Teething causes a child a lot of discomfort. The task of the mother in this difficult period is to ease the pain and surround the baby with warmth and care. The cooling teether for teeth is one of the faithful helpers of the modern woman. On the shelves they are presented in various colors, shapes and sizes. But what should be guided in choosing this device? Here you can learn how to choose a baby teether that will be safe for your baby.
What is a teether?
Today, in all stores of goods for children, thousands of all kinds of accessories for the baby are presented. It is sometimes difficult for modern mothers to weed out unnecessary trash from really useful things. The teether is a special toy that can eliminate pain when the baby's first teeth climb.
Its main purpose is gum massage. Since this item is always in the baby’s mouth, teethers are made from safe materials. They come in different forms, depending on which particular teeth are cut in the child.
At what age should I buy a baby teether?
As a rule, teething is not indicated by age restrictions. All because the development of crumbs is a purely individual matter. In some, the first teeth appear at the age of three months, in others closer to a year. And this is absolutely normal.
Due to their constant worries, parents prefer to purchase baby supplies in advance. Although in our case this is not particularly urgent. The fact is that babies tolerate pain in different ways. If the child is active, he has a good mood and appetite, then he does not need outside interference. Otherwise, a teether for children is an integral part in the process of the appearance of the first teeth. Therefore, try to navigate the mood of your baby.
Types of Teethers
To give preference to a particular model of teether, you need to familiarize yourself with the entire range. As already mentioned, teethers are made of safe materials: silicone, plastic or wood. The most environmentally friendly are items made of wood (juniper, beech or maple). They can be purchased in the department of children's goods or made to order.
Given that the first teeth are usually cut in a certain sequence, manufacturers offer parents four possible options for teething. By appointment, teethers are divided into:
- for upper and lower incisors;
- for fangs and first molars;
- for the second pair of molars;
- universal.
As a rule, they are designated by stages of tooth growth: first, second and third, respectively. All the necessary information for parents is printed on the product packaging. Before the first use, teethers must be washed and sterilized, regardless of what material they are made of.
Popular models
Teething is a strictly individual thing. One model may not appeal to the baby, and another may become his favorite toy. Therefore, the most popular teething models that can please your child are collected here. These include:
- classic model;
- silicone fingertip;
- teether toy;
- cooling teether;
- with vibration;
- dummy teether.
Now let's look at each of the models in more detail.
Classic and silicone fingertip
Classical. The classic teether model can be found in any children's goods store. They are made from soft materials, such as silicone or plastic. They have a fairly simple shape with a plain color. Silicone teething can be used from a very young age - 3-5 months.
Silicone fingertip. Such a teether is designed so that parents can massage their baby’s gums on their own. He is put on the index finger and with a soft brush massages the inflamed area of the gums. Frankly, this is not the best model, since kids usually do not like this procedure.
Teething & Cooling Toys
Teether toy . These are special toys in which there is a massage element. They can be in the form of rattles, books, soft toys. The massage part is most often presented in the form of plastic rings or latex figures. Such a model performs two functions at once: it entertains and relieves pain.
Cooling teether for teeth . It has a rubber base filled with distilled water or a safe gel. These models look like classic ones, they can only be distinguished by weight. At the same time, the cooling teether for teeth not only massages the gums, but also anesthetizes them with the help of the cold. Therefore, before use, they should be put for some time in the main compartment of the refrigerator.
Fancy options
Teether with vibration. This model deserves special attention. It is interesting in that with a light bite in a toy, a special mechanism is triggered, which creates a vibration for the most intense effect on the gum. The idea of manufacturers was to improve the teether for teeth. Reviews regarding this device are positive, as the additional vibration is of particular interest to the baby.
Dummy teether. From the name you can understand that this model is made in the form of a dummy. Only instead of the usual nipples is a special relief element used here that massages the baby’s gums. However, this model, as the actual dummies themselves, is not recommended for children who are breast-fed.
Teethers for a certain stage of tooth growth. All of the above models are universal teethers, but narrowly targeted ones also exist. That is, models that are specifically designed for a specific pair of teeth (front, back, fangs, etc.). They differ in shape and degree of rigidity, for example, the teether for the front teeth is round and soft, and for the back teeth it is elongated and hard. Information about the purpose of a particular product can be found on the packaging.
What you should pay attention to
In order not to get lost in a wide assortment of teethers, follow the basic rules for choosing this accessory. Teether acquisition recommendations include the following items:
- Age of the child. For children aged 3-4 months, you need to choose a teether from the softest material.
- Teether shape. As already mentioned, the teething stage affects the shape of the “rodent”.
- Material. Since this little thing will always be in the baby's mouth, it should be made of safe materials. Therefore, if the teether has an unpleasant odor, the paint has abrasions, or you just intuitively doubt its quality, then it is better to abandon this model.
- Appearance. Kids are always attracted by bright colors. If the teether is pale and inconspicuous, it may not be able to attract the attention of the child.
- Filling. The cooling teething tooth has an analgesic effect, but there is always a risk that the child will bite it. Therefore, only water (marine or distilled) or a special safe gel should be used as a filler.
Guided by these simple rules, parents will be able to choose not only a useful thing, but also the safest for their beloved child.
Best Teethers
Many manufacturers of baby supplies did not ignore the problem of teething in infants. Such well-known brands as Tommy Tippy, Avent, and Nook release dozens of popular models on sale. Therefore, we will try to highlight the best of them.
Avent is a real giant in the field of children's accessories. The company produces “rodents” for all stages of teething. In appearance they look very modest, even boring. But the main task of the manufacturer is to create an effective teether that can help the baby cope with pain. Therefore, absolutely all Avent brand rodents are safe, convenient to hold, they massage the gums even in hard to reach places. When purchasing any Avent teether model, parents make the right choice. But there is a drawback - the high cost of production.
Another famous brand is Playgro. The toys they produce are popular around the world. Moreover, they specialize not only in toys, but also in children's teething. The most popular are soft books Playgro. Toys not only entertain the baby. Using special elements give him the opportunity to scratch the inflamed area of the gums.
The company "Tommy Tippi" offers caring mothers a wide range of models. Particularly noteworthy is a teething dummy with a special recess for applying an anesthetic gel. Experienced parents will confirm that it is very difficult to apply and rub the gel throughout the gum of a capricious baby. Tommy Tippi solved this problem with its unique teether.