13 Best Teethers for Teething

August 5, 2020 Last revised: January 12, 2020 Dental diseases

Author of the article:

Seregina Daria Sergeevna (Author's page | All articles) - dentist therapist, orthodontist. Engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of dental anomalies and malocclusion. Also installs braces and plates.

When a baby begins to cut teeth, for parents this can be a reason for both joy and sorrow: the baby is capricious, teeth breaking through the gum tissue cause itching, pain and all sorts of discomfort. Special rodents are produced for erupting and growing teeth. Which are called teethers.

What types of teethers are there?

When developing such a specific device as a device to facilitate teething, we proceeded from the following criteria:

Chemical and food safety of the product. Its long stay in the mouth, prolonged contact with such an aggressive environment as saliva should not cause the breakdown of the components of the rodent, like food.
Mechanical strength. Under no circumstances should a child bite off and swallow even the smallest piece of teething material with his growing teeth.
To be bright, attractive - the child will reject the “badass” if it is of an unacceptable and even frightening shape and color for him.
Be comfortable for the hand to grip so that the child can use the teether as a multifunctional toy, like a rattle.
The product should be complex in relief - the child, moving it in his hands, will develop fine motor skills of his fingers.
The size and shape must be such that it cannot be swallowed.

Therefore, a teether will be preferable to a pacifier: it can be bitten by already grown teeth, and harmful microflora will immediately begin to accumulate in places of damage.

Judging by the products arriving in specialized sections of pharmacies, there really are no problems with the aesthetic appeal of this item for children. Parents just need to correctly assess the degree of rigidity of the rodent so that the child does not experience discomfort from its too hard surfaces.

Selection by age

Teethers are divided into three groups that parents need to focus on according to the age of their child.

For primary incisors. The first teeth - baby incisors - appear in children aged 5 to 10 months on the lower jaw and 7-12 on the upper (for the medial incisors). Then, from 7 to 16 months on the lower jaw and from 9 to 12 for the upper jaw, the lateral incisors grow. For their appearance, it is better to buy soft silicone teethers, which will provide both enhanced massage of the gums and dynamic load on the edges of the tooth emerging from the gums.
At 12-18 months for the lower jaw and 13-19 months for the upper jaw, the first (deciduous) premolars begin to cut through the gums. This process will be facilitated by rodents made of harder silicone or plastic with a soft and elastic structure.
The second premolars will begin to grow at the following times: lower at 20-21 months, upper at 25-33 months. For their normal growth, not only biting, but also chewing of something is required. You need hard or semi-rigid silicone or plastic.

For the first age category, they can be of the simplest, uncomplicated form. The principle is “so that there are”. This is usually a triangular or ring-shaped grasping toy that is convenient to take from any position and pick up something dropped during play from a crib or playpen. Weight is minimal.

Later, products of more complex shapes, with multi-colored, bright colors are purchased. Their rigidity, elasticity and wear resistance also change, because what easily withstood the impact of barely breaking through incisors will already fail in the face of canines and premolars.

The best teething rattles

In essence, any rattle can help teething, because babies put everything in their mouth. But a chewing rattle with a corrugated texture made from special materials will be much more effective. And the sound effects will please the child and will serve his development.

Bright Starts “Merry Round Dance” – colorful funny figures

4.7

★★★★★

editorial assessment

79%

buyers recommend this product

The rodent, produced by an American company, is designed in such a way that it is not at all easy to catch any plastic figure from a round dance with your mouth: they are mounted on a plastic ring and easily rotate around it.

To scratch his gums, the baby will have to make some effort - this is an excellent training for motor coordination. The toys have various rounded protrusions, due to which they perform the function of a teether.

Advantages:

bright multicolor design;
shape safe for delicate gums;
functionality.

Flaws:

This product is difficult to wash and cannot be sterilized.

Every baby will love this rattle, starting from 3 months. The exciting process of turning funny figures will keep your child busy for a long time.

Zhorya “Potesha” – interactive musical chew

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

98%

buyers recommend this product

This product turned out to be surprisingly multifunctional. Teething is aided by bright plastic protrusions on a colored sphere in the form of half rings with different textures.

If the baby manages to turn any of them, he will be able to hear a short melody. While playing with a teether, memory, fine motor skills, concentration and sensory perception develop.

