We have reviewed 7 of the most popular pacifiers that glow in the dark and have updated our review for 2022. Some fluorescent pacifiers are excellent, one is fine, and two we do not recommend. Read below to learn which to buy and which to stay clear of. But first, we’ll explain why you need a pacifier that glows in the dark.
What is a glow-in-the-dark pacifier?
Glow-in-the-dark pacifiers are one of the best inventions for sleep-deprived parents. They solve the age-old challenge of finding and (re)placing your little ones’ pacifier as swiftly as possible to maximize the chances of them continuing their sleep uninterrupted. All parents who have scrambled and stumbled to find and replace their little ones’ pacifiers in the middle of the night will understand.
We first heard about glow-in-the-dark pacifiers from another sleepless fellow parent, but unfortunately, it took us a little while before getting our hands on them. But we are so glad we did. They are a true sleep-saver. In the process, we have tried all the popular variants of glow-in-the-dark pacifiers and will share what we have learned below, so you don’t also have to buy them all.
Should babies use pacifiers?
This is a contentious topic, but most doctors and researchers, especially ones who are parents themselves, agree that the benefits of pacifiers outweigh any real or perceived downsides – and that they can be a true godsend.
Pacifiers provide comfort and security for your baby. Research shows that the use reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). We know that pacifiers can be a hot topic and that there are many opinions about pacifiers and their impact on breastfeeding and healthy habits. And while we’re personally pro-pacifier, in the following, we’ll focus solely on reviewing the glow-in-the-dark function and crowning the best overall pacifier.
Are glow-in-the-dark pacifiers safe?
Yes! Fluorescent pacifiers are safe for babies. They are no different than pacifiers that do not glow in the dark and are exactly as safe as any other pacifier.
You should, however, check if your pacifiers are free of BPA, BPS, and phthalates – as all pacifiers should be. And of course, be aware that babies are different and always look for signs of any discomfort or allergic reactions.
What to look for in a glow-in-the-dark pacifier?
Not all pacifiers are created equally, and you should ensure the following when shopping for the best glow-in-the-dark pacifiers:
- The glow-in-the-dark function should be bright enough so that you can find it at night without turning on the lights (otherwise, what’s the point).
- The luminescent effect should not depend on being exposed to sunlight or very bright light during the day but should “recharge” just from normal room lighting.
Whether or not your baby will actually take to the specific pacifier and nipple type is, of course, for your little one to decide. However, a good start is looking for their current favorite brand or at least one with a similar design and features.
Below is our review of the 7 most popular pacifiers that glow in the dark in order of our rating (high to low).
MAM Night Pacifier
Editor’s Pick:
2-count pack with sterilizing storage case for:$8.09 $5.99 at Amazon
$6.49 at Kroger
MAM glow-in-the-dark pacifiers and know they will improve your parent life.
Rating: 5/5
MAM Night Pacifier Features
- Glow-in-the-dark feature that makes it easy to find at night
- Includes a reusable microwave sterilizing storage case
- The curved shield with wide openings allow baby’s skin to breathe
- Symmetrical orthodontic nipple that is sized and shaped for baby’s developing jaw and teeth development
- Anti-slip texture that helps the pacifier stay in baby’s mouth
- BPA-free silicone nipple
- Available in size 0-6, 6+months
MAM Air Night Pacifier
2-count pack with sterilizing storage case for:$6.99 $6.38 at Amazon
The MAM Air Night Pacifiers are exactly the same as the above “MAM Night Pacifiers” (non-air). Except they have large open-air holes which give your baby more breathing room. They are thus suitable for babies who struggle to breathe through regular pacifiers (but talk to your pediatrician about this too).
Like MAM’s Night Pacifiers, these excel at glowing in the dark and at the task of being a pacifier in general. We, therefore, recommend both models highly, and they are our top picks among all glow-in-the-dark pacifiers.
Rating: 5/5
MAM Air Night Pacifier Features
- Glow-in-the-dark feature that makes it easy to find at night
- Includes a reusable microwave sterilizing storage case
- The large open air holes gives your baby plenty of room to breathe
- Symmetrical orthodontic nipple that is sized and shaped for baby’s developing jaw and teeth development
- Anti-slip texture that helps the pacifier stay in baby’s mouth
- BPA-free silicone nipple
- Available in size 0-6, 6+months
Dr. Brown’s Advantage Glow-in-The-Dark
2-count pack for:
$5.99 at Amazon
Dr. Brown’s Advantage glow-in-the-dark pacifiers are a worthy contender as they too light up very well in the dark. However, we also find that the pacifier’s shield is a bit wide, and while it allows for a comfortable fit around the baby’s nose, they are a little clunky (it depends on your baby’s facial anatomy, of course).
Rating: 4/5
Dr. Brown’s Advantage Features
- Glow-in-the-dark feature
- BPA-free
- Symmetrical nipple for reversible positioning
- Top rack dishwasher safe
- Available in size 0-6, 6-12 months
NUK Airflow Glow-in-The-Dark Pacifiers
2-count pack for:
$15.99 at Amazon
These glow-in-the-dark pacifiers from Nuk are equally bright and easy to find in the bed in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, the design of the nipple is flatter, slimmer, and narrower than other pacifiers, which may make them less comfortable for your baby. However, every baby is different and if your’s already has a preference for NUK pacifiers, then, by all means, try their glow-in-the-dark version (you will not regret it).
