Most babies struggle with teething during the first year of their lives. And teething hurts. Parents hate to see their babies in pain. (Sometimes it’s worse for the parents than the baby!) The crying and lack of sleep can be overwhelming for both of you, especially when your teething baby won’t sleep unless held.
You know that your baby has to endure the teething process. It’s a part of life. And you want to help ease their pain, but you might not know how.
People will tell you about a variety of remedies that might help: baby teething gel, an essential oil for a teething baby, or certain medications (do not use any of these products without your pediatrician’s approval).
Nevertheless, there is one method that helps your baby through teething: a teething toy. The teething toys for babies come in many types, so you can select what feels right for you.
Teething Toys for Babies
First, let’s clarify that teething is perfectly normal. If you are at all concerned about your baby, though, please always contact your pediatrician.
A teether (also known as a teething toy) is a toy designed specifically for a baby to chew on in order to soothe their gums.
When a baby chews on a teething toy, it provides counterpressure that may help ease the pain. Additionally, this counterpressure helps the teeth break through the gum (though the teeth take some time to break through).
Teething toys for babies can also be useful for keeping them occupied, which helps ease their discomfort. Yet with the variety of shapes and colors of teethers available, it makes choosing the right one for your baby difficult.
Baby Teething Toys: What to Consider
Babies tend to put everything in their mouths. There is no doubt about that. It is essential to ensure that you monitor your baby at all times and that all things around them are safe. Teething toys are no exception.
Since every baby is different, you may have to try a few before finding the right one. During your search, however, there are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best teething toy for your baby.
Teething Toy Safety: What to Avoid
When deciding which teething toy is the most suitable for your baby, ensuring that it is safe is your top priority.
First and foremost, safe teething toys are made from safe materials. To ensure that your baby does not come in contact with harmful or toxic toys, you should check each toy and steer clear of certain toxic chemicals or materials.
Phenylacetate is an additive commonly found in plastics, including those in teething toys. It produces a nice flexible, pliable, malleable plastic that is perfect for a baby, but it is also a carcinogen. Therefore, stay away from any teething toy made with phenylacetate.
Polyvinyl chloride (or PVC) is one of the most common plastics globally. Baby products containing this chemical are among the most toxic available on the market. Purchasing a teething toy that includes PVC is something you should avoid at all costs.
It would be best if you looked for toys that are BPA (Bisphenol-A) free. Since BPA affects the body’s hormone levels, it is harmful to a baby.
Though the package may state that the teething toy is BPA-free, check to see if it contains BPS (Bisphenol-S) because this toxin is even more dangerous. BPS is often used to replace BPA in products so the product can be labeled BPA-free.
There are a few additional factors to consider, apart from the chemicals, if you want to provide your baby with the best teething toys.
Though teething necklaces and teething beads are super cute and really popular, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents to avoid them. Not only do some of these toys contain harmful chemicals, they also present a choking hazard.
Additionally, giving your baby a frozen teething toy is not recommended either. The rough toy could cause more harm to your baby’s gums than benefit. Therefore, chill the toy instead.
Lastly, once you find a teething toy your baby likes, make sure to inspect it often. If you’ve chosen a toy that has liquid in the middle, make sure there isn’t a leak in the toy.
After some wear and tear, throw away the teething toy and replace it.
Teething Toys: Why You Should Use Them
Once your baby can grasp items, you must be very mindful of what surrounds them. Your baby is most likely going to put that item in his mouth. You always want to be careful of a choking hazard or even something that can make your baby really ill.
Putting items into their mouths to chew on or suck is called mouthing, and it’s a significant milestone for a baby. Mouthing helps them with their speech and jaw strength. It also helps the baby transition into solid foods as they learn to chew.
Consequently, giving your baby teething toys will help them focus on the teether rather than on the items that could get them into trouble during this formative stage.
Also, as stated above, teething toys help your baby form his fine motor skills.
Now that you know what to look for, here are eight excellent teething toys you can purchase for your baby to keep them safe:
There are multiple reasons that Sophie The Giraffe is a superb choice for your baby. The product is free of BPA, phthalates, latex, and lead. Furthermore, it contains 100% natural rubber and food-grade paint. From a chemical standpoint, Sophie is safe. Sophie will provide your baby with the opportunity to develop many motor and sensory skills as well. Plus, she’s really cute!
This adorable banana teething toy is one of the most popular silicone baby teething toys. It is both a training toothbrush and a teether. While it is not a traditional toothbrush used to remove plaque, this BPA-free, phthalate-free, 100% food-grade silicone teething toothbrush encourages a baby’s oral hygiene. It has handles for your baby to hold, and many moms have raved about this teether.
As far as baby teething gloves are concerned, this one is a keeper. This teething mitt has an adjustable strap for your baby’s wrist and it makes a crinkle noise, which will keep your child entertained. It’s PVC Free, BPA Free, and made of silicone. Ages 0-3 months is the most appropriate age for this mitt, as it’s made for those who can’t hold a teether just yet.
If you’re looking for something easy to hold and has absolutely no dyes, this Moonjax Silicone Teething Toy is it. This teething toy keeps your baby busy and safe while also relieving his sore gums. Made from medical-grade silicone, it is BPA, PVC, latex, and phthalate-free. It’s also CPSIA compliant and approved.
As far as baby popsicles for teething, these fillable teething toys are BPA, PVC, and latex-free. You can fill them with whatever you wish, even breastmilk. Freeze them, and your baby will enjoy what you’ve put inside and find relief as the soft silicone helps his gums. This toy is made for babies six months and up.
This teether and rattle toy is a combination of both worlds. It is a great sensory toy and safe for babies as a teether. It is soft, BPA-free plastic, and it has a non-toxic, water-based finish. This product is for babies 3-18 months old. It will surely keep your little one occupied and happy.
This teether is suitable for babies up to 12 months old. An adorable toy dino made from food-grade silicone and BPA-free, this teether is also non-toxic and eco-friendly. Your baby will love holding and chewing on the dino after you’ve chilled it as well. Moms wear the cord around their neck if they wish to, but the cord is not for the baby. Therefore, be sure to give the teether to the child without the cord if you let her hold it by herself.
If you are looking for a wooden teether, this maple teether is sustainably harvested from rock maple and does not have a chemical finish. It’s smooth and has an irregular shape for your baby’s sensory experience. It’s also the right size for your baby. You can leave it as is or put some food-grade oil onto it for some extra protection. Just be sure to read the directions.
Final Thoughts
You want to find a teething toy that will help ease your baby’s pain, but you don’t want to give them anything harmful or toxic. This makes it difficult for you to find the perfect teething toy. The good news is that there are many teething toys for babies with teething pain that will make your baby and you both happy. Try a few different ones or try them all. You will be glad you did.
