The present invention relates to pacifiers (10) which can support a child in its oral development from sucking to mature drinking and eating reflex or which helps in the process of teething. A pacifier (10) is provided which comprises a shield (12) a cherry or nipple portion (14) with controllable hardness and a controller for controlling the hardness of the cherry or the nipple portion. By increasing the hardness of the nipple portion the child is de motivated to suck on a pacifier (10) and the child will lose the need for suckling. However there are moments when the child does need to be nourished and comforted by engaging the sucking reflex. In this case the cherry can be made softer.