Rating: 4/5.
NUK Airflow Features
- Glow-in-the-dark feature
- Orthodontic nipple is asymmetrical with a scooped bottom
- Unique shape that allows for more airflow
- Nipple is flatter, slimmer, and narrower
- BPA-free silicone nipple
- Top rack dishwasher-safe
- Available in size 0-6, 6-18 months
Amazon Brand – Mama Bear Glow-in-the-Dark Baby Pacifier
4-count pack for:
$5.24 at Amazon
These budget-friendly glow-in-the-dark pacifiers from Amazon’s own brand ‘Mama Bear’ seem heavily inspired by the design of MAM and Philips Avent Pacifiers. So if your baby has taken a liking to either one of those brands, odds are they’ll like Amazon’s version too.
That said, the “recharging” seems to require brighter light or longer exposure, and the quality is noticeably lower. So while they get the job done (and glow in the dark function works) and are significantly cheaper, they definitely don’t feel as well made. Amazon’s Mama Bear is our recommended cheap glow-in-the-dark pacifier.
Rating: 3.5/5
Mama Bear Glow-in-the-Dark Baby Pacifier Features
- Soft glow-in-the-dark illuminations
- BPA free and 100% silicone nipple
- Butterfly-shaped shield allows for a comfortable fit around baby’s nose and cheeks
- Dishwasher safe in top rack
- Available in size 0-6, 6-12 months
Philips AVENT BPA Ultra Air Free Night Time Pacifier
4-count for:
$13.89 at Amazon
2-count for:
Philips Avent Night Time Pacifier has a glow-in-the-dark handle. Sadly, the glow-in-the-dark function just doesn’t work. At all. In contrast to MAM Night Pacifiers, these have to be exposed to very bright light during the day to make them glow in the dark at night. Even leaving the pacifier out during the day and putting it under a lamp, the fluorescence is hardly noticeable (regardless of how dark it is).
We have since found reviews from similarly frustrated parents who report that the Philips pacifiers don’t light up at all. We honestly don’t get how Philips can have such a misleading (read: useless) product out there. We, and our baby, are otherwise big fans of the Philips Avent pacifiers, and we generally recommend them. But stay clear of the glow-in-the-dark version. Because they don’t.
Rating: 1/5
Philips AVENT Night Time Features
- Glow-in-the-dark function (sort of)
- Orthodontic pacifier designed for natural oral development with symmetrical nipple
- Anti-slip surface keeps pacifier in baby’s mouth
- BPA-free silicone nipple
- Dishwasher safe
- Available in size 0-6, 6-18 months
Tommee Tippee Day & Night Pacifiers
2-count pack for $10.45 $8.40 at Amazon
3-count pack (1 fluorescent) for $10.08 $9.00 at Amazon
For our updated 2022 glow-in-the-dark pacifier review, we have tested the Tommee Tippee Day & Night Pacifiers, which come in a bunch of fun designs and colors that separate them from the pack. They offer several combinations of designs, and they are indeed adorable. The pacifier itself has a little bit of a different shape than the average pacifier, which is supposed to help transition and increase acceptance. Most babies should have no problem using this pacifier, but each baby has its own personal preference, as we always highlight.
Unfortunately, the glow-in-the-dark feature does not work well. As in, it really does not glow at all. So while the pacifier as a pacifier is actually pretty good, as a glow-in-the-dark pacifier without glow, we can’t recommend it. However, you can get the 2 pack where both pacifiers glow in the dark or the 3-pack, containing two normal and one fluorescent pacifier. This can be a good choice if you just need one and want to test how fluorescent pacifiers work and if it’ll help you and your baby (it will). But since even that one won’t light up in the dark, we recommend you go ahead and just get the MAM glow-in-the-dark pacifier (our favorite by far).
If you prefer cute designs and colorful pacifiers (and don’t care about fluorescence), the Tommee Tippee Day & Night Pacifiers can be a good choice – just choose their non-glow-in-the-dark versions, which are sometimes cheaper (currently $7.68 at Amazon).
Rating: 1/5
Tommee Tippee Day & Night Features
- Glow-in-the-dark feature (but only 1)
- Fun and colorful designs
- Orthodontic design using symmetrical nipple shape that support baby’s natural oral development
- Acceptance guaranteed! Ideal for switching between breast, bottle, and soother. Tommee Tippee states that 83% of parents recalled that their babies accepted the first time.
- Free of BPA, BPS, and phthalates
- Available in size 0-6, 6-18 months
Glow-in-the-dark pacifier review verdict
In our review of glow-in-the-dark pacifiers, we’ve learned that they truly are a parent sanity saver. They will keep your midnight frustrations in check when scrambling to find a pacifier while your baby wakes up just as you have fallen fast asleep.
We have tested 7 glow-in-the-dark pacifiers to find the absolute best one. The MAM Night Pacifiers and MAM Air Night Pacifiers both get our strong buy recommendation and are our Editor’s pick.
MAM’s glow-in-the-dark pacifiers light up in the dark surprisingly well, even with limited daylight exposure. You already have to worry about recharging all your electrical devices, and you don’t also need to forget to charge your glow-in-the-dark pacifiers. You don’t with the MAM Night pacifiers.
Coupled with an overall great pacifier experience MAM is our clear pick among the good (Dr. Brown’s, NUK), just fine (Amazon), and pretty awful pacifiers (Philips and Tommee Tippee).
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