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Expert Reviewed By - There are a seemingly endless number of teething toys on the market right now and it can seem impossible to choose the best one for your little one…
Well… teethers have come a long way from basic teething rings and sticks…
And now, more than ever, the best teething toys come in all shapes and sizes that are perfect for little hands and our planet.
What Are The Best Teething Toys For Babies?
Teething can be a challenge for any family, so when it comes to helping your little one (and you!) through it, getting the right products is KEY.
The best teething toys will distract your baby from the discomfort of teething while offering them relief from the pain of swollen gums.
Not only will these toys ease the pain of teething, but they also have the added bonus of helping your baby developmentally, as they learn to reach, grasp and shake them.
It’s important to remember that not all teething toys are made equal… and you must check that you are choosing the right ones for your little one to chew and gnaw on to soothe their pain safely.
And that’s why we’ve done all the hard work and have compiled our top favourites here to help you and your little one.
Best All-Round Teething Toy: MatchStick Monkeys
Matchstick Monkeys are a favourite of parents and babies alike and for good reason!
The Dancing Monkey, in particular, goes beyond being a cute teething toy and makes a great toy to help develop your baby’s motor skills with its unique shape, ergonomic design and textured surfaces.
Made from 100% silicone, the MatchStick Monkey range also has an added BioCote® Antimicrobial Technology layer that reduces microbes on the surface of the teether, making it more hygienic and cleaner than any other.
Best Teething Toothbrush: Cactus Baby Brush Teether
As well as being safe and the ideal shape for easing teething discomfort, this Cactus Baby Teether helps your baby with visual, tactile and exploratory development with the undeniably added benefit of getting your little one ready for using a toothbrush.
Made from 100% food-grade silicone, this teething toy is BPA Free, Phthalate Free, and Lead-Free and comes in the colours: green, yellow and blush pink and is ideal for babies aged 3 months and up.
Best Teething Toy Set: ANGELBLISS Teething Toys
Teething sets are always a great money-saving option for families and with 4 teethers in this set from ANGELBLISS, each piece offers unique textures for babies.
The Giraffe teether is designed to soothe and massage sore gums whilst the Banana teether with soft silicone bristles is easy to grasp and promotes oral hygiene.
The Strawberry and Orange teethers complete the set with their easy-to-grasp stems.
Made from high-quality products, these teethers are easy for your baby to hold and they will love the bright colours and feel of these bendy, chewy toys.
Best Wooden Teething Toy: Mali Wear Wooden Teething Set
This collection of natural wooden teethers is an ideal teething set for families who prefer natural products for their babies whilst ensuring their little ones continue to develop their recognition and visual skills via an alternative tactile experience.
Wooden teethers have a unique feature in that they do not attract dust and do not need washing all the time. They are also naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial making them very safe for your baby to chew on.
The only thing to mention with untreated wooden products is that you may wish to seal the products with coconut oil every now and then.
Oil sealing prior to use will saturate the wood fibers and prevent the wood from drying up quickly.
Lathering your wooden teether with coconut oil can also help relieve baby’s sore gums and aid in a cleaner mouth environment.
Best Solid Silicone Teether: Baby Elefun Teething Toy
Incredibly well designed, the Baby Elefun Teether is super ergonomic for little hands, whilst packing in a wide variety of textures for instant teething relief with just the “right amount of squish”.
It is an ideal teether for molars whilst being wide enough to avoid choking, making it a perfect choice for slightly older babies.
These teething toys are also dishwasher safe and can be placed in the freezer for extra cooling comfort.
I have no doubt that this teether will become a firm favourite with your little one. Whether you choose blue, pink or turquoise, this toy will definitely last as your baby grows.
Best Teething Rattler: Itzy Ritzy Silicone Teether
The simplicity of the Itzy Ritzy Silicone Teething Rattles made from 100% food-grade silicone teething toys with their soft colours will always be a firm favourite of mine.
The easy-to-hold design and silicone rings will keep little hands busy whilst ensuring there is plenty of textural simulation for teething babies.
Available in a variety of colours and styles ranging from rainbows to dinosaurs, there’s sure to be a teething rattle for every baby.
Best Tactile Teething Toy: Haakaa Silicone Baby Teethers
I am always a fan of companies that are 100% committed to creating stylish, practical and sustainable products that are safe for both our children and our planet and Haakaa certainly ticks all those boxes.
These expertly designed teething toys are my favourite tactile toys for babies out there.
Not only are they made from food-grade silicone meaning they’re BPA-free, but the integrated anti-choke moulding of these teethers also ensures that no part can break off – making them super safe for your little one.
Loved by parents and babies all over the world, you cannot go wrong with this set.
Best Mesh Feeder Teething Toy: NatureBond Mesh Feeder
NatureBond’s Baby Feeder is not strictly designed to be a teether, however, it doesn’t stop the fact that it is an amazing teething toy for older babies.
Aimed at helping to introduce new tastes to babies, the chewable teet will help wean your baby whilst also calming down inflamed gums by massaging them without causing irritation.
This feeder is easy to clean, PBA free and made from food-grade silicone and comes in two colour ranges: Peach Ink and Lemonade Yellow or Sunshine Orange and Lemonade Yellow.
Simply put ice chips or frozen foods such as fruit/veg into the sacks for instant teething comfort.
Best Teething Toy Mittens: Itzy Ritzy Baby Teething Mitt
This teething mitt from Itzy Ritzy is the best teething toy for babies who cannot hold teething toys yet.
