Best Baby Teether Toy
If you have a little one that likes to chew their fingers, then the Comotomo Silicone Teether may be the solution for you. This teether is small and easy for little hands to grip and hold. Our little tester was able to hold it by the loop and the finger-sized prongs. The prongs are angled and have some texture at the tip, plus they effectively reach the back molars, in addition to the front gums.
With silicone, comes hair and lint, as this material tends to easily attract these particles. Although this is the unfortunate truth of silicone, we find it to be manageable by regular cleaning and inspecting before giving the teether to baby. We think highly of this product and recommend it to babies who like to chew on their fingers. We are sure those cute little fingers could use a break.
The Mombella Dancing Elephant Teether Toy quickly became a tester favorite. It is easy for little hands to grip and hold, plus it fits comfortably inside baby's mouth. We find the textured tip to be an excellent length for baby to reach teething aches and pains in the front of their mouth, as well as the back. The circular disc keeps baby from putting the teether too far inside their mouth. The teether comes with a removable leash to clip onto clothing, which can prevent the teether from falling onto a germy floor. This bonus is one that no other product in our review provides, and we appreciate it. This product is our little tester's favorite and he found the legs to be useful biting points, too.
The downside of silicone is that it can attract dust and hair, and we experienced this while testing. Cleaning the teether before and after each use will help manage this issue, and this is a hygiene habit we encourage anyway. Despite this minor drawback, we recommend this product to any family looking for a teething toy that is easy for baby to hold and an added convenience of a leash.
If you are on a budget, the Nuby Teethe-eez Teether is one to consider. It has a handle and a mouthpiece with several small, soft bristles - almost toothbrush-like. We find this silicone teether to be soft and pliable, and the handle is enough for baby to grip. For an added bonus, a carrying case is included with this product and this is a useful perk when transporting the teether in a diaper bag.
While testing, we found the teether's mouthpiece too wide for our little tester (six-months-old) to fit inside her mouth, but she managed to chew on the sides. Again, the common experience with silicone is that it attracts hair, especially the bristles on this product. Before use, we encourage parents and caregivers to inspect the teether and thoroughly wash it, and this will help manage the issue. If you can overlook these drawbacks, we like this product for families who appreciate a low-cost teether that should help soothe babies' teething discomfort.
The Ashtonbee Baby Fruit Feeder and Teether is an innovative alternative to standard teethers. This product can hold fresh or frozen foods for baby to gnaw and chew, and the nipple allows the tiniest of food pieces to pass through. One package includes a set of two feeders with four silicone nipples ranging from small to large, and we found the handle easy for our little tester to hold. Also, we found the silicone nipples much easier to clean in comparison to feeders with a mesh bag.
One downside of this product is that some foods, often ones that are orange in color (think carrots, sweet potato, etc.), may discolor the silicone nipple. But, do not fret, it is still usable. If your baby is ready or already eating solid foods, or perhaps they have lost interest in other teething toys, we recommend this product. We are confident this feeder will be fun and exciting for your little one.
The Baby Elefun Teether may be simple in design, but is unique as it offers multiple textures and biting points. We find this design to be easy for baby to hold along with five different textures (bumps, nubs, and ridges in various sizes) for baby to chew. The elephant's feet are narrow and short, making them good for baby to soothe gums in the front. Also, the teether is wide enough that baby will not gag on it.
Although the trunk can reach baby's back gums, our little tester found it tricky to do on their own. We recommend this multi-textured, slim product to teething tots needing to soothe sore gums for emerging teeth in the front.
The Bonbino Teether Rings are classic. The ring design is easy for babies to grasp, and each one has multiple textures for baby to chew and bite. Our little tester was able to easily hold this product.
The initial cost of this product is a factor to consider, but keep in mind the package contains four rings, so it is very budget-friendly per teether. Also, the rings are larger in size and our little tester found it challenging to reach back teeth. We recommend this product to tots that would appreciate a teething ring with oodles of texture or those looking to keep multiple teethers on-hand.
The Taggies Molasses Sloth Rattle and Teether is a delightful combo of a silicone ring and a soft, cuddly stuffed animal. Plus, it rattles, and the tags add a playful element. We appreciate how easy this toy is to clean by sending it through the wash and letting it air dry.
