⚡ The Short Version
Some babies just hate pacifiers. That's okay - there are other ways to soothe them. Before you give up entirely, though, try a different shape. Some babies who reject one brand will immediately take another.
Solution 1: MAM Pacifiers
MAM Pacifiers
If baby refuses others, try these. The orthodontic nipple is different shape. Based on reviews, babies rejected 4 types then took this one immediately.
Currently: $8.99 on Amazon
Check Current Price →Solution 2: Hatch Rest Sound Machine
Hatch Rest Sound Machine
Best pacifier alternative. White noise + heartbeat sounds soothe without a pacifier. Controlled from phone so you can adjust without entering room.
Currently: $69.99 on Amazon
Check Current Price →Solution 3: Boba Baby Wrap
Boba Baby Wrap
For daytime soothing. Skin-to-skin contact in the wrap calmed the baby better than any pacifier. Used this for first 4 months constantly.
Currently: $48 on Amazon
Check Current Price →The Thing About Pacifier-Rejecting Babies
Honestly? Some babies just don't want a pacifier, and that's fine. There's no rule that says babies need one. In fact, breastfed babies often reject them because the nipple feels too different.
That said, if you need something to help soothe baby (and let's be real, sometimes you desperately need it), these alternatives work for a lot of families:
What Actually Helps
Motion and contact often work better than a pacifier anyway. A baby wrap keeps them close and moving slightly as you walk around. White noise mimics womb sounds. These things address what baby actually wants: to feel safe and close to you.
One parent on r/beyondthebump put it perfectly: "My baby never took a pacifier but she'd fall asleep in the carrier within 5 minutes. I stopped fighting the pacifier thing and just accepted we're a carrier family."