If you’re a new mom and your baby’s pacifier keeps falling out every 30 seconds, welcome to the club. You’re exhausted. Your coffee is cold. Your baby is screaming like you’ve personally ruined their entire life because their pacifier fell out again.

And now you’re crawling around the crib at 2am like a sleep-deprived gremlin whispering, “WHERE IS IT???” At some point, every mom asks: Are pacifiers even worth it? Or are they just more trouble than they’re worth?

Here’s the truth: pacifiers can be an amazing tool for self-soothing, but only if your baby can actually access it when they need it. Because if the pacifier falls out and disappears, your baby can’t self soothe. And neither can you.

Let’s talk about what self-soothing really is, how to teach it, and the easiest way to make pacifiers actually work in your favor.

Are Pacifiers Okay for Newborns?

This is one of the most common new mom questions, and honestly, it makes sense. Everyone has an opinion. But yes, pacifiers are generally considered safe for newborns, especially after breastfeeding is established (if you’re breastfeeding). Many pediatricians even recommend them for sleep because they may reduce the risk of SIDS.

Pacifiers can help babies calm down, regulate their nervous system, and fall asleep faster. So no, you’re not “spoiling” your baby.

What Does “Self-Soothing” Actually Mean?

Self-soothing is just your baby learning how to calm themselves down without needing you to fix everything instantly. It doesn’t mean you ignore your baby.

It means your baby develops small skills like:

• sucking
• settling back down after stirring
• finding comfort in familiar routines
• (eventually) grabbing their pacifier and putting it back in their mouth

6 Ways to Teach Your Baby to Self-Soothe (Without Losing Your Mind)

1. Use a Pacifier (If Your Baby Likes It)

Pacifiers are popular for a reason. Babies are born with a strong sucking reflex, and it’s incredibly calming for them.

A newborn pacifier can help with:

• fussiness
• sleep
• overstimulation
• witching hour meltdowns

But if your infant pacifier keeps falling out, the pacifier stops being helpful and turns into a full-time job for you.

2. Use a Pacifier Wristband (This Is the Game-Changer)

If you’ve ever thought, “My baby would sleep better if they could just keep the pacifier in,” you are 100% correct. The problem isn’t the pacifier. The problem is that the pacifier falls out and disappears. That’s why the Ingy bingy band exists.

The Ingy Bingy band is a pacifier wristband (or pacifier bracelet) that velcros around your baby’s wrist and attaches to every pacifier on the market.So instead of the pacifier dropping into the crib black hole, it stays right where your baby can reach it.

Why moms love the Ingy Bingy Band:

• Less crying and screaming
• No more constant pacifier searching
• Baby can grab the pacifier independently
• Works with any infant pacifier or newborn pacifier
• Makes bedtime and naps so much smoother

And here’s the BIG difference:

Babies can use the Ingy Bingy band as early as 4 months old. Traditional pacifier clips usually take 8 months or longer for babies to have the coordination to grab the pacifier and put it back in their mouth. So instead of waiting months for your baby to learn this skill, the pacifier wristband helps them learn it earlier. Which means more sleep for everyone. 

3. Swaddling (For Newborns)

Swaddling is basically the newborn equivalent of a weighted blanket. It helps reduce the startle reflex and keeps babies from waking themselves up constantly. Swaddling + pacifier is often a magical combo for newborn sleep.

(Just stop swaddling once baby starts rolling.)

4. White Noise (Because Silence Is Overrated)

Babies are used to noise in the womb. Silence can actually feel unsettling.

White noise helps by:

• calming baby’s nervous system
• blocking random household sounds
• creating a consistent sleep cue

If your toddler is screaming in the background like a tiny feral banshee, white noise is also just, helpful for everyone.

5. Create a Simple Sleep Routine

No, you don’t need a Pinterest bedtime routine with lavender towels and hand-carved lullaby candles. Just a simple consistent pattern helps baby feel safe.

Example:

• diaper
• pajamas
• feed
• pacifier
• cuddle
• crib

Babies love predictable cues. It teaches their brain: “Sleep is coming.”

6. Give Baby a Moment Before You Jump In

This one is hard, especially when you’re running on 3 hours of broken sleep, but sometimes babies fuss for a few seconds and then settle. Try pausing for a moment before rushing in.
Not ignoring, just giving them space to try. That tiny pause is often where self-soothing starts.

Our Honest Mom Take: Thumb-Sucking Is Harder to Break

We’ve had thumb-suckers. And if you know, you KNOW. Thumb sucking can turn into a habit that lasts years because you can’t exactly “take away” someone’s thumb. Pacifiers, on the other hand, can be weaned. But the pacifier only works if it’s actually available when your baby needs it.

When we had our third baby and used the Ingy Bingy Band, it was a total game changer. No midnight pacifier scavenger hunts. No crying because the pacifier vanished. Just a calmer baby who could grab it when they needed it. And as moms? That’s priceless.

If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering if pacifiers are worth it…

They are, but you need a better system than “replace it 400 times a day.” A pacifier wristband like the Ingy Bingy Band makes pacifiers actually functional by keeping them within reach so your baby can learn to self soothe sooner.

Less crying. Less stress. More sleep. And honestly? More coffee consumed while it’s still warm.

 

 

 

The Ingy Bingy Band is not your everyday pacifier clip! This game-changing pacifier wristband helps babies self-soothe at a younger age than ever before! Instinctively, babies gnaw on their hands in an attempt to soothe. The Ingy Bingy pacifier wristband keeps their pacifier right where they’ll find it, allowing your baby to comfort and calm themselves while you do whatever it is you need to do!

Our buttery soft wristband comes in two styles to accommodate every pacifier.

Our Pacific style should be used when your baby’s pacifier holes are near their nose and chin when in use. It is most commonly used with Avent, BIBS, Dr. Brown’s, MAM, Nuby, NUK, Medela, FRIGG, Nanobébé, Tommee Tippee, and Chicco pacifiers. 

Our Sequoia style should be used when your baby’s pacifier holes are near their nose and chin when in use. It is most commonly used with Itzy Ritzy, Ryan & Rose, and The Dearest Grey pacifiers.  

If you are still unsure which pacifier wristband style is right for you, check out our style guide or text the name and/or picture of your preferred paci & we’ll let you know which style is right for you!