The textured silicone is perfect for soothing sore gums and the crinkle noises will keep your baby entertained for ages.
The adjustable velcro fastener also ensures the mitt fits baby’s hand perfectly. And coming in over 10 styles, there will be a mitten for every baby.
Designed to be machine washable too, this mitt will be a perfect addition to your teething remedy collection.
Best Natural Rubber Teething Toy: Lil’ Llama Teethers
The Lil’ Llama Teething Toy Range are amazing teething toys that easily rival Sophie the Giraffe.
Made from 100% pure natural rubber, they are free from lead, phthalate, PVC, and BPA.
However, be warned that this is a squeaky teething toy.
So, if you are happy for your baby to have a squeaker toy, then I promise that they will absolutely love these toys.
Priced very competitively and coming in 3 adorable styles: dinosaur, llama and unicorn, these toys will be a favourite for a long time after teething has passed.
Best Muslin Cloths For Teething: LifeTree Baby Washcloths
These ultra-soft non-irritating Washcloths from LifeTree are made from 70% bamboo and 30% cotton and come in several beautiful designs that are lightweight and quick-drying.
Often forgotten as a teething solution, offering your baby a cool washcloth to suck on is one of the many ways to help your baby’s teething discomfort.
The bonus of these cloths is that you can also use them as a bib, face towel and burp cloth to name a few. They will make a lovely addition to your teething tool kit.
Best Teething Toy Bib: Nuby Cotton Teething Bib
The Nuby range of teething bibs is a prime example of their ingenious solutions.
Made from 100% organic cotton muslin with an absorbent middle layer these teething bibs have a soft and pliable silicone corner attached to offer teething comfort.
After all… teething babies drool a lot.
So to protect your baby’s clothes and keep them entertained, invest in a good set of teething dribble bibs.
Best Baby Shower Teething Toy: Crochet Bunny Teething Ring
I am a great fan of wooden products for babies and young children and these teethers are no exception.
Made of natural untreated unsealed beech wood, this Crochet Bunny Teething Toy has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and will not collect dust like silicone teethers making it a superior teething choice.
Supporting baby’s motor development these natural eco-friendly toys are hand-sanded to safe and smooth perfection making them wonderful gifts and comforters.
Best Teething Toy: Honorable Mention: Sugarboogers Silicone Teethers
I had to include the SugarBooger Silicone Teethers in this list because this innovative range of little teethers is a modern classic and is becoming a firm favourite in the parenting world.
I especially like the mermaid design on these teethers as they are easy to hold and have a great textured surface to ease sore gums.
They also provide your little one with safe sensory exploration and make an ideal first teething toy.
What To Look Out For When Choosing A Natural Teething Toy:
When choosing your favourite natural teething toys for your little one, it’s vital you keep the following in mind:
- Choose toys made from 100% food-grade silicone (not medical grade)
- Are they lead-free?
- BPA-free?
- Phthalates-free?
- Non-toxic?
- Are they made with natural paints?
- Made from natural rubber?
- Made from natural untreated wood?
- Made with organic cotton?
If you choose teethers with the above in mind, you will be ensuring your baby gets the safest and best teething toys.
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What About Teething Necklaces?
Safe teethers are ones that do not have any risk of falling apart whilst your baby is chewing on them.
For this reason, I am not a fan of teething necklaces.
Yes… that even includes under supervision.
Despite how well-made they can be…
There’s always a risk that the teething necklace may snap, get caught or break when baby is chewing on it – running the risk of choking on any loose beads.
This is a horrible situation to imagine and as there are so many other options for teething toys on the market, I always recommend staying clear of teething necklaces.
Are Silicone Teethers Safe?
Yes. Silicone teethers are safe.
Silicone is not plastic but rather a form of rubber with the same durability and diversity as plastic (only much safer).
Importantly, it does not support microbial growth and is non-toxic and odourless.
Silicone teethers made from 100% food-grade silicone also have the added benefit of being hypoallergenic and do not leach harmful chemicals.
Silicone is a great choice of material for teethers as it is smooth, pliable and malleable enough to be formed into lots of interesting shapes and textures.
Teethers made from silicone can be put in the freezer, are dishwasher and steriliser safe and with a rubbery texture that is soft, chewable and durable they are an ideal teether for baby.
To learn more about silicone and its benefits for baby products, check out this article: Why you should use silicone in mother and baby products.
What Is The Best Natural Remedy For Baby Teething Pain?
The best natural teethers for baby teething pain are products made from either natural rubber, food-grade silicone, organic cotton or untreated natural wood.
Never forget that a good massage of the gum with your finger and a comforting cuddle will also be very soothing for your teething baby.
I have written 15 great natural teething remedies in my Teething Post, so be sure to check that out if you’d like to learn more.
Will My Baby’s Teething Toys Go Mouldy?
Mould thrives in damp environments, so don’t submerge your teethers in water (unless the manufacturer guidelines say it is safe to do so) and always be sure to dry them thoroughly after cleaning.
You could also clean baby’s teething toys in a diluted Milton solution or in a mixture of warm water, baking soda and white vinegar to be sure mould and bacteria do not linger on the toy.
Need More Parenting Help?
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A bedtime & nap cheat sheet so good your little one will ask you to put them to bed...
Laura Williams "This is a life saver! I'm so glad I downloaded your bedtime & nap cheat sheet. My little one actually asked me to put him to bed last night! Unbelievable! Thank you so much!"
Click Here For The FREE Cheat Sheet
