Our Story

We were tired of the pacifier lottery, too.

MilkPop started with one exhausted mom, a drawer full of rejected pacifiers, and a simple question: Why is finding the right pacifier so hard?

The drawer of shame

If you're a parent, you probably have one too. A drawer (or bag, or box) stuffed with pacifiers your baby rejected. Some lasted 30 seconds. Some never even made it past the first try.

That was me in 2022. My daughter was colicky, I was desperate for anything that would help her self-soothe, and I'd already spent over $80 on pacifiers from every brand I could find. Friends recommended their favorites. I read every review. Nothing worked.

One night, after my daughter spit out pacifier #7, I asked my husband: "Why do all these pacifiers look the same when every baby is different?"

Down the rabbit hole

I'm a researcher by training, so I did what I always do: I started reading. Lactation studies. Oral development papers. Breastfeeding support forums. And I discovered something that changed everything.

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Babies don't reject pacifiers randomly. They reject pacifiers that don't match how they feed.

It turns out that nipple anatomy, latch patterns, and feeding method (breast vs. bottle vs. both) all affect what shape a baby will accept. A baby who breastfeeds with a shallow, wide latch needs a completely different pacifier than a bottle-fed baby with a deep, narrow latch.

But no one was making pacifiers this way. Every brand offered one or two shapes and called it "universal." No wonder parents were buying 5, 6, 7 pacifiers hoping one would stick.

What if we matched the pacifier to the baby?

I partnered with lactation consultants and pediatric oral health specialists to understand the science behind successful pacifier acceptance. We identified four distinct feeding archetypes based on real-world latch patterns and feeding behaviors.

Then we designed pacifiers to match each one. Not just different sizes — different shapes, different softness levels, different profiles. Each one engineered for a specific way of feeding.

And we created a 60-second quiz that asks the right questions to match your baby with the right shape. No more guessing. No more drawer of shame.

What we believe

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Science over marketing

Our shapes are based on lactation research and oral development studies, not what looks good on a shelf.

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Safety first, always

Medical-grade silicone. BPA, PVC, and phthalate free. Because you shouldn't have to wonder what's in your baby's mouth.

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Parents know best

You're not doing anything wrong. Babies just have preferences. We're here to help you find what works, not judge your choices.

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Grow with you

Our interchangeable design means you can swap nipples as your baby grows, instead of buying entirely new pacifiers.

Ready to find your baby's match?

Take our 60-second quiz and stop guessing.

Start the Quiz