An artificial nipple designed for infants to suck, and which has a soothing effect.

Infants have a strong desire to suck, which may not be entirely fulfilled while feeding. Both the newborn and older infant are often soothed by sucking. Some babies suck their thumbs, while others take readily to a pacifier.

Pacifiers are often most effective in the child's first few months, when colic and fussiness are at their peak. Many babies who like pacifiers early on will spit them out when they become five or six months old, as the need for sucking lessens.

Pacifiers come in several different types. The shape of the nipple may be long, short, with a ball-shaped end, or flattened. There seems to be no evidence that one shape is better than another, but a baby may prefer one type. A tiny pacifier may be appropriate for a low-birth weight or...