How to choose the right teether for baby? -10 Essential Tips

‘Teether for baby’ – is one of the most crucial decisions that new parents are faced with. While the first teeth may appear at around 6 months of age, teething symptoms in babies start as early as 12 to 16 weeks.

Introducing the right teether at this time not only comforts and soothes the teething pains but also offers a lot of other benefits (Read here).

With a lot of options available in the market, it can be highly overwhelming for new parents to choose the right teether for their baby. So here are 10 essential tips to keep in mind while choosing a teether for your baby.

1. Material Used

Teethers are available in various materials such as organic rubber, wood (Check Organic Neem Wood Teether here), plastic, cloth, and silicone. The most popular and widely used teethers are BPA free and food-grade silicone teethers, which are soft, easy to clean, and bacteria resistant.

2. Free of Toxins and any harmful chemicals

Safety is a paramount feature for a teether to have since this is an object which is going to be inside your baby’s mouth. So look for a teether that does not have any toxic materials like latex, PVC, phthalates, BPA, lead, or toxic paints.

3. Teether Size should be the right fit for your baby

• Size should be small enough to fit into your baby’s palm.
• The chewable part of the teether should be small enough to fit inside the baby’s mouth

4. Grip is important

Prefer a small & lightweight teether with an easy to grip handle, for the baby.

5. Texture Matters

• A textured teether (like this) is more soothing for the baby as chewing on it massages the baby’s gums
• The overall touch and feel of the teether should be smooth so that it does not hurt the baby or aggravate teething pain

6. Durability and Safety of the teether, can’t be compromised on

Avoid using regular toys as teethers as they aren’t made to stand up to chewing and may break off. Always buy good quality and durable teethers only,  which

• can stand up to the sucking, chewing, and handling of the baby
• does not get punctured with constant usage
• does not have any detachable part like a snap, that could break off (Read more here)
• should not have any small part or small beads that could break off and pose a choking risk
• does not have any ‘non- smooth’ edges that could dig into the gums or hurt them

7. Prefer Freezer Friendly Teethers while buying a teether

A cold teether is really helpful to soothe inflammation of the gums, so choose a teether which can be refrigerated and is freezer friendly.

8. Convenient to use teethers which are also Parent-friendly

Since a baby may be throwing around the teether most of the time, it can be a great hassle for the parents to clean and sanitize it every time the baby throws it. So it is better to use a teether that does not fall so often. How?

• Buy a teether that can be tied (check here) to the edge of the crib, car seat, stroller, or even on the baby’s hand so that it does not fall, so often. 
• Use a teether with a clip that can be attached easily to the baby’s clothes or use a teether clip

9. Easy to Clean – a desirable feature while buying a teether for your baby

Depending on the material, some teethers may be safe to be sterilised in boiling water and some may be suitable to be cleaned only with baby cleanser and water. It’s best to select the one you can clean regularly based on your schedule. So pay attention to the cleaning instructions for the teether and buy the ones best suited for your needs.

10. Colour and style – Do looks matter while choosing a teether for your baby?

Teethers for babies come in various shapes, colours, and styles. So choose a bright, vibrant, and colourful teether, that is attractive for the baby. You can also introduce different types of teethers to suit the growing needs of your child.