The Magical Mystery of the Many Names for That Little Thing in Your Mouth: Answering Your Child’s Pacifier Question
That moment when your little one looks up, pacifier firmly in place, and asks with wide-eyed curiosity: “What names do you call this?” It’s a simple question that opens a surprisingly big door into the wonderful world of words! Let’s explore the many names for this tiny comfort object – it’s a fun adventure through language, culture, and even a bit of history, perfect for sharing with your curious kid.
The Everyday Champions: Pacifier, Dummy, & Soother
These are the heavyweights, the names you’ll find on store shelves and in most parenting conversations.
1. Pacifier (or “Paci”): This is the superstar name in the United States and Canada. It comes from the word “pacify,” meaning to calm or soothe. Think about it – when your baby is fussy, popping that little piece of silicone or rubber in helps pacify them! It’s a very direct name telling you exactly what it does: “I make the peace!” Many parents and kids affectionately shorten it to “paci” (pronounced “pass-ee”). It’s quick, easy for toddlers to say, and sounds friendly.
2. Dummy: This is the undisputed champion in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Where an American parent might say, “Where’s her paci?”, a British parent asks, “Where’s her dummy?” It might sound a little funny to American ears at first. Why “dummy”? It likely originates from an older meaning of “dummy” – a teat on a feeding bottle for an infant. So, it refers to the nipple-like shape designed for sucking. It’s definitely not meant to imply the baby is silly! It’s just the standard, everyday term millions use.
3. Soother: This is a strong contender, especially in Canada and sometimes heard in the UK and Ireland alongside “dummy.” This name also focuses purely on the function: “I soothe the tears! I bring comfort!” It paints a picture of calmness and quiet, which is exactly what parents hope for when offering one.
The Nickname Parade: What Families Really Call It!
Official names are one thing, but inside homes, on playgrounds, and whispered at bedtime, the pacifier gets all sorts of fun, silly, and personal nicknames. Kids are great at inventing these, and parents often pick them up!
Sound-Based Names: Because babies often babble before they talk clearly, many nicknames come from the sounds they make trying to say “pacifier” or “dummy”:
Binky/Binkie: This is HUGE in the US! It likely evolved from a brand name (Binky) decades ago, but it stuck and became almost synonymous with pacifier itself for many families. It sounds playful and cute. “Where’s your binky?”
Dodie (UK): A very common, affectionate term in the UK, possibly evolving from “dummy.” “Time for bed, love, where’s your dodie?”
Nuk/Nukkie: Comes from another famous brand name (NUK). Many people use it generically now. “He needs his nuk.”
Pappy/Pappie: Heard in various places, probably from early attempts at “pacifier.”
Foofoo, Tootie, Boppy, Do-Do, Boo: The list goes on! These are pure inventions, often unique to a specific child or family. They might come from baby babble or just sound comforting.
Descriptive & Funny Names: Sometimes the nickname is just about what it looks like or does:
Plug: “Pop the plug in!” (Focuses on stopping the crying noises).
Mute Button: A humorous, modern parent nickname! “Hitting the mute button.”
Sucky/Suckie: Very straightforward description of the action. “Where’s your sucky?”
Peace Keeper: A parent favorite describing the desired outcome!
Magic Calmer: For when it works its soothing wonders instantly.
The Fancy Name & The “Don’t Say That!” Name
There’s also the super-official, scientific-sounding name:
Orthodontic Pacifier: This refers to specific types designed to be better for jaw and tooth development (though prolonged use of any pacifier can affect teeth). It’s a mouthful (pun intended!), so you won’t hear parents calling it that at the park!
And then there’s one name most pediatricians and dentists don’t like:
Comforter: While technically correct (it does comfort!), this term is more commonly used in the UK for a specific type of security blanket or soft cloth a child holds, not the sucking device. Using “comforter” for a pacifier can sometimes cause confusion, especially in places like Singapore or Hong Kong where British English terms are common. Imagine telling Grandma to pack the “comforter” and she packs a blanket instead of the pacifier!
Why So Many Names? It’s All About People!
Explaining this variety to your child is a beautiful lesson in how language works:
1. Different Places, Different Words: Just like people in England drive a “lorry” and Americans drive a “truck,” or people wear “jumpers” in the UK and “sweaters” in the US, different regions develop their own words for everyday things. It’s part of what makes each place special! A “dummy” in London is the same as a “paci” in New York – it just has a different name tag.
2. Focusing on the Job: Words like “pacifier,” “soother,” and even “plug” tell us what the thing does – it pacifies, it soothes, it plugs the crying.
3. Focusing on the Look: Words like “dummy” (from the teat shape) tell us a bit about what it looks like or where the name originally came from.
4. Families Make Their Own Magic: Inside your house, you get to make up your own special name! Maybe you call it a “Woo-Woo” because that’s the sound your child made when they wanted it. That special name is part of your family’s story. It’s like a secret code!
5. Words Change and Grow: Nicknames like “Binky” or “Dodie” start with babies trying to talk or come from brand names and then become so popular everyone uses them. Language is always alive!
Answering Your Child: Making It an Adventure
So, when your child asks, “What names do you call this?”, you can turn it into a mini-adventure:
1. Start with Your Family’s Word: “Well, we call it a [Binky/Dodie/Paci]!”
2. Introduce the Big Names: “But lots of people call it different things! Some people call it a pacifier – that means ‘calmer-downer’. Some people, like in England or Australia, call it a dummy – that’s just their special word for it. Some call it a soother because it soothes sad feelings.”
3. Share the Fun Nicknames: “And guess what? Some families have silly names like Foofoo or Tootie! Maybe we can think of a new funny name just for us?”
4. Connect to Their World: “It’s like how [mention something they know varies – e.g., cookie vs. biscuit, soccer vs. football]. Different words for the same thing!”
The Big Lesson: Words Connect Us
That little piece of plastic and silicone isn’t just a soothing tool; it’s a gateway into understanding how people connect through language. The many names for a pacifier reflect the creativity of families, the history of regions, and the simple, universal need of babies for comfort.
So next time your child pops it in, you can smile, knowing they’re holding not just a “paci,” “dummy,” or “binky,” but a tiny piece of human connection. And maybe, just maybe, you can invent your own wonderful, silly family name for it together – that’s the real magic of words! Isn’t it amazing how one little question can lead to such a big treasure hunt through language?
Please indicate: Thinking In Educating » The Magical Mystery of the Many Names for That Little Thing in Your Mouth: Answering Your Child’s Pacifier Question