Average Price: $4-6 for 2 pacifiers

Availability: Widely available online and off.

Product Link: Avent Naturally 6-18mo Silicon Pacifier

Product Rating: ***/*****

The bad: The clear plastic of the shield and the ring handle are a harder plastic than brands such as Nuk, and the ring handle swings very easily on its hinge and will make clicking noises against the shield, which can easily wake a sleeping baby. My son also prefers the asymmetrical design of the Nuk, which is unfortunate as it doesn’t promote proper development of teeth and palate. The cutout for the nose seems awfully small and the shield was constanty pushing into my son’s nose. This will change as he grows, but for now it means that he’s always pulling it out of his mouth to chew on. The venting also means that steam and liquid enter into the inside of the nipple (it does not come in contact with the baby’s mouth, as the venting is through the shield and not the nipple itself), if the nipple does not dry out properly- and some people have reported this to happen, then mold can form inside of the nipple. I haven’t had this problem with the Avent 6-18 month pacifier or any other Avent pacifiers, though.

The good: Vented, allows baby to easily breathe while using the pacifier, and also allows steam sterilization. These pacifiers come with covers that pop easily onto the pacifier nipple to keep it safe while it’s in the stroller basket, purse, or diaper bag. The nipple is symmetric, which means that when your 6 month old keeps pulling it out and putting it back into his mouth, it doesn’t matter if it goes in upside down. Although your average 6 month old will find half a dozen other incorrect ways to put it in his mouth! The sheild design is also larger, which is both good and bad- the larger shield is good, but as I mentioned before, the cut-out area for the nose is a bit on the small side. This will likely change as my son gets older, but seeing as he’s 7 months old and large for his age, it makes me question the 6-18 month age range for this pacifier.

The conclusion: This is a decent pacifier, as long as the shield doesn’t interfere with your baby’s nose, if your child doesn’t mind the symmetrical nipple and as long as you don’t experience the issue with the mold. A few too many caveats for something as straightforward as a pacifier!