Business Professionals in China Soothe Their Nerves with Pacifiers

The life of a baby is quite good, with plenty of napping, healthy food, and someone constantly carrying, cuddling, and caring for you. For every little stress, it is enough to open your mouth and cry, and someone will already pick you up in their arms to soothe you. Well, adults have also longed for that carefree feeling, so in China, an increasing number of business and adult individuals are trying to reduce their stress by sucking on pacifiers, sucking, or however you want to call it.

According to the South China Morning Post, adult Chinese spend up to $70 on specially designed pacifiers with larger nipples and shields. Some retailers claim to sell as many as 2,000 per month. Users say they help reduce stress and anxiety, and even help them quit smoking (which, of course, is not a problem for babies). One seller goes even further, claiming they can alleviate symptoms of sleep apnea.

Whether used for comfort or easier falling asleep, they are certainly cheaper than therapy.

Psychologists refer to this phenomenon as ‘regression’, a defense mechanism by which adults revert to behaviors from earlier stages of life during emotionally difficult times when they felt safer. In short, when life becomes too much, people resort to what once brought them peace.

– “It is very soothing and helps me feel like a child,” said one user.

The trend, of course, is not limited to China. Americans are already picking it up on TikTok, posting videos of themselves sucking on pacifiers while writing reports, traveling in crowds, or tackling other stressful tasks.

– “I have mild sleep apnea and these pacifiers are a miracle,” wrote one user.

However, doctors warn that even for babies, pacifiers are not recommended as the first means of soothing, and after the age of two, they can harm teeth. Tang Caomin, a dentist from Sichuan province, states that for adults, prolonged use can restrict mouth opening and cause pain while chewing.

– “If you use a pacifier for more than three hours a day, after a year it can change the position of your teeth,” he claims.

Chinese psychologists add that a pacifier does not address the root cause of stress and that the real problem should be addressed directly.

Stress is dangerous and no one is immune to it, and how you choose to treat it is up to you. Now you know that this option exists.