In an unusual bid to deal with stress, anxiety, and sleep deprivation, a growing number of Chinese teenagers and young adults are turning to baby pacifiers — a tool traditionally used to soothe infants — as a coping mechanism for modern-day pressures.

Once confined to nurseries, plastic pacifiers have found a surprising new market: overwhelmed students and working adults battling stress from academic workloads, job pressure, financial burdens, and fast-paced urban life.

This quirky trend, first noticed on Chinese e-commerce platforms, has gained popularity with products selling for anywhere between 10 to 500 yuan (approx. $1.40 to $70 USD). They’re often promoted as sleep aids or stress relief tools, tapping into rising mental health concerns among youth.

Viral trend floods online marketplaces

Major online stores across platforms like Taobao and JD.com are now reporting thousands of sales per month. Product pages are filled with glowing reviews, with users sharing how chewing or pressing the pacifiers between their teeth helps them relieve anxiety at work or sleep more peacefully at night.

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“It gives me something to focus on when I’m overwhelmed,” wrote one reviewer on a popular shopping site.

Experts raise health concerns

Despite the growing popularity, health experts have begun warning against the potential dangers of prolonged pacifier use by adults. Dentists and psychologists note that over-reliance on such habits can lead to jaw misalignment, dental issues, and may prevent users from learning healthier coping mechanisms for anxiety.

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“There’s no doubt that many young people are feeling burnt out,” said a mental health consultant based in Shanghai. “But replacing one unhealthy habit with another isn’t the answer.”

What’s really driving the trend?

Observers say the trend reflects deeper issues facing China’s younger generation — from unrelenting academic competition and job market instability to relationship struggles and a culture of overwork. For many, pacifiers have become a symbolic — and oddly comforting — escape from it all.

Psychologists emphasize the importance of open discussions about mental health and better access to professional help rather than turning to childlike objects for relief.

While chewing on a pacifier might offer temporary relief, experts stress the need for long-term strategies to deal with anxiety, such as regular sleep, therapy, mindfulness practices, and emotional support.

For now, the trend continues to grow, reflecting both the inventiveness — and emotional strain — of China’s overstressed youth.