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The best teething toy is Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether, according to testers from the What to Expect staff and user community. When choosing a teething toy, experts and parents say the most important factors to consider are safety, material and ease of cleaning.
Teething is an exciting milestone for your baby, but it can also be a difficult and painful one. While it’s thrilling that your little one is developing her own beautiful set of pearly whites, many babies also experience pain and fussiness when they start teething.
Most babies get their first tooth around the 6-month mark, although the age range can vary by a few months. But teething symptoms — such as drooling, biting, crying, coughing, refusing to eat, night waking, ear pulling, cheek rubbing and generally being irritable — can actually start occuring a few months before baby's first tooth appears (typically between 4 and 7 months).
So when this glorious but challenging milestone rolls around, what are the best ways to help ease your baby's teething pain? Teething toys. Also called teethers, teething toys offer babies with sore gums something safe to chew on. This is helpful, because the gumming action offers counter pressure to baby's brand-new teeth that can be soothing and help alleviate pain, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).How we chose the best teething toys
We reviewed and selected teething based on the following criteria from leading experts, as well as What to Expect community members:
Safety: With teething toys (as with most baby gear), the number-one consideration is safety. All of the teething toys on this list meet the below safety criteria. No amber teething necklaces. Teething necklaces and beads are unsafe, according to the AAP, since they can become a choking or strangulation hazard.No benzocaine. When choosing teething relief products for your little one, be sure to also avoid topical products that contain the gum-numbing ingredient benzocaine, which can have rare, but life-threatening side effects. Homeopathic or "natural" teething products that contain belladonna are also unsafe, according to the FDA.
Type: Teething rings are classic, but these days you can also find different types of teethers, from teething toothbrushes to teethers that look like small toys. But there are a few you should skip. Michelle Kelman, D.D.S., a pediatric dentist in Los Angeles and member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board, says round teethers and teethers with stoppers on them are a safer design for babies. She also discourages any teething toys that have liquid or gels in them, as well as teether pops; breast milk or fruit in the mesh bathes newly erupting teeth, which can lead to weakening of the new enamel and future cavities, she says.
Material: With teethers, “material selection is essential,” says Dr. Kelman. She prefers teething toys that are made from silicone, wood or natural rubber, and also recommends the material be free of BPA and phthalates. All of the teething toys on this list meet these requirements.
Ease of cleaning: Mold thrives in damp environments, so teethers — which are constantly in your baby's mouth — can be particularly susceptible. Make sure you choose teething toys that can be easily cleaned and disinfected. Teething toys that are dishwasher-safe make cleaning especially easy. If a toy can’t go in the dishwasher, we prioritized ones that are easy to clean by hand.
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If baby is drawn to soft, pliable materials, this Comotomo baby teether is a great choice. This teething toy is simple yet effective, constructed with several biting points and an easy-hold ring.
Many natural teething toys unfortunately can’t be sterilized or put in the dishwasher, but this Comotomo teether is a happy exception. Made of 100 percent food-grade silicone, it’s free of BPA and phthalates, but is still durable enough to go in the microwave, dishwasher, boiling water and sterilizers.
That alone is a huge perk, but it’s also blissfully easy to hand-wash if you don’t have a dishwasher or just want to clean it quickly. The smooth design, which has no crevices, makes it harder for mold to take hold, too. All that, and this is also one of the most affordable teething toys on the market.
Dimensions: 2.5 x 2 x 4.7 inches
“Cold washcloth and the Comotomo teether are big hits over here!”
“It depends on his mood, but my LO likes Sophie the Giraffe, the Comotomo silicone teether and the little banana toothbrush.”
“Comotomo silicone teether. I swear by them.”
Parents say this cheerful teething toy is easy to grip and does a fantastic job at soothing sore gums, thanks to the elephant shape with plenty of angles. It’s deep enough that babies whose molars are coming through are able to use it to reach hard-to-access back teeth, but it’s not so long that little ones can gag on it.
What’s more, there are a number of different surfaces — some smooth, some bumpy — so babies can choose which ones are most satisfying to gnaw on.