Advantages:

bright design;
developmental functions;
good quality.

Flaws:

difficult to keep clean;
high price.

This rattle will be of interest to children aged 6 months and older, when coordination of movements is already well developed.

Infantino “Strawberry” – vibrating teether with a colorful design

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

72%

buyers recommend this product

A bright toy in the shape of a strawberry, developed by the American company Infantino, will help your baby cope with the problem of swollen gums. When squeezed, the gentle vibration produces a light and pleasant massage.

Protrusions on the surface of various shapes also help with this. The plastic from which the teether is made is soft and completely safe. The toy is comfortable to hold in small hands. The vibrating chewer is powered by batteries that are included.

Advantages:

colorful design;
vibration function;
comfortable shape;
batteries included.

Flaws:

cannot be washed under the tap or in the dishwasher;
The toy is a bit big.

This expensive toy is recommended for children from 3 months to massage the gums and develop tactile sensations. But it’s better if parents help hold the toy up.

World of Childhood “Keys” – teether-developer with light effects

4.8

★★★★★

editorial assessment

87%

buyers recommend this product

“Keys” is a multifunctional model produced by the Russian company Mir Detstva. Other companies have similar toys, but this one compares favorably with them.

It not only develops fine motor skills, color and sound perception, but can also be used as a teether. One of the keys is made of corrugated plastic, and the second is filled with water.

When the baby learns to press the button located on the holder, the bundle will begin to light up with red and green lights. The child will also be interested in the colored movable beads that are attached to one of the keys.

Advantages:

multifunctionality;
ergonomic shape;
compactness.

Flaws:

you will have to change the batteries;
not easy to keep clean.

The model is suitable for children starting from six months - those whose premolars and molars are cutting.

Types of teethers

Compound form

If the teether has a complex shape, playing with it can help develop fine motor skills. This is especially true for composite products in the form of rattles or transformers with moving parts.

In the first option, the child’s attention will be attracted by the sound made by the teether. In the second, the main motivation to play with the product will be the unusual shape of it and the parts moving relative to each other. But in both the first and second cases, the main difference will be in the material of the “working part,” that is, the one that is being chewed, and the holder.

The one that the child holds on to most of the time usually has a more rigid structure; this was not done by chance. Sometimes the child gets tired of the flexibility of the working part and wants something extreme. Then he can always unfold the toy and lightly bite its hard part. Not the one made from more or less pliable silicone or latex, but plastic, rigid or semi-rigid. This ensures a change in stimuli and alternation between gentle and hard massages.

Pacifier

The rodent may also have a more traditional shape, familiar to many parents. An example is a pacifier. It can only be called a “dummy” conditionally: inside it, like its outer layer, is completely cast. Or large-porous, with walls whose thickness has been increased so that the child could not bite through it with slightly grown teeth. Although orthodontists do not recommend having a pacifier-shaped rodent. It is as harmful to the formation of the bite as the fingers of a baby.

Teether with cavity

There are also teethers with a sealed cavity, inside of which there is a special gel or even just water. They are placed in the refrigerator for some time. Only, of course, not for the purpose of freezing, in order to cool them to a temperature that causes a comfortable sensation against the background of constant itching or pain in the gums.

Since water or gel quickly heats up from the temperature of the oral cavity, it is better to have not one, but at least a couple of such rodents. The first one has warmed up, but the pain or itching has not yet subsided - the child is immediately given a second one. In most cases, if the lowered temperature of one was not enough to eliminate painful and simply unpleasant sensations, then after the second they definitely go away.

With vibration

An even more advanced model is the vibrator device. The vibration is triggered by simply squeezing the toy with the baby’s gums or teeth. Such toys have a bright, elegant color, which in itself attracts attention. If the child’s color perception is normal, then there is an additional and pleasant, even funny, irritant that distracts the child from the uncomfortable sensations associated with teeth growth. In addition to relieving pain from massage, such chewing vibrators improve blood circulation in the gum tissue.

Teether brush

A teething brush is another option for playing with a baby. Massaging the gums with a silicone brush placed on the parent’s finger invariably evokes a storm of positive emotions in the child: he wiggles his legs, squeals with pleasure, and laughs boisterously.

