When the going gets tough, the tough……..pop in a pacifier? That’s the surprising stress-busting move thousands of adults are making, swapping melatonin and medication for an adult-sized binky. Once a niche quirk, the silicone soothers are supposedly now big business, where they’re priced anywhere from $6 to $80 on sites like Etsy. They’re sold as sleep aids, stress relievers, even smoking-cessation tools, and shoppers are gobbling them up. Some online sellers move thousands of the adult pacifiers each month. Not everyone is clapping for the comeback kid of the baby aisle. Dentists decry the use of adult pacifiers, saying it interferes with breathing, and in the worst case, there’s a risk of suffocation. Prolonged use of the giant binky can also mess with your bite and put stress on your jaw. TikTok is sucking it up — literally — with videos of American adults pacifying themselves in traffic, at work, or in the throes of burnout. Social media naysayers offer alternatives: “If you want something in your mouth, chew gum! If you want to suck on something, have a lollipop!” An adult pacifier isn’t the only sign that young adults are craving a softer landing in the real world. Some members of Gen Z are flocking to “Adulting 101” crash courses, desperate to learn how to cook a meal, read an electric bill, fold a fitted sheet, or change a tire without having to call their parents. Overall, it looks like growing up may be hard for the little darlings who grew up believing otherwise.