This elephant is also easier to keep clean than many other teething toys: It can go in the top rack of a dishwasher or in a sterilizer if the temperature is below 356 degrees Fahrenheit, though parents report it’s also a breeze to hand-wash. Made of 100 percent food-grade silicone (BPA- and phthalate-free), it’s also freezer- and microwave-safe.
Parents have few complaints about this teether, but like some others on this list, the design is a bit more basic and may not hold the attention of older babies or toddlers for quite as long.
From the maker of the popular hand-held breast pump comes this surprisingly cute palm-shaped teether. Like the pump, Haakaa’s Large-Palm Baby Teething Ring is made of 100 percent food grade silicone (free of BPA and phthalates) that’s super soft, squishy and chewable.
Babies love the shape, parents say: The ring is easy to hold, and the “fingers” fit perfectly inside baby’s mouth to allow her to reach different areas that are sore. (Note: Although this is thicker than other teethers and looks opaque, there isn’t any liquid inside.)
All of the material is integrated on this teether, so it’s less likely that mold could grow. It’s very easy to clean, too; you can put it in the dishwasher or a sterilizer in addition to hand-washing it. Also nice: It’s freezer-safe, if your little one likes the feeling of something cold on her gums for extra relief.
Some little ones like the feeling of something soft and squishy when they’re teething, but others prefer a harder material for added pressure against their gums. For those in the latter group, Dr. Kelman says wooden teethers are a nice option.
This set is a great choice because it includes a whopping 10 teething rings in a variety of animal shapes (turtles, dolphins, pigeons, a starfish) and slightly varying widths between 2.4 and 3.8 inches. This gives babies a number of options to find the shape and size that suits their sore gums. But it also means that little ones can happily play with these as toys even when they’re not teething. (Note: Although the picture features small blocks as well, this only comes with the 10 teethers.) Parents say they’re well-made, durable and very entertaining.
Because these are made from wood, they should be hand-washed to prevent the material from warping over time. And though the set is on the expensive side for teethers, the price per item is the lowest on this list — just $1.40 each!
Dimensions: Between 2.4 and 3.8 inches wide
Super soft and pliable, natural rubber is another great option for teething toys, Dr. Kelman says. In addition to Sophie La Girafe (below), another excellent rubber teether is this amber-hued toy from Calmies. Thanks to its rounded shape, this soothing teether can double as a ball for little babies to roll back and forth. It has a number of “handles” for little hands to grasp, as well as different surfaces (some smooth, some bumpy) to chew on.
Parents appreciate that this teether can be multipurpose and that it’s so soothing for babies to chew on and hold. Just keep in mind that the rubber is a little sticky, which some parents say causes pieces of hair or lint to attach to it. Also, while it’s great for soothing front teeth, the design isn’t ideal for babies trying to reach those back molars.
Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 3 inches
“My sister got this for our 4 month old for Christmas and he loves it and he can hold it really well too.”
Founded by a fellow mom, Moonjax teethers are made of 100 percent medical-grade silicone that’s antimicrobial and made without artificial colors. And, as with the others on this list, is BPA- and phthalate-free. The unique shape of this teething toy (think two X’s on a stick) offers a number of different bite-able areas.
Parents love how easy it is for babies to hold and manage this toy. At over 6 inches, it’s longer than many other teethers on this list (this can be helpful for younger babies), though it can’t be pushed too deeply into the mouth, thanks to the two X’s at each end. Something about this design is very intuitive for even younger babies to figure out how to chew on, parents add.
At $17, this is on the expensive end for a teething toy. But many parents say they appreciate how well-designed and high-quality it is, making the price worth it.
“Moonjax is by far the best [teether] we’ve had!”
“I bought one and my kiddo loves it. He still has trouble holding and grasping things, but he has zero trouble with this!”
“My babe loves the Moonjax teether.”
Praised by parents everywhere, this adorable giraffe baby teether gift set will help get your baby through teething discomfort. It’s made from 100 percent rubber that’s free of BPA and phthalates, so it's safe and squishy for baby to chew.