Made from valuable wood

Rodents made of valuable wood, which are purchased or made independently at the age when the second premolars are already erupting. The wood used for their manufacture is non-toxic hardwood such as maple, oak, juniper, ash, and beech. Their advantage is durability and the ability to give them a wide variety of shapes, from a simple “donut” to a complex topographic surface with smooth or sharp transitions.

Rating of teething products

Doctors recommend using a special gel for teething gums for children, which contains an anesthetic. It has a superficial effect on the inflamed tissue and does not penetrate the bloodstream. Thanks to him, it is possible to relieve the baby from pain and alleviate his condition.

Some gels are plant compounds that have the same effect. Various products also contain additional components that will reduce the severity of the inflammatory process in the mouth and eliminate other symptoms.

Moms wonder which teething gel is the most reliable? Considering the components contained, all gels and ointments for treatment are divided into the following types:

Anesthetic gels for teething, which consist of an anesthetic or lidocaine hydrochloride. Such gels have a superficial effect on the gums and cause numbness in a relatively short time. They have an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and homeopathic effect on the child’s body. Thanks to this, the gum gel can completely relieve the child of unpleasant symptoms at the time of teething.
Homeopathic preparations - contain plant extracts that have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect on the gums.
Gels based on anti-inflammatory and antiseptic topical agents. They do not guarantee long-term pain relief. They are allowed to be used up to 6 times a day.

No medicine can give a long-term effect. Some gels are allowed to be used for no more than one week continuously. Otherwise, there is a risk of dependence on the drug.

Deadline for offering a teether to a baby

Teethers are always purchased in advance. One and a half to two months before the possible appearance of the first swelling on the gums. Why is it said so vaguely – “...one and a half to two months”? No one can predict the exact date of teeth appearance; this process even depends on the baby’s nutrition (breastfeeding or artificial milk formula in his diet), the general health index, the presence of vaccinations and much more.

By the time the first teeth appear, a toy of a simple shape should already be ready, easy to grip and with such a hard “biting” surface. You also need to keep in mind that the first months of a child’s development are the most productive in terms of the formation of intelligence and useful habits, therefore, by the time the next teeth appear, the rodent toy should be changed to a more complex, bright and multifunctional one.

How to understand that teeth are starting to cut

Symptoms:

Profuse salivation.
The baby reflexively pulls his arms up to his head and also tries to put his fists in his mouth.
During breastfeeding, the baby may bite the mother's breast.
Restlessness during feeding, as well as refusal to eat.
Moodiness increases, sleep becomes restless.
Body temperature rises.

Some parents note that their child develops a runny nose and diarrhea. But with such symptoms, you should consult a pediatrician, because this also indicates an infectious disease.

Choosing a teether

When purchasing a product you need to pay attention to the following things:

Manufacturer country. Look at the country's industrial rating. If it has a developed industry and a chemical industry in particular, one can hope that everything is in order with the safety of products intended for infants.
The certificate is in Russian. A manufacturing company that values its reputation, when sending goods to the foreign market, will try to certify the products in accordance with the norms and laws.
Buy such rodents only in pharmacies, in departments of goods for mothers and their small children, or in specialized stores with official licenses from the Ministry of Health.
However, the certificate can also be faked - especially if the product is in strong demand. Examine the product carefully: sharp corners, edges and ribs, burrs, packaging defects, sloppy or smeared printing should alert you and make you refuse to purchase. Remember that a child's skin and gums are much more vulnerable than yours, and rough parts can damage them.

Most often, the choice when purchasing the first, simplest teethers is made between silicone products and latex ones. Silicone is more elastic and has increased rigidity compared to latex. But latex, for all its softness, often turns out to be more durable. In addition, latex, even in the absence of an orthodontic mold, will not spoil the bite. There, the requirements for deviations from the recommended forms are much stricter.

Product care

It is necessary not only to choose the right teethers, but also to regularly care for them. Before using the product for the first time you need to:

Wash it with baby soap or wipe it with a cloth if it is made of wood or runs on batteries. When using a finger teether, wash not only it, but also mother’s fingers.
Boil the toy (if this model can withstand boiling).
Dry.

