My Kids Were Addicted to These Pacifiers

As I write this review I am plagued with a good amount of guilt, because my boys are way too old to use pacifiers but they still do. And yet, I must not be the only parent with binky-addicted children, as Avent makes pacifiers in multiple age ranges, including a 18 month plus category. So if you allow your children to keep their paci beyond the recommended age limit (which may vary by pediatrician; mine wanted them gone at 1 year), then this may be the brand to use.

This review is for an Avent Clear Silicone Pacifier Set, 2 pack for toddlers. The recommended age range is 6 to 18 months. Avent also makes pacifiers for the 0-6 month age range, and also for the 18 months and older range. The difference between the age ranges is the size of the pacifier. I found out along the way (to be discussed later), that the size can indeed make a difference.

These pacifiers are a clear silicone, as opposed to the yellowish-brown rubber found in some other binkies. Yes, I can confirm from personal experience that these binkies at least start out tasteless, because I did try one once just to see what the big deal was. I do not understand my sons' fascination with pacifiers in general, but my little trial did confirm Avent's claim of being tasteless.

The plastic shield surrounding the pacifier is clear, with a colored center. I have seen many color options, including orange, green, blue, and purple. I both love and hate the appearance of these binkies. I love it because when I did allow my children to go out in public with their pacis, it was hard to tell that they had something in their mouth at all. As opposed to traditional white binkies, it is hard to see these clear binkies until you get up close. That reduced the number of disapproving glares that I used to get from strangers. I limit their binkie usage to bedtime only now, so it is not a problem. But, at bed is when I start to hate these binkies. My children sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, crying because they lost their pacifier. It is nearly impossible to find these binkies in the dark. I have a Glo Worm that I use to shine a light on the floor so that I can try to find these clear binkies. With traditional white pacifiers, I never had this problem.

There is a ring in the center of the pacifiers so that you can attach the paci to a pacifier holder. This might be useful for younger children closer to 6 months or so, who may be prone to dropping their binky. We used to have something that clipped to their shirt, and then attached to the binky by a Velcro strap wrapped around the ring. It certainly did reduce the number of times that the binky fell to the floor in public.

There are vents in the clear plastic part of the binky to prevent moisture buildup and chafing. With these pacifiers, my sons never did developed chapped skin.

These pacifiers also come with a clear protective case, which can be used when traveling. I initially loved this feature, as I could throw a spare binky in my diaper bag or purse, and not worry as much that it would get dirty. But, over time, my protective cases became separated from the binkies, and I lost all of the cases eventually. The fact that they are clear does not help very much! One day I will find them under the couch, or in the back of my cabinets...

I think the most important aspect of this Avent Clear Silicone Pacifier Set is the fact that the pacifiers are indeed designed for a specific age group. The clear plastic shield and the silicone middle are both designed to be appropriate for the age group. The 6 to 18 month size is larger than the newborn size, but not as large as the 18 month plus size. I found out the hard way once that this could be very important:

Once, my older son (then around 18 months), picked up my younger son's pacifier (he was about 2 months old and using the 0-6 month size at the time). He put it in his mouth, and played with it alittle by moving it around. At one point, he had the silicone part bent in half and managed to push the entire pacifier into his mouth. I am so thankful that I was right there and was able to pull it out before he potentially choked. He would not have been able to do that with the 6-18 month plus size, because it would have been way too big for him to fit completely in his mouth.

These pacifiers are easy to clean by simply throwing them in some boiling water for a few minutes. This is also recommended prior to your child's first use.

The 2-pack of these pacifiers will cost about $4. They can be found at Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Target, Walmart, and many supermarkets. However, I find that the selection does vary from store to store, with many stores stocking only the 0-6 month product and not this 6-18 month one. I also find the color selection varies, and it used to frustrate me when the only colors in stock were pink or otherwise very girlish (I only have boys).

Overall, if your child is between 6 and 18 months old and still using a pacifier, then I do recommend the Avent Clear Silicone Pacifier Set. But, I also recommend that you consider your needs, because Avent makes many variations of this pacifier that could be more appropriate. For instance, they have a glow in the dark version that would certainly help me in finding these pacis at night. It is a personal decision as to whether you want the binkie to be easy to spot or not; for me, when in public I preferred the clear ones hands down. My youngest child is just over 18 months now, so he no longer uses this binky. But, he does still use a binky...for now!