex that serves two purposes: feeding and self-soothing. Even when they’re not hungry, sucking helps them feel secure and settle down. A binky gives them something safe to suck on without overfeeding, which is why many parents reach for one during fussy periods, car rides, or bedtime.
Benefits of Pacifier Use
The most notable benefit is a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends offering a pacifier at sleep time once breastfeeding is well established, based on consistent evidence linking pacifier use during sleep to lower SIDS rates. You don’t need to reinsert it if it falls out after your baby is asleep.
Beyond sleep safety, pacifiers offer practical relief. They can soothe a baby during vaccinations, help with discomfort on airplane flights by encouraging swallowing during pressure changes, and give parents a tool to calm a fussy infant when other methods aren’t working.
Timing for Breastfed Babies
If you’re breastfeeding, the general guidance is to wait until your baby is at least four weeks old before introducing a pacifier. This gives your baby time to establish a strong latch and helps your milk supply regulate based on actual feeding demand. Introducing a pacifier too early can interfere with this process because the sucking motion on a pacifier differs from the motion needed at the breast. One study found that babies who started using pacifiers at one month old were more likely to stop breastfeeding by six months, so the timing matters.
Dental Effects and When to Stop
Pacifier use is safe for teeth in the early months, but the longer it continues, the more it can reshape a growing mouth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry identifies clear thresholds. After 18 months, when the canine teeth start emerging, prolonged pacifier use can begin influencing jaw development, potentially leading to a posterior crossbite (where upper and lower teeth don’t align properly from side to side). Children who use a pacifier beyond 36 months have a significantly higher rate of anterior open bite, where the front teeth don’t touch when the mouth is closed.
The good news: dental changes from pacifier use typically reverse on their own if the habit stops before age three. After that point, the bite problems are more likely to become permanent and may need orthodontic correction. Aiming to wean off the pacifier between 12 and 18 months is ideal, though completing the transition by age two or three still avoids most lasting effects.
Ear Infection Risk
Pacifier use after 12 months is associated with a higher incidence of middle ear infections (otitis media). The connection likely involves how sucking changes pressure in the ear canal and may affect fluid drainage. This is one more reason to start tapering pacifier use in the second year of life rather than letting the habit continue indefinitely.
Choosing the Right Size
Pacifiers come in sizes ranging from about 12.5 mm to 25 mm, and most brands label them by age (0 to 6 months, 6 to 18 months, and so on). These age ranges are rough guidelines at best. Research shows that standard pacifier sizing doesn’t actually reflect the growth patterns of infant palates, meaning the “right” size depends more on your baby’s mouth than their birthday. If a pacifier seems too large or your baby gags on it, try a smaller size regardless of what the packaging says. If it looks too small and keeps falling out, size up.
You’ll also find different nipple shapes. Some are rounded, some are flat on one side (called orthodontic), and some taper to a narrow tip. Babies often have a preference, and you may need to try a few before finding one your child accepts.
Safety Features to Look For
Pacifiers sold in the United States must meet federal safety standards. Every pacifier shield (the flat piece that sits against your baby’s face) is required to have at least two ventilation holes, each at least 5 millimeters across. These holes allow airflow if a baby somehow gets the shield pressed against their nose and mouth. The shield must also be large enough that it can’t be pulled into a baby’s mouth, and the nipple must withstand about 10 pounds of pulling force without detaching.
Never tie a pacifier around your baby’s neck or attach it with a long cord, as this creates a strangulation risk. Pacifier clips with short ribbons that attach to clothing are a safer alternative for keeping track of them during the day, though most experts recommend removing clips at sleep time.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Sterilize a new pacifier before the first use by placing it in boiling water for five minutes. After that initial sterilization, washing with hot water and soap after each use is sufficient for most healthy babies. You can sterilize again every week or two if you want extra peace of mind, or more frequently if your baby has a weakened immune system.
Inspect pacifiers regularly for cracks, tears, or sticky spots in the silicone or rubber. A damaged nipple can break apart and become a choking hazard. Replace pacifiers at the first sign of wear, and keep a few backups on hand so you’re not caught without one at 2 a.m.
Weaning Off the Pacifier
Most children are ready to start weaning between 12 and 24 months. Gradual approaches tend to work better than going cold turkey. Start by limiting pacifier use to naps and bedtime only, then phase it out from naps, and finally from bedtime. Some parents cut a small hole in the nipple so it no longer provides satisfying suction, which makes the child lose interest naturally.
Expect a few rough days regardless of the method. Children who are deeply attached to their pacifier may need a replacement comfort object, like a small stuffed animal or blanket, to ease the transition. The adjustment period is usually about a week.