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A new trend has emerged in China where adults are turning to sucking on dummies to help with everything from stress relief and emotional comfort to giving up smoking and helping to sleep.
The phenomenon has been reported in Shanghai and Beijing with news outlets publishing stories on 30 July 2025 and video footage shared on Chinese social media platforms including Douyin and Weibo.
Online marketplaces show prices ranging from CNY 10 to 500 (GBP 0.14 to GBP 51) with top-selling stores moving over 7,000 units a month and product descriptions claiming benefits such as improving sleep, relieving anxiety, aiding weight loss and helping to quit smoking.
The adult pacifiers come in a range of colours and are advertised with slogans like "stress relief tool" and "emotional comfort device" as part of a booming emotional support product category in China.
One buyer, named as 27-year-old Chen Wei, said: "When I'm stressed at work, I put it in my mouth and it brings me back to the security of my infancy."
However medical experts have warned of potential health risks, including dental deformities, jaw pain and even breathing issues during sleep.
Dentists have also pointed out that such devices are not medically approved for adult use.
Dr Tang Caomin of the West China School of Stomatology at Sichuan University said pacifiers place pressure on the front teeth and create stress on the jaw, increasing the risk of mouth-opening limitations and pain when chewing.
He warned: "Sucking on a pacifier for more than three hours a day for more than a year can shift the position of teeth."
Experts also warned about choking risks during sleep.
Another expert, psychologist Zhang Mo, said the trend reveals unmet emotional needs in a fast-paced society.
He advised that real emotional health comes from learning to cope with challenges rather than relying on childlike comforts.
The adult dummy trend forms part of a broader "emotional economy" in China with the stress relief toy market valued at over CNY 20 billion (GBP 2.1 billion) and growing rapidly year-on-year as people seek physical outlets for anxiety and mental health issues.
(Mike Leidig / newsX)
Byline Journalist: Mike Leidig
Byline Sub editor: Simona Kitanovska
Byline Spotter: Ivica Stojanovski
Byline Commisioning Editor: Mike Leidig
Byline Senior Writer: Mike Leidig
Byline Picture Editor: Zorica Stojkovik
Byline Copychecker: Emily Wu
Byline Illustrator: Angela Trajkovska
Byline News Editor: Simona Kitanovska
Geography: China
Subject: Science, Social media, Society
T4 Editor Story Rating: 7
T4 Editor Pic/Vid rating: 8
T4 Total rating: 7.5
