Best Baby Teether Toy
If your little one is struggling with teething pain, or your baby tends to chew their fingers for relief, the Comotomo Silicone Teether may be a fitting solution. Its finger-like prongs are angled and sport some texture at the tip to massage gums. While testing, we noticed the prongs could easily reach our tester's back molars, along with the front gums, and our little tester (6-months-old) could maneuver this teether with ease by either gripping the loop or finger-like prongs.
We prefer silicone; however, it can easily attract hair and lint, which we observed during testing. We believe this drawback is manageable by frequently cleaning and inspecting the teether before giving it to your baby. We genuinely think highly of this product and recommend it for babies who want to soothe sore gums in the front and back of their mouths, or for babies who tend to chew their fingers for relief. We are sure those cute little fingers could use a break.
The Mombella Elephant Teether quickly became a tester favorite. We believe this teether is easy for little hands to hold, maneuver, and fits comfortably inside baby's mouth. In our opinion, the textured tip is an ideal length for reaching teething aches and pains in the front and back of the mouth, and 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. We appreciate this bonus accessory, especially for little ones who have yet to master the skill of holding objects. This product is our little tester's favorite and he found the legs to be useful biting points, too.
Silicone can attract dust and hair, and we noticed small fibers sticking to the silicone during testing. However, we prefer silicone and think this drawback is minimal considering the material's benefits. Cleaning the teether before and after each use can help reduce particles, plus this is a hygiene habit we encourage. Despite this drawback, we think this teether is a winner, and recommend it to family and friends with teething babies, plus those who appreciate the leash accessory.
On a budget? Consider the Nuby Teethe-eez Teether. This product features a handle and a mouthpiece with several small, soft bristles (like a toothbrush) for babies to gnaw and massage sensitive gums. We think this silicone teether is soft, flexible, and easy to grip for baby. This product comes with a plastic carrying case, which we feel is helpful when carrying the teether around in a diaper bag.
In our opinion, the teether's mouthpiece is too wide to fit our little tester's mouth; instead she chewed the sides. We believe the teether's performance is adequate and it can help soothe sore gums, but we prefer teethers with nubs and prongs to give baby the option to reach multiple areas around their mouth. During testing, we experienced the silicone bristles occasionally trapping loose fibers; therefore, we encourage caregivers to inspect the teether and thoroughly wash it before and after each use. If you're able to overlook these downsides, we think this product can help soothe babies' teething discomfort, plus at a budget-friendly price.
The Ashtonbee Baby Fruit Feeder and Teether is an innovative alternative to traditional teethers, providing teething relief and a dose of flavor to babies who are old enough to enjoy solids. This product holds fresh or frozen food for baby to gnaw, and the nipple allows the tiniest of food pieces to pass through. One package includes a set of two feeders, plus four silicone nipples ranging from small to large. Our little tester could hold the handle with ease and enjoyed chewing colder food items, like frozen banana. Also, in our opinion, the silicone nipples are easier to clean than feeders with mesh bags.
From our experience during testing, some foods, particularly ones that are orange, like carrots, sweet potato, etc., may discolor the silicone nipple. However, do not fret; discoloration doesn't harm the teether's performance. 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 to explore, plus satisfy their desire to chew for teething comfort.
The Mombella Mushroom Teether stands out among the competition for its breast-like shape. We think the silicone is incredibly soft and pliable, and it features two knobs for baby to chew. The mushroom turns inside out and becomes a small snack cup. The product also comes with a removable leash to keep the teether from falling out of the baby's reach and onto a dirty floor, which we appreciate.
In our opinion, the silicone is thin, and we wonder about its long-term durability. Although it can also transform into a snack cup, we believe its size and lack of structure hinder this purpose. Nonetheless, we think this teether appeals to babies who tend to chew their fingers or those who like to massage the material when chewing as they will enjoy the tactile part of this product.
The Baby Elefun Teether is attractive to little chompers who seek teething relief as it features five textured surfaces with small bumps, nubs, and ridges to gnaw. We believe this teether is easy for baby to hold, especially with the hollow center, and the elephant's feet, which are short and narrow, great for reaching gums in the front.
In our opinion, this teether is tricky for baby to maneuver and reach sore gums in the back. But, besides that, it has no significant drawbacks. We believe it is a good addition to your baby's teething toy arsenal, and we recommend this slim product to teething tots who yearn to soothe sore gums in the front.
The Bonbino Teether Rings are a classic. We think the ring design is natural and comfortable for babies to grasp, and each ring features multiple textures for baby to chew and bite. While testing, our little tester enjoyed holding the rings, but, in our opinion, the rings are large, and baby could soothe front gums, but reaching back molars was a struggle.
We feel the product's cost is a factor to consider, but, keep in mind, the package contains four rings. We recommend this ring-style teether with oodles of texture to families who dig having multiple teethers to stash in the diaper bag, changing pad, high chair, and more.
The ball design of the Bumkins Teether Ball is unlike other products in our review. We believe this product is soft and pliable, and with multiple openings, it is easy for little fingers to grasp. It offers multiple textures to chew, which was a hit for our little tester.
Although comfortable to hold, when our little tester dropped this teether, it rolled away out of his reach. Also, we noticed that the silicone material attracts hair and lint, which isn't ideal. However, we believe frequent cleaning and inspecting can minimize this issue. We recommend this teething toy for babies around the 6 month-old mark who would enjoy the ball shape that is easy to hold, plus multiple textures to chew.
The Taggies Molasses Sloth Rattle and Teether combines a silicone ring and a soft, cuddly plush animal. 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 noticed that pinching and pulling the sloth's fur was all that is needed to remove fibers, and we wonder about material ending up in baby's mouth. Also, we believe the ring does not reach the gums in the back. We recommend this product to babies who will enjoy a stuffed animal attached to their teether, plus the bonus sensory entertainment of a rattle and colorful tags.
The Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Teether features a maze of colorful, soft plastic tubes for baby to chew and bite, plus a square cube center that rattles for extra fun and sensory experience. Our little tester enjoyed holding the loops, and, in our opinion, liked the rattle more than chewing.
One factor to consider is that this product is not dishwasher or sterilizer safe as high temperatures may melt the plastic. Instead, surface washing with warm soapy water before air drying is suggested by the manufacturer. We prefer products that are easier to clean, plus sterilizer safe, especially as it will be in baby's mouth. Despite this drawback, we believe this product is more of a toy than a teether and suggest others in our lineup before this one. However, if you're keen on having a rattle and teether option, you may be satisfied with this option.
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 Elephant Teether, 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 believe is 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 Elephant Teether, 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