I used to about 20-30 years ago, all the time, when I was in 12th grade in high school and in college and university. And not only at supermarkets, but also at drugstores, Wal Mart, and later, Babies R'Us. I remember getting MAM pacifiers at Longs Drugs during my lunch hour in 12th grade a couple of times (my high school had an open campus policy at lunch so students could leave, and Longs was at one of the popular hangouts that my friends hung out at because there was a Safeway there and also a pizza place). Back then, I was very heavily into pacifiers, particularly the MAM brand. There was even one time in December 1995 (or maybe it was December 1996?) when I was 19 or 20, by then in community college, where my mom (who was then in her late 40s chronologically) went with me to Longs Drugs (now called CVS) and she got some Ulti MAM pacifiers for me for Christmas, because I wanted some new ones. (I actually told my 15 year old brother that I wanted some new pacifiers for Christmas, and he thought I said I wanted to light myself on fire for Christmas when he misheard me
). For a while between 1998 and 2006, Babies R'Us sold these pacifiers made by MAM (then distributed by Sassy Baby Products) labeled as the MAXI Ulti MAM pacifier, which had an extra large latex baglet / nipple for toddlers and preschoolers that were 18 months to 3 years old. Loved those. I also had some Nuk size 3 pacifiers in the mid to late 2000s. I was kind of forced to give up using a pacifier - not because of my parents - but because what I wanted became no longer available. They totally stopped marketing the Maxi Ulti MAM in the USA. Sassy Baby Products also ceased to exist and went out of business, they were owned by Russ Berrie, which also made stuffed animals, until their demise. MAM pacifiers are still sold in the USA. Occasionally I'll still go look at the baby aisle in the supermarket, but generally not anymore. They have the MAM pacifiers, except all of them are silicone plastic and aren't made out of latex and I hate silicone. I do hear that MAM pacifiers are still available in Europe with latex nipples (MAM is based in Vienna, Austria). I even think there are some Maxi Ulti MAM pacifiers still available in Germany and Austria and Finland and other places. Back around 2005 or 2006, both MAM and Nuk sent me free pacifiers from Austria and Germany when I talked to them on the phone. They were quite nice to me, but I also explained I do have Classic Autism and ADHD. And that my Autism actually makes me emotionally and socially like a 4 1/2 year old, which is an absolutely true and honest statement.
And technically, I'm not really even an adult baby as I don't wear diapers. I do like some cartoons, kiddie rides at amusement parks, traditional and old fashioned children's clothes like the longall and jon jon, and T strap shoes, though, but that has more to do with my being Autistic and being developmentally disabled, than anything else.
It's a daily struggle having Autism and trying to fit in when you can't. I wish more people would come down to my level and understand why I am the way I am. And see how things are like for me. Some people do understand. But not enough. Some adults, including some moms of young children. And some preschoolers and toddlers do understand. You don't have to be very old to realize I'm lacking social skills or being able to understand nonverbal social cues, as most nonautistic 3 year olds have better social skills than me.
- longallsboy
