Philips Avent Soothie vs. Bibs Colour Natural Rubber Pacifier

The Philips Avent Soothie and the Bibs Colour pacifier could not look more different sitting next to each other on a shelf. One is a plain green silicone nub that screams "medical supply." The other comes in sage, blush, and dusty blue, and looks like it was styled for a nursery photoshoot.

But beneath the aesthetics, the real difference is material. The Soothie is made from a single piece of medical-grade silicone — the same stuff used in hospital NICUs across the country. The Bibs Colour uses a natural rubber latex nipple with a lightweight plastic shield, drawing on a European tradition of rubber pacifiers that predates silicone by decades.

Both are well-made. Both are popular for good reasons. The right pick depends on your baby's preferences, any allergy concerns, and honestly, how much you care about matching your pacifier to your stroller.

For tips on how pacifier use relates to feeding schedules, see our baby feeding chart.

This is the single most meaningful difference between these two pacifiers, and everything else flows from it.

Silicone (Soothie) is a synthetic material. It is firm, odorless, taste-neutral, hypoallergenic, and extremely durable. It resists heat, does not degrade quickly, and is easy to sterilize. The tradeoff is that it feels stiffer in the mouth — some babies find it less natural.

Natural rubber latex (Bibs) is harvested from rubber trees. It is softer, more pliable, and has a slight give that some babies find more similar to skin. The tradeoffs are real, though: it degrades faster, can develop a sticky texture over time, has a faint natural smell, and carries a small risk of allergic reaction.

If your baby has no latex sensitivity, both materials are perfectly safe. The choice is mainly about texture preference — and your baby gets the final vote on that. Try both if you can afford to, because no amount of spec comparison can predict which one your particular baby will accept.

The Soothie is about function over form. It is a single piece of silicone, no frills, no seams, nothing to break or come apart. You can throw it in boiling water, run it through the dishwasher, or toss it in a sterilizer bag. It does its job and does not pretend to be anything else.

The Bibs Colour is designed to look good. The oversized round shield comes in over 30 muted, earthy colors that coordinate with modern nursery aesthetics. The natural rubber nipple has a cherry shape — slightly bulbous at the tip — that gives it a more traditional European pacifier look.

The large Bibs shield is not just for aesthetics, though. It keeps the pacifier further from the nose, provides ventilation around the mouth, and makes it harder for the baby to push the entire thing too far in. Some parents find the size odd at first, but it serves a functional purpose.

Does any of this matter for your baby's comfort? Probably not. But parents are the ones buying these things, and if a pacifier that looks nice on your baby makes you 2% happier during a rough day, that counts for something.

Silicone pacifiers last longer than natural rubber ones. That is just material science and there is no way around it.

The Soothie holds up well through 4 to 6 weeks of regular use. It does not discolor, does not get sticky, and does not swell. You can sterilize it aggressively without worrying about material breakdown.

The Bibs Colour nipple will start to show wear after 3 to 4 weeks. Natural rubber absorbs small amounts of moisture over time, which causes it to swell, become tacky, and eventually discolor. Frequent boiling accelerates this process. You will likely replace Bibs pacifiers about 30% more often than Soothies.

This matters for two reasons: cost and safety. A degraded nipple is a choking risk. Inspect your baby's pacifier before every use — pull gently on the nipple and look for cracks, tears, or sticky patches. When in doubt, replace it. At $4–$6 per pacifier, a fresh Bibs is cheap peace of mind.

The Soothie costs roughly half as much as the Bibs Colour per pacifier, and it lasts longer before needing replacement. Over six months, the cost difference adds up.

A rough estimate: if you rotate through two pacifiers at a time and replace on schedule, you might spend $24–$36 on Soothies over six months versus $48–$78 on Bibs over the same period. Not a huge sum either way, but the Soothie is clearly the budget-friendlier option.

That said, a few ways to keep Bibs costs reasonable:

• Buy 4-packs instead of 2-packs for a better per-unit price.
• Do not over-sterilize. Once your baby is past the newborn stage, washing with warm soapy water is fine for daily cleaning. Save boiling or sterilizer use for when the pacifier hits the floor in a public place.
• Rotate pacifiers. Having three or four in rotation extends the life of each one.

If cost is a real concern, the Soothie is the smarter pick. If the Bibs aesthetic brings you joy and fits your budget, the premium is modest in the grand scheme of baby expenses.

The Philips Avent Soothie (~$2.50/pacifier in a multi-pack) is the no-nonsense pick — hospital-trusted, one-piece silicone, dead simple to clean, and the most affordable option on the market. Grab a 4-pack so you have backups scattered around the house.

The Bibs Colour Natural Rubber Pacifier (~$5/pacifier in a 2-pack) is the pick if you want a softer natural rubber nipple and you care about color options. The oversized shield is a smart design feature, and the cherry-shaped nipple has fans across Europe and increasingly in the US. Just be ready to replace them a bit more often.

Our honest take: if your baby has never tried either, start with a Soothie — it is cheaper and you will know quickly whether your baby accepts a round silicone nipple. If they reject it or you want to try natural rubber, the Bibs Colour is worth the experiment.

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The Philips Avent Soothie and Bibs Colour are both well-designed pacifiers that parents genuinely love, but they are built around different priorities:

Philips Avent Soothie wins on durability, hygiene, cost, and clinical trust. It is the practical choice — the pacifier equivalent of a reliable minivan.

Bibs Colour wins on softness, aesthetics, and that natural-rubber texture some babies strongly prefer. It is the stylish choice — the pacifier you actually want in your photos.

For most families, starting with the Soothie makes sense because it is cheaper and lasts longer. If your baby rejects silicone or you want to try natural rubber, the Bibs Colour is a worthy upgrade. And if your baby accepts both? Buy whichever makes you happier. Parenting is hard enough without overthinking pacifiers.

If you are tracking feeding and soothing patterns — which is genuinely useful in the first few months — tinylog makes it easy to log everything in one place.

• Baby Feeding Chart — How much your baby should eat by age
• Newborn Feeding Schedule — What to expect in the first weeks
• Breastfeeding Latch — Getting a good latch from the start
• Baby Witching Hour — Why evenings are rough and what helps

• Philips.com. "Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier — Product Information." 2026.
• BIBSworld.com. "BIBS Colour — Product Information." 2026.
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. "Policy on Pacifiers." aapd.org, 2024.
• American Academy of Pediatrics. "Pacifiers: Satisfying Your Baby's Needs." healthychildren.org, 2025.
• Sexton S, Natale R. "Risks and Benefits of Pacifiers." American Family Physician. 2009;79(8):681-685.
• FDA.gov. "Latex in Medical Devices — Information for Consumers." US Food and Drug Administration, 2024.

This guide is for informational purposes only. Pacifier choice is a personal preference based on your baby's individual needs. If your baby develops a rash, swelling, or other reaction to any pacifier, discontinue use and consult your pediatrician.