Sophie is a tried-and-true winner in part thanks to the teether's clever design. “It's great for teething because the [giraffe's] long limbs get back in their mouth where most other teethers can't," says one What to Expect community member. And because it looks like a toy giraffe on its own, many older babies and toddlers find themselves playing with it even when they’re not teething.
Sophie does have two downsides. First, the price: She’s far more expensive than other teething products on this list, though many parents in our community say the price was worth it since their babies got so much use out of this toy. The other is the small air hole. This helps make her squeak, which is part of the appea;, bBut it also means that there’s a chance mold can develop inside, as it can with all squeaky toys. To be safe, hand-wash and avoid submerging her in water (in other words, don’t use her as a bath toy!).
“We have a Sophie the Giraffe and she LOVES it!”
“My son loved it! I’ll be buying a new one for this baby. The only downside is price, and the inside can get moldy like any other rubber toy with a hole in it. So be aware.”
“It was a lifesaver for us!! I felt like I spent a fortune in teething toys and Sophie was one of the best.”
There's a good chance you’ve heard of the famous “banana teether.” Not only is this teething toy super cute, but it also functions as a baby toothbrush to help jumpstart good oral hygiene habits. Plus, the bristles will give those aching gums extra love.
Made of 100 percent food grade silicone, this banana teether is also easy to hold and both dishwasher- and freezer-safe. Parents in the What to Expect community are huge fans of this multipurpose teether, too. “[I recommend] the teething banana 100 percent,” writes one. “Our [baby] just turned 5 months last week and cut two teeth in the past three days. He has been teething like crazy for about a month and we've bought several teething toys, and the banana is his favorite by far!”
"My 4.5 month daughter is all about the banana toothbrush right now, she loves it!" says Kristinne Stabile, What to Expect's Director Of Data Insights, Pregnancy & Parenting.
In addition to being a soothing teether, parents appreciate that it helps even young babies and toddlers learn brushing basics.
“She has this banana silicone toothbrush that I rub her gums with, that helps.”
“We got the banana toothbrush/teether we let LO brush his teeth. LO likes warm water but when he’s teething he likes it cold.”
“Get the banana brush! I used to use the finger brush but my LO got jaded after all the medicine she's been getting for her virus. When she sees the banana toothbrush though, she opens her mouth willingly and even helps brush.”
We referenced information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and spoke to Michelle Kelman , D.D.S., a pediatric dentist in Los Angeles and member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board, for additional information about what to look for in a teething toy.
We also spoke to Kristinne Stabile, Director Of Data Insights, Pregnancy & Parenting and a mom of one.
As a mom of two and former parenting editor, I’ve also included my experience from testing some of the teething toys on this list.
Finally, we canvassed the What to Expect community boards to learn which teething toys parents felt were soothing for their babies as well as easy to use and clean.
In addition to gently rubbing baby's gums (with clean hands!) or massaging them with a washcloth or infant toothbrush, many parents offer teething toys or teethers to babies with sore gums as something safe to chew on.
“Chewing on a teether is beneficial for a baby's jaw and tongue movement and introduces them to the motions they'll rely on to eat,” says Dr. Kelman.
Most babies start teething around 4 to 6 months, so 4 months can be a good time to introduce teething toys, Dr. Kelman says. “It can also help with grasp and motor development,” she adds. Some little ones may benefit from teethers a bit earlier than this, though, particularly if their gums are swollen and tender.
Regardless of when you introduce them, always closely supervise your baby when she’s chewing on any type of teether.
In an ideal world, all teething toys would be dishwasher-safe for ease of cleaning. But because you should prioritize choosing toys made from baby-safe materials like natural rubber or silicone that are BPA- PVC-, lead- and phthalate-free, the reality is that some of the best options may not also be dishwasher-safe.
Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to clean your teething toy. Many recommend simply hand-washing them in warm, soapy water. If your teething toy can be sterilized, Dr. Kelman recommends using boiling water or a bottle sterilizer. “You can also use bottle wipes if you’re on the go with teething toys,” she adds.
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