Buying guide for Best pacifier clips
![Margot Malverty]()
Written by Margot Malverty
Updated June 2023
If you’re looking for infant essentials for a new baby, you might be considering buying pacifier clips. Pacifiers are one of the most frequently purchased items before the arrival of a baby. They soothe infants and toddlers, and parents usually keep a few on hand if the child accepts the pacifier. But pacifiers are prone to falling out of a baby’s mouth onto the ground, getting dirty, and becoming lost—and many caregivers don’t want the pacifier to touch a surface that has been exposed to germs. Enter the pacifier clip. It’s an easy way to help prevent a pacifier from falling to the floor.
Pacifier clips come in a wide variety of styles, colors, and designs. They are easy to use and attach right to clothing or a bag. Many pacifier clips come in bulk sets so you have enough to pair with all of your pacifiers. They also keep the baby occupied with the addition of cute accessories, beads for chewing, and vibrant patterns. Stuffed animal pacifier clips combine a pacifier holder with a soft companion.
How does the pacifier attach to the clip?
Some pacifiers aren’t designed with an exterior loop that can be connected to a pacifier clip. Pacifiers with air holes can be attached to a clip, but it may be more challenging, and the loop fabric will touch the baby’s skin. Most of the time, this will not irritate the baby, but it’s worth considering before purchase.
Other pacifiers have handles on the outside that can easily be attached to pacifier clips. If your baby uses this style of pacifier, the clip will be further from the baby’s face.
Is a pacifier clip worth it?
If your baby has a pacifier, it’s helpful to have pacifier clips on hand. Babies frequently drop or spit out pacifiers and then proceed to cry when they don’t have them in their mouths. It can be frustrating and time-consuming to have to find a dropped pacifier, pick it up off of the ground, wipe or wash it if necessary, and give it back to the baby repeatedly.
Pacifier clips are affordable and easy to pack in a diaper bag or clip to various items. As the baby gets older, they will be able to take out and replace their pacifier easily on their own with a clip.
When babies begin teething, pacifier clips with chew beads soothe sore gums. Pacifier clips are versatile and can attach to cups with handles, toys, and other baby items.
DID YOU KNOW?
When a baby begins teething, a pacifier clip with chew beads can help soothe sore gums.
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Factors to consider when choosing pacifier clips
Fabric
Many pacifier clips consist of flat fabric lanyards with patterns or solid colors. Most fabric clips are made of linen, cotton, leather, or polyester.
Polyester is durable and resists moisture well. Linen is more difficult to clean, and leather is sensitive but may be spot cleaned. Fabric pacifier clips are often sold in sets.
Silicone
Pacifier clips may be strung with silicone beads. These are easy to wash and are soft on the baby’s skin. The silicone beads can be a boon when the baby is teething because the child can chew on the beads safely to ease discomfort. Pacifier clips with silicone beads should be made without harmful materials like BPA and phthalates.
Wood
Some pacifier clips are made with stylish wooden beads. Of course, you will want to check the product listing for safety, but most pacifier clips with wooden parts are chewable and provide more texture than silicone beads. Notably, most wooden beads on pacifier clips are made of beechwood.
Personalized beads
A pacifier clip may be personalized with the baby’s name on the beads or the clasp. Some offer personalization with plastic or wooden letter beads on the lanyard. Fabric pacifier clips may be personalized with a name stitched on the flat material. And some clasps have wooden covers that can be engraved.
Stuffed animals
As mentioned, some pacifier clips consist of a stuffed animal with two Velcro or snap loops to attach to the pacifier and belongings. These cute clips offer comfort for the baby with soft and soothing materials they can hold and play with.
As the bulkiest pacifier clips, these are helpful when it comes to keeping track of pacifiers. They may be harder to keep clean, but many are machine washable. Babies and toddlers often enjoy having a furry friend that tags along with their pacifier.
Some stuffed animal pacifier clips feature pouches for storing the pacifier.
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What features do pacifier clips have?
Clasp
The pacifier clasp attaches to fabric to keep the pacifier on hand. Pacifier clips have either metal or plastic clasps. They pull open and have a nonslip texture inside to keep them attached to clothing and bags. The clasp easily presses closed.
Stuffed animal pacifier clips usually have Velcro or snap loops rather than metal and plastic.
Loop
Pacifier clips have fabric loops on one end for attaching the pacifier. The loop is threaded through the pacifier hole or handle, and then the entire clip is pulled through the loop. This offers an easy, reliable, and removable connection.
Lanyard
The main part of a pacifier clip consists of a fabric lanyard that is either one flat piece or a beaded string. The lanyard connects the clasp to the pacifier loop.
DID YOU KNOW?
Pacifier clips are versatile items that can attach to cups with handles, toys, and other baby items.
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How much do pacifier clips cost?
Inexpensive
Inexpensive pacifier clips cost up to $10 and tend to come in bulk sets made of flat fabric. Some silicone pacifier clips also fall in this range.
Mid-range
Mid-range pacifier clips cost between $10 and $20 and include personalized clips, sets of silicone clips, and clips with wooden beads. Stuffed animal pacifier clips also have a mid-range cost.
Expensive
Expensive pacifier clips cost between $20 and $50. These may contain silver or gemstone accents or be made with leather or linen. They can also have hand-knit or macrame features and more detailed beads. Larger bulk sets of pacifier clips can cost over $20.
Tips
- Keep it clean. If your pacifier clip can be sterilized, it is most sanitary to sterilize it before the first use. There are various ways to sterilize pacifier clips, but you may be able to add them to a pacifier sterilizer. You can also hand wash most pacifier clips with soap and water. Read the washing instructions before you clean the clip. Note: Leather pacifier clips may be damaged by washing.
- Buy more than one. Have at least one backup pacifier clip on hand in case the other one gets dirty or lost. It is also helpful to have a second one already attached to a backup pacifier.
- Check for breakage. Continuously monitor the condition of the pacifier clip for safety. Make sure there are no cracks in the clasp, broken beads, or fraying fabric.
FAQ
Q. How can you use pacifier clips safely?
A. Your child should not be left unmonitored with a pacifier clip, and the clip should be removed before bedtime. Shorter pacifier clips are the safest options. If your infant uses a stuffed animal pacifier clip, make sure it does not cover their nose and mouth.
Q. Where should you attach the pacifier clip?
A. The best place to attach a pacifier clip is to a clothing collar or the shoulder area so it does not interfere with more sensitive parts of clothing. This also keeps it out of the way, and it can be flipped onto the child’s back. When not in use, a pacifier clip can be attached to a bag with a thin strap.
Q. Will pacifier clips damage clothing?
A. Some pacifier clips with sharper teeth for grip may pull on clothing and leave a dent when removed. Usually, this goes away when the clothing is washed. You may want to test the pacifier clip on a small area of more sensitive clothing material before use.
Q. Is there an age range for pacifier clips?
A. Pacifier clips can be used for youngsters of any age, but their usage should especially be monitored for infants. Toddlers and older children should also be monitored with pacifier clips to make sure they are not swinging or misusing them in other ways. Even when a child stops using a pacifier, they can use the clip for toys and anything lightweight that has a loop.
