12 well-designed baby teethers to soothe even the crankiest gums
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Baby Banana
From all the gummy smiles to getting ready to chomp anything in sight.
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Few creatures are more pitiful than a teething babe. It starts with a cascade of drool which quickly turns to a whole buffet of discontent. Diaper rashes! Nighttime wake ups! General irritability marked with bouts of inconsolable crying! (Yourself included.) Eventually the mountain of a tooth pops through and things get back to normal for a minute before the cycle starts all over again. It’s going to take a lot of patience and snuggles to get through this months-long milestone, but luckily baby teething toys can help.
Starting around four months old, you may begin to notice the telltale signs. Luckily, it’s around the same time that most babies have enough coordination to bring toys to their mouths. Teethers, also called teething toys, are specifically designed to give them something to chew on to help relieve the pressure as the tooth works its way through.
There are lots of different kinds of teethers on the market, and it may take some experimentation to figure out which style your little one prefers. Depending on which stage they’re in they may prefer a softer material like fabric or silicone. Others may get more relief from harder wooden teething toys. Some styles can even be chilled for maximum soothing. If one doesn’t seem to keep their interest or offer relief, swap it for another!
We’ve rounded up some of the most engaging, effective and best teething toys for babies that get rave reviews from our own babes as well as highly-rated styles that tons of parents agree on. And while every style we’ve included is created with the utmost safety standards, it’s important to inspect your baby’s teething toy before you hand it over. If it becomes damaged in any way, stop using it immediately. Also, since mold loves a wet environment, be sure to clean and disinfect them regularly. Many kinds we’ve included can be tossed right into the dishwasher!
Psst: Looking for a way to make an at-home teething treat for your babe who’s already started solids? We love using Little Bellies frozen puree cubes (find them in the freezer aisle at Target!) in a mesh strainer to help provide soothing relief and a delicious treat. Experts say that sweet foods can offer pain relief for those sore gums—and single-ingredient mango puree bites are just the ticket.
Best Teething Toys for Babies
A version of this article was published July 20, 2020. It has been updated.