Further care of teething toys should be carried out in accordance with the following rules:

Any contamination must be thoroughly washed immediately after using the product, as it creates a favorable environment for the proliferation of microbes. Wooden products should be inspected especially carefully; their porosity makes it difficult to maintain cleanliness. It is better not to wash such teethers in water, but to wipe them with a damp, clean cloth. Darkening of the surface of a wooden toy may indicate the development of mold on it and the complete unsuitability of the product for further use.
It is necessary to inspect the toy for damage before each use; if its integrity is damaged, the product should not be given to children.
The teether should be stored in a clean place, dry.

If you choose, use and store the teether correctly, it will become your child's favorite toy. This product is a real helper for moms and dads: thanks to it, the baby is less capricious due to itchy gums and is less likely to bite his fingers and mother’s breasts during feeding.

Such devices are made from materials that are safe for health. They are designed to massage the oral cavity and relieve discomfort during the appearance of the first primary incisors.

Previously, hard fruits or vegetables and crackers were used for these purposes. But you can choke on food. If you want to combine business with pleasure and introduce additional complementary foods to your baby, buy nibblers. They consist of an elastic mesh inside which food is placed and can also serve as “rodents”.

Domestic teethers can be found in the catalog of the Tovarika trading platform, where a wide range of toys for children is presented.

How to use teethers

You won’t get confused about the properties of many models of products for teething in children, because they are all equipped with detailed instructions for their care and use. But there are rules common to all models that are worth knowing in advance:

Rodents are not sterilized in ovens, microwaves, boiling water, or even heated strongly (more than 60⁰C). Do not wash in the dishwasher;
If cracks, chips, sharp edges appear in the product, or filler begins to leak from it, it must be thrown away immediately;
Models with gel or water inside, which are cooled in the refrigerator. Placing such rodents in the freezer for faster cooling will cause irreversible changes in the silicone structure of the shell, so this is strictly not recommended!
A newly purchased rodent needs to be sterilized. They just do this by washing with baby soap and then rinsing thoroughly. Or alcohol - if this is allowed by the instructions. Teether vibrators with batteries inside are not allowed to be heated with steam or dipped in boiling water.
A child may have his own preferences that are incomprehensible to us. Therefore, if you actively reject a toy of a certain type or shape, do not try to impose such a model on him. It’s better to change it immediately and offer another one. In this regard, do not try to immediately buy the best and most expensive - what if the little one doesn’t like it?

How to choose the right model?

How to choose a teether is the main question that concerns parents in this topic.
Here, each mother has her own parameters, and some focus on the fancy shape of the model, while others are more attracted by the affordable price.

And yet, you should know the parameters that will help you make a balanced and correct choice.

Guide to material

Mom must be sure that the teether does not contain harmful chemicals and is completely safe for the baby. Experts recommend choosing silicone teethers because they are easy to grip in your palms, they do not contain harmful substances and, moreover, they perfectly knead your gums.

Selection of a model with internal filling

Recently, models with sea water inside have become very popular. If a child chews through such a device, then sea water helps soothe the gums, preventing them from swelling. You can also find models with gel filler.

Unusual shapes always attract children's attention

A teething pacifier or a book that can be used to soothe gums and help teeth appear are ideal purchase options.

Now manufacturers are showing maximum imagination, demonstrating models in the form of pacifiers, rattles and books.

The more attention the model attracts, the better, because the child will be much more eager to use the new thing.

Focus on safety

It was already mentioned above that for safety reasons it is better to choose a model made of silicone, but do not forget about the size of the teether. It should not be too small, because then the child will be able to swallow it, and it should not be too large and weighty.

Mom should pay attention to the fragility of the material.

Many parents additionally focus on the manufacturer producing the product, trusting one company or another.

Products from Nuk, Avent, Nuby are considered to be of very high quality.

By choosing a model that meets all the listed requirements, the parent will take care of the health and fun of their baby during such a difficult period.

Model rating

By compiling this rating, we are in no way trying to put pressure on you with authority or somehow advertise specific models. Dry sales statistics, nothing more.

Avent

For the English Avent line, the price of models starts from three hundred rubles and ends at seven hundred. It includes products designed for all stages of dentition development in the upper and lower jaws. The most expensive of the series have a hermetically sealed helium filler inside to accumulate cold, if necessary.

Kanpol Baby

The Polish teethers called Kanpol Baby stand apart. They can be given to a child as early as a month. Almost all have a sealed cavity filled with water, which allows the products to be pre-cooled before giving to the child.

