Bahraini MPs are demanding tough action to stop what they describe as a growing and disturbing public trend – adults using baby pacifiers in public places, particularly while driving.
Parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and national security committee vice-chairman Hassan Ibrahim has formally urged the Interior Ministry to investigate the phenomenon, which he says has been reported by concerned citizens across the country.
“This is not just bizarre; it is a breach of public morals,” Mr Ibrahim told the GDN.
“People are approaching Parliament with complaints of grown men and women seen driving or at traffic lights with pacifiers in their mouths. This is clearly influenced by an unsettling trend coming from abroad, and it’s now invading our society.”
The practice, originating in China, has recently gained global traction. Online platforms are reporting thousands of adult pacifiers sold every month, with some shops claiming sales of more than 2,000 units monthly.
Designed specifically for adults, these dummies are larger than those intended for babies and are marketed as tools for anxiety relief, smoking cessation and even improved breathing.
“None of that justifies this behaviour in public,” Mr Ibrahim insisted.
“This is not about the health claims, it’s about public decency, image and behaviour. We’re not going to allow social media fads to reshape our values.”
MPs believe it’s no laughing matter.
“We are not trying to police people’s homes,” Mr Ibrahim clarified. “But when behaviour spills into the public domain, especially in traffic or public venues, it becomes a societal issue.
“We urge the Interior Ministry to monitor and act swiftly before the trend normalises here.”
Joining the call for stricter measures is committee member and Strategic Thinking Bloc MP Dr Mariam Al Dhaen who condemned the trend in no uncertain terms.
“This is ridiculous,” she said.
“Just a few months ago, adults were cuddling Labubu dolls in cafés and malls. A few years back, it was adults sipping coffee out of baby feeding bottles. And now, pacifiers? Where does this all end?”
According to Dr Al Dhaen, the accessibility of the items online complicates the matter.
“It’s not the pharmacies or child-care stores that are to blame; anyone can order these online and have them delivered discreetly. But the issue is not in the privacy of their homes; it’s that adults are waiting at traffic lights, sucking on pacifiers in front of children and families.”
She is calling for clear penalties for what she describes as ‘anti-social behaviour’.
“The authorities need to draw a red line. There are moral boundaries that need to be upheld in public. This is not about tradition or conservatism, it’s about common sense and dignity.
“This is about preserving public values and societal integrity.
“Let’s not allow viral trends to make a mockery of our streets,” said Dr Al Dhaen.
The trend has stirred strong reactions across China and beyond. Many Chinese consumers claim the pacifiers help with stress and sleep, and even aid in quitting smoking. One customer review described the item as ‘soft and comfortable’, saying it offered a sense of psychological comfort during smoking cessation. Another user said they relied on the pacifier to manage pressure at work, stating, “I feel indulged in a sense of safety from childhood.”
Despite the positive testimonials, health professionals have raised the alarm.
Tang Caomin, a dentist based in Chengdu, warned that extended use of adult pacifiers could lead to dental issues.
“By sucking the dummy for more than three hours a day, the position of your teeth might change after a year,” he said.
He also noted the risk of choking if parts of the device were accidentally inhaled during sleep.
Psychologist Zhang Mo highlighted the emotional implications, suggesting that reliance on pacifiers might be a sign of unmet psychological needs.
“The real solution is not to treat oneself like a child but to face the challenge directly and resolve it,” she said.
Social media platforms have exploded with commentary on the phenomenon, with more than 60 million views on one Chinese platform alone.
“This world has become so mad that adults are using pacifiers,” one user wrote. Another jokingly called it ‘a stupid tax’.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))