In all truth, you could probably never buy a teether and survive. But then at some point, around 5 months of age, your baby will be in so much pain that your motherly instinct will kick in and you will feel obligated to do something about it. Not to mention the amount of sleepless nights and headaches you will have from a screaming baby that cannot relax. They are in pain, but baby teething is unavoidable. However, that does not mean that we can’t do something to help with it.

Getting your baby a teething toy will help them break through the pain, and will provide them with necessary entertainment and even help develop cognitive and psychomotor skills. Teething toys are also extremely cheap, so it should never be a problem to acquire at least a few, and have one on hand at all times. But how do you choose the best teething toy for your little one? There are so many different shapes and materials out there, that you can easily lose yourself in your search for the perfect teether.

That’s why we came up with our list and guide to the best teethers out there. From teething rings to baby chew toys, from baby keys to vibrating teethers and even a banana teether, we’ve scoured the web and found what works, what’s safe, what’s affordable and what’s durable. We’ve looked at numerous customer reviews, we’ve read safety materials^1,2, papers^1,2,3, guides^1,2, warnings^1,2, and consumer reports, and we’ve brought before you the best teething toys the market has to offer. We’ve done all the research so you don’t have to, and we did it because we care. At Net Parents, there is nothing more important to us than the wellbeing of your baby, and we wanted to help ease the pain. Baby teething is painful, but not just for the baby. No mother will stand by idly and watch her baby chew on her fingers while wailing and screaming. We are here to give you the power to do something about the inevitable.

Baby Teething Toys Buying Guide 2018

There are, however, several important points you might want to consider before you get any chew toys for your kids. Please make sure to follow the guidelines below as you search for the perfect match. This guide is for meant as a reference for your convenience, so you can feel safe giving your baby teething toys.

1. There are certain chemicals that have been banned by the FDA and should be avoided at all costs. These include BPA, PVC and Phthalates. The following chemicals can put your baby at risk, and are often found in plastic toys. Make sure that any toy your baby chews on is free of these chemicals. You could stay away from plastic toys altogether, but we don’t see a necessity in it. Many plastic-based teething toys are perfectly safe for your child, and you will find many of those on our list.
2. Get several baby chew toys, and get them as early as possible. They are comparably cheaper than the other items you will have to buy, but will save you a great deal of pain. It’s always good to have different ones, as your baby might not like some. Change is also good for the development of psychomotor skills, tongue skills, cognitive skills, and the development of speech and the senses. Keep in mind that teething toys, while they relieve the pain and crying quite effectively, are also helping your child develop. That’s why there is such great variability in the toys you will find.
3. Teething tablets are dangerous and should be avoided completely.
4. Always keep baby teething toys clean. The best solution is always soap and water, making sure to wash the soap off completely and letting it dry. At times when you cannot do that (e.g. when you are outside), use disinfecting wipes that are derived from natural products, and are safe to use with chewing toys. We recommend these. Keep your baby’s hands clean as well, as this is the most common way germs are transmitted and illnesses arise.
5. Always supervise your child while they are playing with teethers. You must make sure that the toy is of appropriate size and does not pose a risk of choking.
6. Never use items that are not meant for chewing as teething toys. This can be extremely dangerous, especially if it’s a toy with small parts that could detach and pose a choking hazard.
7. Some toys can be frozen to provide pain relief and possibly reduce inflammation of the gums. Nonetheless, be careful of over-freezing them as this can cause problems and a painful experience for your child.
8. If you ever notice that the teether is somehow damaged, discard immediately. Parts that can break off are extremely unsafe and pose a choking hazard for your baby.
9. Chewing necklaces are unnecessary and can be dangerous. We don’t believe that there exists the best teething necklace, or even a good one, and you will not find it on this list. It poses a choking hazard and there is absolutely no evidence that it provides any relief. Keep your child safe, and avoid chewing necklaces.

Best Baby Teething Toys At A Glance

Now that you are more familiar with the ins and outs of the chewing industry, it’s time to familiarize yourself with some of the best teething toys out there. In an ideal world, we would get all of these. But that’s not a viable option for the parental budget. Therefore, we’ve provided you with a neat summary of all the best teethers, so you can pick and choose the right ones easily.