Price – from 100 to 800 rubles. The former have a simple donut shape, while the latter are animated toothbrushes with silicone or latex bristles. From a very young age, children are taught to use dental hygiene products. May have the shape of a banana, pea pod, etc.

Baby Ono

Baby Ono is another device from Poland. This is a brush that is placed on the parent's finger. Sold in a sealed transparent case. Helps both in massaging the gums and in removing food debris. You can use it from birth, and it costs between 150-180 rubles.

Nuby

American multifunctional bracelet, composite in composition (rubber-plastic). Brightly colored with safe dyes in the mass of the material, it has a set of movable beads, which is convenient for practicing fine motor skills of the baby’s hands. The versatility of the bracelet is also expressed in the fact that it is suitable for use from 3-4 months of a child’s life until the complete eruption of the entire set of teeth.

Pigeon

It has a simple “ring with ears” shape and a laconic design, including color. In the ring-shaped handle, balls roll in the internal tunnels, making ringing sounds. The “ears” are flat, with a relief surface made of silicone. It has no unnecessary details that distract attention, and costs about 350 rubles.

Sophie Woolley - Giraffe

The toy is made in France, made from safe and environmentally friendly rubber, natural and high quality. It has a velvety surface that is pleasant to the touch, imitating mother’s skin. You can give such a toy from the first months of a baby’s life. From three months, he will actively drag it into his mouth and scratch his gums with it, preparing them for the eruption and growth of teeth.

Tiny Love "Flower"

A complex toy in the shape of a dumbbell. Light balls roll and sound in the “handle”. At one end there is a spherical extension with a rattle ball placed in it. At the other end there is a “flower” with ten radial petals made of silicone, which can be sucked and chewed with pleasure, while the other petals rustle funny. The product is intended for babies of all ages, but it is still preferable to give it starting from 7-8 months - the toy is massive. It can cost up to 450 rubles.

Teether Chicco “Cherry”

Italian brand for children in the first months of life. A sealed bunch of silicone cherries contains a gel that is cooled in the refrigerator. Made from wear-resistant, environmentally friendly silicone. Allows freezing, which can be used for both storage and sterilization. Price 320 rubles.

Elephant Philips Avent

Teether in the shape of an elephant, has a hole for a child's hand to grasp, suitable for children from 3 months to a year and older. It is made of heat-resistant and healthy material, which means it can be subjected to heat treatment. Weighs a little, costs up to 550 rubles.

The best teethers with fastening

Every mother knows how upset a baby gets when a favorite toy disappears from sight. And this can happen very easily - children happily throw them out of the crib, stroller, playpen, or simply drop them. But this will not happen if the toy is securely fastened or simply put on the child’s wrist.

Toy "Glove" bb-prz-001 – toy with Velcro

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

72%

buyers recommend this product

An excellent chewer from China is suitable even for very small children and can be used from birth. The glove easily fits on the child’s hand and is secured with a special Velcro strap.

The teether is made of safe materials - food-grade silicone and breathable fabric. The silicone part has ridges that massage baby's gums, and the fabric absorbs saliva well.

Advantages:

hygiene;
rustling fabric;
wide range of colors;
convenient fastening.

Flaws:

Over time, the Velcro wears out.

The model is suitable for babies up to 5 months old - this chewing bag can be worn instead of regular scratching paws when the baby is awake.

MAMidea “Lion” with clip – silicone holder with teether

4.7

★★★★★

editorial assessment

70%

buyers recommend this product

This universal teether, made in Russia, is decorated with multi-colored beads and a funny figurine of a lion made of food-grade silicone.

Using a convenient clip, you can attach it to a stroller, crib, sling, highchair or baby's clothes - the holder's length of 32 cm allows this.

The materials of the product are completely safe and easy to clean. The teether can even be boiled. Bright colors promote the development of visual perception, and different shapes of beads improve motor skills.

Advantages:

hygiene;
attractive design;
versatility.

Flaws:

high price.

The toy is suitable as a teether for babies starting from 3 months.

Dolphin “Kvadratusha” – soft textile pendant-teether

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

88%

buyers recommend this product

A funny multi-colored cube from Russia with striped arms, legs and plastic teethers will certainly interest your baby. It can be hung in a crib or stroller using a special ring.

By looking at the colorful details, the child learns to concentrate, and in trying to grab the Square, he develops coordination of movement.

Advantages: