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My guess is that if you’re reading this, it’s because you’re bouncing a cranky baby on your knee, desperately trying to soothe them while their teeny tiny teeth start to pop up. Or, you’re a new parent building a baby registry and desperately trying to avoid that same fate. Which is why we spoke to pediatric dentists and others in the industry about what to look for when choosing a teething toy (or “teether”) for your baby.
How To Know If Your Baby Needs A Teether
First, let’s quickly go back to the basics. Your baby might need a teether if they’re, well, teething. Dr. Scott Cashion, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), tells SheKnows that this typically starts when a baby is 6 to 8 months old.
“Signs to look for are irritability, accompanied by a lot of biting or chewing on hard objects and drooling,” he says.
Some kids won’t have their first tooth come in until 12 to 14 months, but whenever it happens, it can be an uncomfortable period for kiddos! If your baby seems to be in pain, you can start with the AAPD’s suggestion that you gently rub your baby’s gums with a cool, wet washcloth or — until the teeth are right near the surface — a clean finger. Dr. Cashion says you can also feed your baby cool, soft foods (if they’ve graduated to solids) such as applesauce or yogurt to help ease the discomfort.
But if that’s not working and you need your finger back, it might be time to invest in a teether.
What Should Parents Look For When Buying a Teething Toy?
Experts tell us that material is probably the biggest aspect you should consider when shopping. Ideally, the teether would be free of parabens, phthalates, PVC, BPA, synthetic dyes, and synthetic latex.
“Look for a toy made of non-toxic and durable material, such as natural rubber, silicone, or wood— avoid plastics,” says Dr. Shamin Makvandi, principal dentist at DentiFlow Dentistry. “These materials are safe for babies and can withstand biting and chewing.”
Makvandi also tells SheKnows that parents will want to select a toy with different textures like bumps, ridges, and grooves. “Varied surfaces stimulate the gums and emerging teeth,” she explains.
Best Teethers At A Glance:
Best Expert-Recommended Teether:Baby Banana Yellow Banana Toothbrush
Best Celeb Favorite Teether: Sophie La Girafe
Best Budget-Friendly Teether:Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys
How Often Can Babies Use Teething Toys?
You don’t necessarily need to be setting a timer when your baby has a teether. What tends to be more important than the clock, is the calendar.
“If your baby has been using the same teething toy for months now, it might be time to give it a break from use,” Dr. Cashion says. “If a teething ring or other similar device has been sitting in your child’s mouth for long periods, there is a chance of harboring bacteria and germs that could cause an infection in your child’s mouth.”
As such, you’ll want to replace your child’s teether regularly. Be sure to thoroughly clean it based on the manufacturer’s instructions, and, when in doubt, toss it.
“Inspect the teething toy regularly,” says Dr. Elizabeth Walton, cofounder and clinical director of Pediatrics and Pediatric Sedation Dentist at Risas Dental and Braces. “If it doesn’t look brand new, don’t give it to your baby. If it is sticky, misshaped or jagged, torn or chipped in any way, throw it away!”
(Which sounds like pretty great advice for any piece of baby gear!)
What Should Parents Stay Away From?
Before we get to the good stuff, we have to talk about what parents should steer clear of. Any kind of liquid-filled teething ring should be considered a no-go. The liquid could contain chemicals that could be dangerous if a teething baby were to pierce through the ring and ingest the liquid.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital also warns parents of the dangers of teething necklaces which are basically a string of beads for a baby to munch on. Not only could a bead become loose and pose a choking hazard, but the necklace itself could become a strangulation hazard.
And what about medicinal options? That’s something to discuss with your child’s pediatrician and/or pediatric dentist, but Dr. Cashion tells SheKnows, “Topical pain relievers and medications that are rubbed on the gums are not necessary, or even useful because they wash out of the baby’s mouth within minutes.”
Baby Banana Yellow Banana Toothbrush
Material: Silicone
Pros:
-Expert-recommended
-Dishwasher-safe
Cons:
-Some shoppers had experiences with bristles coming off
“I like the Baby Banana Infant Toothbrush because it does double duty, soothing sore gums while training infants in good oral hygiene,” Dr. Walton says of the easy-to-hold teether that has more than 28 thousand rave reviews on Amazon.
Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether
Material: Silicone
Pros:
-Expert-recommended
-Dishwasher-safe
-Multiple colors
Cons:
-Some shoppers had experiences with legs coming off
“One of my favorites is the Comotomo Silicone Teether,” Dr. Bruce Tasios from Tasios Orthodontics tells SheKnows. “It is easy to hold and has a one-piece construction but, best of all, it has several biting points so the child will never get bored. Having several ways to bite also ensures the toy doesn’t break down as quickly as other teethers.”
Sophie La Girafe
Material: Rubber
Pros:
-Cult favorite
-Beloved for more than 60 years
Cons:
-Not dishwasher-safe
If you haven’t met Sophie, let us introduce you to perhaps the most iconic teether out there. In 1961, a man in Paris who was an expert in using natural latex from Hevea trees produced a giraffe toy for babies. It quickly became a cult-favorite teether and has even been munched on by celebrity kids like Bronze Mahomes.
Frida Baby Teething Relief Not-Too-Cold-to-Hold Baby Teether
Material: Silicone
Pros:
-Dishwasher-safe
-Meant to be chilled
-Multiple textures
Cons:
-Lots of pieces
Bronze Mahomes has been a busy little guy, and mom Brittany Mahomes kept followers clued in on his teething journey. The son of NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes has also used this Frida Baby teether that’s designed to be cooled. Throw the colorful pieces in the refrigerator so they can chill and then pop one in the holder so your little one can chomp away without their hands getting cold. Genius!
Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys
Material: BPA Free, Phthalate Free, PVC Free, Latex Free
Pros:
-Budget-friendly
-Can be chilled
-Lots of textures
Cons:
-Hand wash only
I could wax poetic about this teether and the myriad of textures that can easily be chilled. But the, ahem, key takeaways should be that it’s $3 for three keys and it has more than 105 thousand glowing reviews on Amazon.
Dr. Brown’s Fresh Firsts Silicone Feeder (2 Pack)
Material: Silicone
Pros:
-Also a feeder
-Dishwasher-safe
-2 pack
Cons:
-Might stain the color of the food
Remember what Dr. Cashion said about using cool foods to help ease your baby’s discomfort? This ingenious product from the family-loved brand Dr. Brown’s can be filled with chilled yogurt, applesauce, etc. Kids then get a little taste of the food each time they bite. And so while part of the purpose of this product is to teach kids to self-feed, it’s also great for soothing their gums.
Smily Mia Penguin Buddy
Material: Silicone
Pros:
-Dishwasher-safe
-Mitten design
Cons:
-Not many textures
The great thing about Smily Mia is that babies can wear it like a mitten and munch on either of the penguin’s arms. Even though there aren’t varied textures, more than 31 thousand Amazon shoppers say they are “thoroughly impressed” with this teether.
Experts In This Article
DR. SCOTT CASHION: Dentist and president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
DR. ELIZABETH WALTON: Cofounder and Clinical Director of Pediatrics and Pediatric Sedation Dentist at Risas Dental and Braces
DR. SHAMIN MAKVANDI: Principal dentist at DentiFlow Dentistry
DR. BRUCE TASIOS: Orthodontist at Tasios Orthodontics
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