While testing, we found that pinching and pulling the sloth's fur was all that is needed to remove fibers, and material ending up in baby's mouth is a slight concern. Also, the ring will not reach teeth in the back. We recommend this product to little one's that will enjoy a stuffed animal attached to their teether, plus the added sensory entertainment of a rattle and colorful tags.
The ball design of the Bumkins Teether Ball is unlike other products in our review. We find this product soft, pliable, and simple for baby to hold, plus it offers multiple textures that our little tester enjoyed chewing.
Unfortunately, our little tester was unable to reach his back teeth with this teething toy. Also, the silicone material attracts hair and lint, which isn't ideal. However, proper cleaning habits can minimize this issue. We recommend this teething toy for babies around the six-month-old mark who would enjoy the ball shape that is easy to hold, plus multiple textures to chew.
The Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Teether combines a maze of colorful, soft plastic tubes for baby to chew and bite, plus a square cube center that holds a rattle for extra fun and sensory experience. Our little tester found the loops easy to grasp, but seemed to like the rattle more than the chewing.
One factor to consider is that this product is not dishwasher or sterilizer safe as it will melt. Instead, only surface wash with warm soapy water, then air dry. We recommend this product for teething tots that appreciate a good rattle while chewing.
Why You Should Trust Us
BabyGearLab has been testing gear over the past decade, and each product we review is purchased, tested, and experiences side-by-side comparison to allow us to determine the best in the category. This review is led by Molly Bradac, a Research Analyst and nanny with over 14 years of experience. Also contributing to our review are some adorable teething tots that provide feedback by simply gumming and chewing the teething toys. Each product in this review was purchased for hands-on testing.
Analysis and Test Results
Each product in our review experienced lots of gumming, chewing, and drool for our experts to compare side-by-side performance.
Material
Most of the products in our review use silicone, like the Comotomo Silicone Teether, Mombella Dancing Elephant Teether Toy, and the Baby Elefun Teether. Considering the benefits of silicone, this isn't surprising. This material can withstand high heat of microwaves, boiling water, dishwashers, and sterilizers. However, it easily attracts hair and lint, and since babies put teethers in their mouth, this is not ideal. On the flip side, other products in our review use only plastic, like the Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Teether, or a hybrid of plastic and silicone, and the Ashtonbee Baby Fruit Feeder and Teether. Unlike silicone, plastic can't endure high heat as it will melt, plus we don't advise heating plastic due to the potential leaching of chemicals. Before purchasing a teething toy, consider what material you are comfortable with your baby putting in their mouth.
Ease of Cleaning
It is important to purchase a teething toy that is easy to clean, plus can withstand high heat of sterilization. Since you will be washing it often, don't let the task be a hassle. All of the silicone teethers fit this "easy to clean" profile, including the Bonbino Teether Rings and the Nuby Teethe-eez Teether. These products are not only easy to wash by hand, but can also be boiled. Alternatively, the Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Teether lacks this ability as it is surface wash only. As for the Taggies Molasses Sloth Rattle and Teether, this product combines a teether with a stuffed animal, and it is machine washable, which we find convenient. For all the teethers, it is important to sanitize them initially, then wash before and after each use. We suggest keeping teethers clean and allowing them to fully air dry because mold loves wet environments, and with teething comes a lot of drool.
Texture
A mixture of textures and biting points can help babies massage tender gums, and it will keep them interested and distracted from teething pain. The Mombella Dancing Elephant Teether Toy, the Bonbino Teether Rings, and the Baby Elefun Teether have some of the most prominent textures and varieties. However, the Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Teether has multiple smooth loops with no texture. Although we appreciate variety, it may take a few attempts to find the right teether for your baby.
Conclusion
Teething can be troublesome for babies, and we fully understand. Emerging teeth can put pressure on baby's gums, leaving them feeling sensitive, tender, and swollen (ouch!). Thankfully, a teething toy can be the perfect solution and distraction to help your baby cope with teething aches and pains. We are confident that the information and recommendations in our review will help your decision-making.
— Molly Bradac