If there’s one word that could explain the trend that has been brought on by Covid-19, it’s “shortages”. First, it was toilet paper, then came the flour and pasta scarcity. Now, this “trend” is affecting family planning – at least in the Alpine republic of Austria.

There, for an expectant father, the procurement of his baby’s first pacifier turned into a source of stress, simply because the parts made of plastic shields and silicone thumbs were sold out in all drugstores in town. The father might or might not find solace in the fact that researchers see a connection between extensive sucking as a child and smoking (or other substitute oral gratifications) later in life. For young parents, pacifiers are just the lesser evil because they promise short-term relief for adults who are in need of rest!