Quick answer: Follow the cleaning directions for the exact pacifier, clean it after use, let it dry in a clean place and inspect the nipple, shield, ring and handle before offering it again. Replace it at least every two months under current Health Canada and Canadian Paediatric Society guidance, and discard it sooner for tears, holes, texture changes, loose joins or other wear.
Cleaning and replacement are different jobs. Cleaning removes residue; it does not reverse material damage or make a worn pacifier suitable for more use. This four-moment checklist is designed for families who already chose to use a pacifier and need a repeatable care routine.
The four moments in a pacifier care routine
| Moment | Action | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Before first use | Read the exact maker's heat and cleaning instructions; complete the stated first-use treatment | Do not assume every material tolerates the same appliance or cycle |
| After use | Wash as directed, rinse and allow every surface to dry | Keep dirty pacifiers separate from clean ones |
| Before each offer | Look and feel for damage; pull gently only as the instructions permit | Discard immediately when a wear cue appears |
| By the calendar | Record the opening date and replace at the guidance interval | A normal-looking pacifier is not exempt from scheduled replacement |
Before first use: identify the exact product
Keep the package long enough to record the brand, product line, material, size and first-use instructions. Pacifiers that look similar can have different heat limits or cleaning directions. If the package and current manufacturer page disagree, pause and ask the manufacturer rather than combining the instructions.
The Canadian Paediatric Society says to sterilize a pacifier in boiling water for five minutes before first use, let it cool completely and then keep it clean with hot, soapy water after each use. Apply that public guidance alongside the exact maker's directions; do not boil a product when its current instructions prohibit that method.
For a new Itzy Ritzy Sweetie Soother or Philips Avent Ultra Soft pacifier, use the package for that precise line and age range rather than a care video for another model.
After use: wash, rinse and dry
Wash your hands and use a clean basin or area as the product directions require. Work around the nipple base, shield openings and handle, where residue and water can collect. Rinse away soap and place the item on a clean drying surface with air reaching both sides.
The Canadian Paediatric Society advises against cleaning a pacifier by sucking on it because germs can pass from the adult to the baby. A quick rinse or wipe on clothing also does not complete a soap-and-water cleaning step.
Do not put a damp pacifier into a sealed case for long storage. Clean the case too, and let it dry. If the maker provides a sterilizing or storage case, follow the fill line, cycle and cooling instructions for that case.
On the go: separate a temporary cleanup from a full wash
A dropped pacifier creates a practical problem when no sink is available. Carry more than one clean pacifier in a clean container and a separate bag for used items. That gives you another item to offer without pretending a coat sleeve or drinking-water splash completed the usual cleaning routine.
Products such as Aleva Naturals Pacifier and Toy Wipes are sold for portable cleanup. Read the wipe label for intended surfaces, directions, residue or rinsing instructions and storage. A wipe should not replace the pacifier manufacturer's required first-use treatment, scheduled washing or wear inspection.
When you return home, move used pacifiers to the regular cleaning area. Do not return them directly to the clean case because the exterior looks dry.
Before each use: inspect more than the nipple tip
Health Canada says to check for tears, holes and changes in texture, and to make sure the nipple and any ring or handle remain firmly attached. Inspect under bright light, bend the nipple gently as the product directions allow and look around the base where damage can hide.
Compare the current pacifier with an unused one from the same pack when possible. A change in surface, stickiness, swelling, cracking, thinning or colour may be easier to see side by side. Do not trim a rough edge, enlarge an opening or repair a join.
Health Canada notes that age, heat, sunlight and certain foods or medications can damage a pacifier. The Canadian Paediatric Society similarly advises checking before use and discarding a pacifier with cracks or tears, including after medicine exposure that may affect the material.
Replacement: use both the damage rule and the calendar
Health Canada advises replacing a pacifier every two months before it starts to wear out and throwing it away whenever wear appears. The Canadian Paediatric Society also gives a two-month replacement interval.
Write the opening date on the storage case or a household note. If several identical pacifiers rotate, mark them in a way that does not alter the product, or replace the set together. A calendar reminder prevents an old pacifier from remaining in a diaper bag after the main pair has been changed.
Replace sooner when the pacifier is chewed, damaged, exposed to conditions outside its care instructions or missing a firm connection. Health Canada says to offer a teething ring instead when a baby begins chewing the pacifier.
Clips and cases have their own inspection cycle
Remove a clip before cleaning the pacifier unless the instructions explicitly describe cleaning them together. Inspect the clip closure, ribbon, string and any attached parts. Health Canada says a clip ribbon should be no longer than 22 cm (8 1/2 inches), secured to clothing and kept in good condition; never tie or hang a pacifier around a baby's neck.
Cases need routine washing and drying because they touch clean and used pacifiers. Replace a cracked case that no longer closes or dries properly. Keep it away from heat and direct sun unless the manufacturer designed it for a specific sanitizing process.
A simple two-container routine
- Keep clean, dry pacifiers in one ventilated or maker-approved clean container.
- Move every used or dropped pacifier to a separate washable bag or case.
- Wash used items as the exact product directs.
- Inspect each one while it is clean and dry.
- Return only undamaged items to the clean container.
- Check the opening date weekly and replace at two months or sooner.
Browse the current feeding accessories for cases and cleaning tools only after confirming that they match the pacifier maker's instructions.
Questions caregivers ask about pacifier care
Can I clean a pacifier in my mouth?
No. The Canadian Paediatric Society says this can transfer germs from the adult to the baby. Use the specified cleaning method.
Does a pacifier need replacement if it looks normal?
Yes. Current Health Canada and Canadian Paediatric Society guidance uses a two-month interval, with earlier replacement for any wear or damage.
Can pacifier wipes replace soap and water?
Use a wipe only for its labelled purpose. It does not replace first-use treatment, regular cleaning or inspection required by the pacifier instructions.
What if water collects inside?
Follow the maker's drying directions. If the product cannot drain, dry or return to its expected condition, stop using it and contact the manufacturer.
For shape and material selection rather than care, return to the current pacifier collection and compare each maker's live age, construction and care information; this page owns maintenance after a product is chosen.
Sources checked
- Health Canada: Baby bottles, pacifiers and teething necklaces, page dated November 3, 2025. Accessed July 28, 2026.
- Canadian Paediatric Society: Pacifiers (soothers), updated July 2022. Accessed July 28, 2026.
