8 Best Teething Toys and Teethers for Babies

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When your baby’s teeth start erupting, he may have some discomfort. Although this is a normal part of the teething process, you can help ease this discomfort by giving your baby a teether or teething toy to chew on. To help you find the best teething toys, we surveyed more than 10,000 Pampers Parents. Read on to find out what to look for in a teething toy and to see which teething toys were voted as the best.

Why Your Baby May Need a Teether

Growing teeth can sometimes hurt for your little one, which is why teething toys can come in handy. Chewing on one of these may help distract your baby and may even relieve some of the discomfort as the teeth erupt from the gums. Babies often begin sprouting teeth sometime between 4 months and 7 months. The front teeth will typically come in first, followed by the first molars, and finally the canines. The whole teething timeline lasts well into toddlerhood, when your little one will finally have a full set of baby teeth. Here are some ways to ease your infant’s discomfort during the teething period:

1. Massage her gums with a clean finger

2. Give her a teether to chew on

3. If the above two methods don’t work, check with your baby's healthcare provider about giving her an appropriate dose of pain-relief medication.

Teething Symptoms

Symptoms of teething you might notice include:

• Your baby seems to be in some pain or discomfort

• Drooling

• Swollen gums

• Irritability

• Crying

• Trouble sleeping

• Mild fever, which is easy to determine using a digital thermometer.

Features to Consider When Choosing a Teether

Here are a few features to consider when choosing a teething toy:

Safety Tips When Giving Your Baby a Teething Toy

When giving your baby a teether, follow these important guidelines:

• Always supervise your child when he’s using the teething ring

• Make sure the teether is big enough so that your baby can’t swallow or choke on it but not so big that it doesn’t fit into your baby’s small mouth. Consider getting one that is long enough so that it can reach the back molars but not so long that it becomes a choking hazard

• Check that the teether is in good condition and that your little one can’t chew pieces off

• Avoid teething rings that are filled with liquid, as these can break or leak

• If you like, you can chill your baby’s teething toy in the refrigerator, but don’t place it in the freezer as this can damage the item and/or hurt your baby’s mouth

• Don’t boil the teether to sterilize it, as this, too, can cause damage. Instead, use a sterilizer, run it through the dishwasher, or wash it with hot soapy water. Just make sure you check the manufacturer’s guidelines first, as not all teethers are dishwasher safe, for example

• Never tie your baby’s teething ring around her neck or to any other body part, as this can be a strangulation hazard

• Avoid teething necklaces as these, too, can pose a strangulation risk, or a choking hazard if a small piece breaks off

• If you see the teething ring is moldy or damaged in any way (splitting, crumbling, or falling apart), throw it out.

8 Best Teething Toys

Here are the best teething toys, as voted by more than 10,000 Pampers Parents. With any luck, one of these may help relieve your baby’s aching gums and provide some much-needed relief when he’s teething.

1. Nuby Silicone Teethe-EEZ Teether

Why pick this one? Pampers Parents chose the Nuby teething toy as the best for several reasons: its pacifier-like shape, its durability, and its budget-friendly price. The Nuby is the second-least expensive teething toy on our list. Made of soft silicone, the Nuby fish-shaped teether is suitable for babies who are at least 3 months old. It features multiple teething surfaces such as bumps and protrusions, which the manufacturer claims can assist the eruption of new teeth. Many Pampers Parents praised the size, saying that babies can hold onto it easily. Another plus is that this teether includes a hygienic carrying case to keep it clean when your baby isn’t using it.

My baby seems to love this teether the best because of how easy it is to hold, and she can flex it all around. It also helps to scrub her teeth since it has little scrubbers on it. When given different ones to choose from my baby always chooses this one.

Pampers Parent

Highlights: The teether is BPA free. The teether is also available in other colors such as green and pink.

Price*: about $4.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

2. Vulli Sophie The Giraffe

• Sight: Its colorful spots provide visual stimulation.

• Sound: The squeaker provides entertaining sounds.

• Taste: It’s safe for your baby to chew on since Sophie is made of natural rubber.

• Scent: The toy has the smell of natural rubber.

• Touch: The giraffe’s long neck and legs make it easy for your baby to grip, and the item is soft to the touch.

Many Pampers Parents thought Sophie the Giraffe was too expensive—and in fact it’s the most expensive teether on this list. Other Pampers Parents said it was difficult to keep clean and mold-free, and that it wasn’t all that durable. If you have a dog, you might want to keep this teether far away from your pet, as the teether is easy to mistake for a squeaky toy.

There are so many ends for my little one to gnaw on, including the horns, nose, ears, and feet. The scent and squeaker are a nice touch, too. This has been my little one’s go-to teether since he first started teething.

Pampers Parent

Highlights: Each box has a QR code, which you can use to authenticate the toy, and you’ll also find a cute story about Sophie the Giraffe inside the box.

Price*: about $23.25 on Amazon.com

3. RaZbaby RaZ-Berry Silicone Teether

Why pick this one? The RaZbaby teething toy is shaped like a pacifier with a loop to make it easy for your child to hold onto, and it can be used hands-free, too. The end is textured with bumps to help soothe your baby’s sore teething gums as she chews on it. Many Pampers Parents liked the fact that it can double as a pacifier. The shape also makes it easier for your baby to get used to if she is already familiar with using a pacifier. This is the least-expensive teething toy on our list.

It's small in size, which is easier to hold for my baby, and the nubs are perfect for his gums. And, the shape mimics a pacifier, which he is already used to.

Pampers Parent

Highlights: Made of soft, food-grade silicone. The teether is BPA free.

Price*: about $4.47 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

4. Infantino Lil' Nibble Teethers Carrot

The teether is made of BPA-free silicone, which is strong and resilient for chewing. Wipe the teether clean after use or toss it in the dishwasher.

This is one of the few teethers my son gets relief from. It's got so many different edges that he can get into any part of his mouth easily.

Pampers Parent

Highlights: The teething toy is also available as a fruit kebab or a pea pod. Price*: about $4.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

5. Baby Elefun Elephant Teether

Highlights: The teether comes with a money-back guarantee. If you (or your baby) are not satisfied, you can return the toy within 90 days. It also has a full lifetime warranty.

Price*: about $5.98 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

6. Haakaa Palm Teether

Why pick this one? The Haakaa Palm teether is shaped just like a hand, giving babies who are 3 months and older an extra hand to help soothe those sore gums. The teething toy features colorful fingers with a soft silicone texture, making it pleasant to chew on. Each fingertip has a different color and texture for added variety. Cleanup is a breeze as you easily wash it by hand in warm soapy water or toss it in the dishwasher. Highlights: The teether is made of BPA-free, food-grade silicone. Price*: about $11.85 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

The Bottom Line

Whichever teether you choose, you’ll be helping your little one survive the teething period by giving him something to distract him from the discomfort of sore teething gums. For even more great stuff for your little one, check out our top baby gear as voted by Pampers Parents.