At this point, you may have seen plenty of pictures of babies with those pacifiers with the adorable little plush animals attached. Or maybe you simply been told by other moms that you just have to buy this specific pacifier with a stuffed animal on it. The OG plushie pacifier is the WubbaNub. It’s been so popular in fact that many new pacifiers have copied their design. Today, I’m sharing my real opinion on the WubbaNub as mom of 2 and based on what I’ve also heard from friends, family and my loyal readers. Find out if the WubbaNub is worth it or if it’s just another expensive baby product in the endless sea of baby items.
Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. This means at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you decide to click through and make a purchase.
WubbaNub Pacifier – Product Overview
So what is the WubbaNub pacifier? It was invented by a mom as a way to help newborn babies keep ahold of their precious pacifiers. Quite simply put, it is a pacifier with a stuffed plushie sewn onto it. The original version was a bean-stuffed plushie; however those have been phased out of the newer version for sustainability concerns. WubbaNubs were designed to be easy to grasp, nearly impossible to lose, and instantly comforting for baby. They are marketed as “baby’s first friend” and have been a market leader since 1999.
The pacifier part of the WubbaNub is made from a medical-grade silicone and is Latex free, BPA, PVC and Phthalate free. The plush is made from polyester fibers.
How Does a WubbaNub Pacifier Work?
The pacifier works to stay in place by leveraging the weight of the soft, stuffed animal that is attached. The weight of the animal helps to keep the pacifier in a place that baby can easily grab, even after they stop sucking. For a newborn, the stuffed animal would typically be positioned on their chest. If baby stops sucking or releases the pacifier, the animal will stay in place and the nipple of the pacifier will not be far away. This prevents the familiar battle that every new mom knows of baby losing their pacifier. I remember just when my daughter would get settled in enough, she’d stop sucking and her paci would fall out. Immediately the crying would ensue. Enter the WubbaNub to save the day!
How Does a WubbaNub Pacifier Attach?
One of the most common questions about the WubbaNub that I see amongst moms is whether the plushie is replaceable or if it can be swapped out. For the original WubbaNub, the answer was no. One of the things that made the original design unique is that the stuffed animal is permanently attached to the pacifier. However, more recently, WubbaNub has introduced detachable versions of their pacifiers. If you buy one of these, the plush is attached with a clip and is removable. You can replace either the nipple or plush portion of the pacifier if it becomes damaged or simply swap out the plush as desired.
Are WubbaNub Pacifiers Safe?
WubbaNub pacifiers are approved for use during observed napping and while baby is awake. They are not approved for overnight sleeping because of the attached plush. When used as recommended, these pacifiers are safe. However, if you do not follow these guidelines, obviously safety is not guaranteed. Please always use products as recommended by the safety guidelines. For more details, you can find safety recommendations and facts for the WubbaNub here.
Pros
- Weight of stuffed animal prevents pacifier from being lost or dropped
- Snuggly friend for baby
- Available in adorable designs
- Well-made and durable
- Medical Grade Silicone Pacifier
Cons
- Not safe for using at night or during unsupervised sleep
- More difficult to clean than other pacifiers (at least the attached version)
- More expensive than plain pacifiers
Which WubbaNub is Best?
This pacifier comes in so many adorable choices! I don’t think there is a single WubbaNub design that is the best for everyone. Your baby will have their own color and shape preferences, so just pick the one you think they will like the most. Or simply buy the one that you think is the cutest! I do recommend considering between the detachable and single-piece versions. The detachable will allow you to replace the nipple or swap out the stuffed animal. Consider how you plan to use the pacifier and purchase accordingly.
Here are just a few of the currently available WubbaNub designs:
- Detachable Baby Bear
- Detachable Buttercup Giraffe
- Detachable Baby Cow
- Baby Lion
- Marnie Narwhal
- Little Brown Horse
- Mackie
- Sheldon Turtle
When to Stop Using a WubbaNub?
The recommended age for using a WubbaNub is for newborn babies under 6 months in age and who also do not have teeth. Therefore once your baby’s teeth start growing in or once they hit 6 months, it is recommended to stop using the WubbaNub. At this point you can switch to an alternative pacifier or wean them off of pacifiers all together (if you’re feeling brave).
Where to Buy WubbaNub Pacifiers
So who Sells WubbaNub Pacifiers? Well to be honest, asking who doesn’t might limit the list more? You can buy them on Amazon, at Target, BuyBuyBaby, Walmart or you can use this store locator to find a store near you that carries them.
How to clean a WubbaNub Pacifier
The manufacturer of the WubbaNub recommends hand washing the plush with cold water and air drying. They do not recommend submersing in water. So you should not put the WubbaNub in the dishwasher or in your clothing washer or clothing dryer. In order to clean the nipple portion of the pacifier, you should regularly wash and sterilize the pacifier (including before the first use). Wash by hand using a mild soap and water. You can then sterilize by boiling water and submersing the nipple only (not the plush) in the hot water for 2 to 4 minutes. Then you can clean and dry the nipple and use with baby. If you have a detachable model, you can clean the nipple as you would normally with any other pacifier.
WubbaNub Is it worth it? My Honest Opinion
My biggest original complaint with the WubbaNub from my early days as a mom was that the plush did not detach. Given the price point of the WubbaNub, I wanted something that was easy to clean and replaceable in case of damage. When I purchased my first one, my dog Charlie of course got a hold of it and destroyed the nipple. Side note: Dogs really love chewing on baby pacifiers for some reason…I guess it’s the saliva? Anywho, the only option was to buy a whole replacement for the full price if I wanted another one for my baby.
I also didn’t love that the permanent attachment made the pacifier more difficult to clean. I had both sterilizer bags and an electric sterilizer machine that I liked to use on anything like pacifiers, nipples, pump parts, etc. However, I couldn’t use these with the one-piece version, which was a big drawback for me personally.
However, now you can purchase a detachable version. On these version you can easily replace the nipple, which cost $9.99 for a 3-pack. This completely changed my perspective on the WubbaNub. If you do buy one, I would recommend considering the detachable version.
What I liked about the WubbaNub
What I always loved about the WubbaNub was how the plushie kept the pacifier from being lost. This is the number one reason to consider this pacifier for your baby. It’s also undeniably cute, and I love all of the options for a stuffed plush that the WubbaNub offers. My daughter did love snuggling with her little stuffed lamb friend. So I absolutely would recommend giving the WubbaNub a try with your newborn.
Finally, one word of caution before you go on your way. For any new mom purchasing a pacifier, you should hold off on buying too many of any one brand until you know what your baby will accept. Babies are notoriously finnicky when it comes to taking a new pacifier, and you should buy one to test before stocking up.
Thanks for stopping by! If you have thoughts on the WubbaNub pacifier, I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you enjoyed this post, you may also want to check out my post on The 10 Best Pacifiers for Breastfed Babies.
