Adult pacifiers are selling like hotcakes on Chinese e-commerce platforms, ranging in price from 10 to 500 yuan. Some shops report selling over 2,000 units monthly, primarily to young adults.
Manufacturers and sellers promote these products as tools for anxiety relief, sleep improvement, and even smoking cessation.
"The quality is high, it’s soft, and I feel comfortable using it. It doesn't hinder my breathing," one buyer shared. Another mentioned using a pacifier when stressed at work. "It feels like returning to childhood, very safe," they said.
However, the popularity of this seemingly child-centric item is raising concerns among health and psychology professionals.
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Photo: SCMP |
Photo: SCMP
Psychologists in China attribute this phenomenon to a psychological mechanism known as "regression," where adults unconsciously revert to an earlier developmental stage seeking comfort when overwhelmed by stress.
"A pacifier symbolizes the peace of childhood, and its use reflects a need for soothing and protection," explains psychologist Zhang Mo in Chengdu.
However, Zhang cautions that the real solution isn't treating oneself like a child but confronting and resolving the challenges directly.
According to Zhang, seeking comfort in a pacifier is a temporary fix that may delay addressing real-life issues.
Doctor Tang Caomin from the Department of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery at Sichuan University highlights the potential oral health risks of prolonged pacifier use. "An adult's oral structure is completely different from an infant's. Prolonged pacifier use can cause temporomandibular joint disorders, joint pain, clicking sounds when opening the mouth, and even limit chewing ability," he explains.
Tang also warns of potential damage to the oral mucosa due to designs and materials unsuitable for adult mouths. "If used during sleep, a pacifier can obstruct the airway, leading to suffocation, which is especially dangerous for deep sleepers."
"If someone uses a pacifier for more than three hours daily, their teeth alignment may change after a year," he adds.
On Weibo, a hashtag related to adult pacifiers has garnered over 60 million views and tens of thousands of mixed reactions. "The world has gone so crazy that adults are using pacifiers," one commenter remarked.
Nhat Minh (OC/SCMP)
