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If your sweet babe suddenly starts freaking out — crying for no reason, not sleeping, is irritable or even pulling at their ears — it could mean that they are teething. Teething can start as early as three months and last for several years, and it’s a very challenging time for babies and parents. The process of “cutting a tooth” is as painful as it sounds, but there is help in the way of teethers.
Teethers offer relief in the form of counter-pressure, and babies find great comfort gnawing on them. Just like a pacifier, the best teethers are the ones your baby likes. There are also multifunctional teethers that not only help ease the pain of the teething process but also act as rattles, toys, toothbrushes and more. You might even find that your baby becomes very attached to their teethers, so it’s a good idea to invest in several at a time.
We rounded up 11 of the best teethers for babies to soothe their sore gums, recommended by parents who’ve been there.
Best Overall: Sophie La giraffe
Best Teether Toy: Matchstick Monkey Teether Toy
Best Cold Teether: MAM Cooler Teether
Best Teether Mitt: Munch Baby Munch Mitt
Best Teether Toothbrush: Baby Banana Bendable Teething Toothbrush
Best Gum Massager: Nuby Teethe-eez Teether
Best Molar Teether: Green Sprouts Molar Teether
Best Spoon Teether: Olababy Baby Training Spoons
Best Teether Necklace: Chewbeads Jane Necklace
Best Natural Teether: Loulou Lollipop Wood and Silicone Bunny Teether Ring
Best Teether Rattle: Innobaby Teethin’ Smart™ EZ Grip Berry Teether & Rattle
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Best Overall
Sophie La giraffe
“The rubber in this teether has some sort of magical flavor that my baby was addicted to,” is how California-based mom of three, Haven, describes the ever-popular Sophie la giraffe teether. The teether also has a squeaker to engage your tot while they chew.
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Best Teether Toy
Matchstick Monkey Teether Toy
“My daughter loved the matchstick monkey,” says Miriam Y. Cohen, founder of theverybestbabystuff.com. “It was like her little buddy, and I could tether it to the stroller.” Plus, the bumps on this teether provide an extra soothing sensation for babies.
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Best Cold Teether
MAM Cooler Teether
Susan T., Chicago-based mom of one, tells Parenting, “Frozen teethers saved my life during my son’s first year. He started teething at 3-months, and these were the only things that helped.” The ring on this teether can easily be attached to a pacifier clip, too.
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Best Teether Mitt
Munch Baby Munch Mitt
“All my kids were obsessed with chewing on their hands,” says Rebecca R., mom of three boys. “No teether, toy or pacifier worked until we found this.”The mitt is machine-washable and makes a satisfying crinkling sound.
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Best Teether Toothbrush
Baby Banana Bendable Teething Toothbrush
Caroline W., mom of two, says both of her boys loved the “banana toothbrush,” which is dishwasher-safe and BPA-free. It’s made entirely from silicone and is flexible for your baby to hold and chew.
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Best Gum Massager
Nuby Teethe-eez Teether
“My son was gnawing on his hands because he was teething so bad,” one reviewer writes. “This teether has been great, and my son loves it!” The soft bristles provide a gentle massage on your baby’s gums while they chew.
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Best Molar Teether
Green Sprouts Molar Teether
As babies enter their toddler years, this teether can help provide relief for those hard-to-reach teeth in the back. “I'm really glad I got this for my 1-year-old,” writes a reviewer. “He seems to find comfort chewing on the silicone material and different textures.”
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Best Spoon Teether
Olababy Baby Training Spoons
Sara P.’s daughter, Olive, “loves to gnaw” on these silicone spoons. They are also great for teaching your baby to feed themselves, bending and moving to allow baby to pick up food easily.
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Best Teether Necklace
Chewbeads Jane Necklace
“This stopped my baby from grabbing my earrings, face and everything else when she was in the carrier. It’s a great, unbreakable teether, that looks great, too,” says Emily W., Brooklyn-based mom.
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Best Natural Teether
Loulou Lollipop Wood and Silicone Bunny Teether Ring
This teether is made from natural beech wood and silicone and provides different soothing textures for babies to chew. “We’ve gone through three of these,” says Charlie H., dad to Jackson and Harry.
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Best Teether Rattle
Innobaby Teethin' Smart EZ Grip Berry Teether & Rattle
“My sister recommended this to me for my 4-month-old last year, and it has been a lifesaver,” says Mary R. The teether rattle is non-toxic and comes in grape and orange designs, too.
