Poor teething babies. Think about what teething actually entails… babies are born with 20 primary teeth sitting below their gumline just waiting to burst through. It can take days or weeks for a tooth to make its way through the gumline, and the process can be grueling and for babies. And, on top of that, they don’t understand what’s going on. Poor teething babies!
The teething process usually starts long before their first tooth cuts through; you might notice drooling as early as two or three months of age, although the first tooth might not appear until four to seven months of age on average. Every baby’s teething timeline is a little different, so if you are concerned about your baby’s teething progress, please ask your doctor. The teething process carries on through the toddler years with most kids having their full set of baby teeth by age three.
There are natural ways to give your baby some relief from teething, including some wonderfully made non-toxic teething toys. It’s important to avoid most mainstream teething toys and stick with some key materials like natural rubber, wood, or silicone since these items go directly in your baby’s mouth. We’ll go over some of my favorites below.
How Do You Know if Your Baby is Teething?
Here are some common teething symptoms to look for:
- Your baby might be fussier than usual
- Your baby’s sleep pattern might be disrupted, and they may wake more frequently at night for a few days while cutting a tooth
- Excessive drooling is almost always a sign of teething
- Loss of appetite is common; your baby might not want to nurse or eat as much as they normally do
- Biting helps babies relieve the pressure on their gums, and is a common sign of teething
- Ear-pulling and cheek-rubbing can signal teething, though they can also be signs of other discomfort
Your baby may have one or more of these symptoms while they are cutting a new tooth. As always, be attuned to what’s going on with your baby and you’ll eventually get to know their telltale teething signs (and when to pull out their non-toxic teething toys)!
A Serious Warning About Teething Medication
I prefer not to give medication to my babies while teething; in fact, I don’t really give them anything other than extra cuddles, frozen washcloths, and teething toys.
While you may be tempted to reach for a bottle of Tylenol or a numbing medication to ease the pain, both of these have actually been found to be harmful for babies and children. In fact, numbing medications have been in the news because of the problems they can cause; some contain benzocaine which can lead to a potentially fatal condition. [1]
And in my opinion, Tylenol should be avoided at nearly all costs because it has been found to deplete the body of glutathione, an important antioxidant. For the body to be able to process acetaminophen, it uses high levels of glutathione, which puts undue stress on the liver and can actually lead to liver failure in babies and young children. (This is why I do not use or give my kids Tylenol or acetaminophen.)
Instead of stressing about these dangerous teething aids, try these options to ease the teething pain.
- Use a cold compress. Freeze a washcloth or hold a small ice cube on your baby’s gums. (Just be careful that your baby doesn’t get a hold of the ice cube because that could pose a choking hazard.)
- Give soft foods. If your baby has started solids, cold applesauce and yogurts can help ease gum pain as well.
- Rub your baby’s gums. Use a wet gauze pad to rub your baby’s gums. The pressure will offer some relief.
- Use amber teething necklaces. Amber teething necklaces are supposed to help with teething pain because they contain succinic acid, which serves as a natural pain reliever. Worn around your baby’s neck, they are said to provide the pain relief needed during teething. There are varying opinions on whether amber teething necklaces are safe or not, and whether they actually relieve teething pain. I don’t personally feel very strongly in either direction. If you want to try it out, consider the Baltic Wonder brand or the Little Willard Baltic Amber Teething Necklace. Note: these are not for your baby to chew on, and instead are to simply be worn around your baby’s neck while they are awake.
- Give your baby teething toys. Allowing your baby to chew on a safe teething toy can help relieve some of the pain and pressure on their gums. Read on for my list of the best natural teething toys for babies.
The Best Teething Toys for Babies
Safe, natural, and non-toxic teething toys are a definite must-have to help your baby when it’s teething time. But, not all teething toys are created equal. When shopping for non-toxic teething toys, consider these safe, high-quality options:
- Natural wood teething toys
- Natural rubber teething toys
- Silicone teething toys
Teething toys made from these materials are safe for your baby to gnaw and drool all over them. Below you’ll find a list of great choices to shop from.
What you want to avoid when shopping for non-toxic teething toys are any teething toys made from plastic and ones that contain BPA/BPS (endocrine disruptors), PVC/vinyl (the most toxic plastic), fragrances, or phthalates.
If you’re looking for some safe, non-toxic teething toys, check out these wonderful, trusted products.
Natural Rubber Teething Toys
Harvested from the hevea tree, natural rubber is a great choice for teething toys because of its flexible and chewy texture and natural antibacterial properties. Not only is it a renewable resource, but it is non-toxic and almost entirely safe for babies. The only real concern I would have with using latex is the possibility of your baby having a latex allergy, though this is actually rare nowadays.
Sophie the Giraffe by Vulli (made in France)
Hevea Panda Teether (made in Malaysia)
Calmies Natural Teether (made in Malaysia)
Calmies Natural TeetherCaaOcho Baby All Stage Natural Rubber Teething Fish https://www.amazon.com/CaaOcho-Baby-All-Stage-Phthalates-Nitrosamine/dp/B00K6IQ32U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=non-toxic-teething-toys-20&linkId=2fc594b5e5d118ddab1c1aad184c5b9c
Natursutten Teething Toy (made in Italy)
Natursutten Natural Rubber Teether Toy
Wooden Teething Toys
Wooden teething toys are a great non-toxic option to help relieve your baby’s teething aches and pains. Look for solid wood teethers with no finish or a natural vegetable-based finish.
Maple Landmark Teether (made in USA)
Natural Wood European Baby Teether Grasping Toy by Grimm’s Spiel and Holz Design (made in Germany)
Grimm’s Natural Wood European Baby Teether Grasping ToyGrimm’s Natural Wood European Baby Teether Grasping Toy
Mother Goose Ringley Knotted Teething Toy (made in Canada)
Waldorf Maple Teether and Grasping Toy (made in USA)
Handmade Organic Wood Grasping Teething Toy
Silicone Teething Toys
Silicone teething toys are definitely the most popular and most common teething toys you’ll come across. They’re soft and chewy – and stimulating at the same time – but still give your baby the relief they need. Silicone is BPA-free and studies have shown that it does not leech.
Comotomo Silicone Teething Ring (made in Korea)
Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether
Lifefactory Multi-Sensory Latex and Silicone Teething Ring (made in USA)
Lifefactory Multi-Sensory Latex and Silicone Teething Ring
Baby Banana Infant Training Toothbrush and Teether (made in USA)
Baby Banana Infant Training Toothbrush and Teether
Pineapple Teether with Silicone Beads and Clip by Glitter and Spice (made in China)
Silicone Pineapple Teether with Silicone Beads and Clip
Silicone Teething Necklace by Mesinton (made in China)
Mesinton Silicone Baby Teething Necklace
Teething toys can be so cute, but what matters most is that they are made from safe materials. I hope you’ve found this list of the best teething toys helpful, and that you have a couple you’d like to try for your baby! Which ones did you choose?
Sources: [1] CBS News
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