China’s 5,000 Pacifier Craze: Adults Outsource Stress to Plastic Nipples

Adult pacifiers have overtaken Chinese e-commerce, with over 5,000 sold monthly as young professionals desperately bite down to battle stress and insomnia. Trending queries like “are adult pacifiers safe for adults?” and “stress relief methods in China” surge. One user claims, “I sleep better and feel as calm as a little baby.” Prices range wildly—10 to 500 yuan—while Dr. Tang Caomin warns, “Prolonged use can cause joint pain and ulcers.”
Riding a wave of regression, the pacifier craze now sees mortgage-laden adults mouthing $70 sleep aids beside ergonomic keyboards. “What happens if adults use pacifiers?” and “adult pacifier health risks” top searches, as dentists forecast a black market in emergency jaw repairs. Picture a boardroom where every yawn clicks, echoing Dr. Tang’s warning: “It can interfere with breathing, and in the worst case, there is a risk of suffocation.”
Sichuan University experts estimate more than 10,000 adult pacifiers are sold each month on platforms like Taobao—enough, if gathered, to plug the Yangtze for a minute of absolute silence.