Which teether is better to choose? Types and reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Often the process of teething in a baby is accompanied by discomfort due to pain and swelling of the gums. It is possible to help a child and eliminate uncomfortable symptoms without even using medication. For this, a teether is perfect - a special device that a baby can gnaw and scratch his gums about. They are different in shape, color and different materials of manufacture. Many parents think about how to choose the right teether. Which one is better than the rest for the baby? Much in this matter depends on the age and individual characteristics of the child.

Why do I need a teether?

Teethers can't affect the rate at which teeth appear, but they can make the process easier and less painful. They can slightly distract the child from discomfort and at least briefly interest him. Such devices (high-quality, of course) are made from safe materials that can in no way harm the he alth of the baby.

Liquid teethers can be cooled in the refrigerator and then given to the baby. The low temperature of the material relieves pain and reduces swelling. Many teethers have massage elements on which children can scratch their gums. Also, the teether develops fine motor skills of the baby's hands. With it, children can learn to hold objects and transfer them from one hand to another.

How to choose the right teether? Which one is best for a child? This issue should be decided individually in each case, taking into account the age and personal characteristics of the child.

How do you know your teeth are starting to cut?

Eruption is a lengthy process, it can take several months. There are some signs that indirectly indicate that the appearance of teeth in a child is most likely just around the corner:

• production of saliva increases, which the child cannot swallow completely, and it flows out of the oral cavity;
• baby often touches his ears (this sign can sometimes also indicate otitis, so it is important to monitor the general condition of the child and other symptoms);
• child may refuse previously favorite food and behave restlessly during feeding;
• deteriorates sleep and general behavior of the baby, he becomes more capricious;
• sometimes fever and swelling of the gums may occur.

Loose stools and a runny nose are also some of the possible symptoms of teething, but they can also indicatean infectious disease of the child, therefore, in this case (as with a high body temperature), a pediatrician's consultation is always necessary.

How to choose a teether depending on the age of the child?

Teethers for children of different ages differ in their size, shape and material. This principle should be followed when choosing a teether. What is the best category to choose this device? There are 3 of them in total:

• 1 category - for lower anterior teeth.
• 2 category - for upper central teeth.
• 3 category - for back teeth.

For the little ones, simple models in the form of silicone or rubberized rings are great, which will be comfortable for the baby to hold in his hand. For the upper incisors, the same models and special pacifiers will fit, as well as products in the form of small toys.

During the appearance of all other teeth, you can use teethers that are designed for older children. They can be made in the form of educational toys that can interest the child. An important detail is the size of the product. It should be large so that the child does not swallow it, and at the same time compact in order to reach the farthest corners of the child's mouth.

Dummy teether

There are types of teethers that are made in the form of a dummy. They are very convenient for very young children who still find it difficult to hold an object in their hand for a long time. In size, such teethers are slightly larger than a regular pacifier, and the nipple itselfmade of corrugated latex or silicone with massage pimples.

This product benefits:

• familiar shape for baby, so this teether is easier to get used to;
• hygienic due to the fact that such "pacifiers" are most often sold with protective caps and, as a rule, they can be boiled;
• It is convenient to take the product with you for a walk, because you can attach it to your child's clothes with a special ribbon and not be afraid that the device will fall or get lost.

Such pacifiers due to their shape are convenient for the 1st and 2nd stages of eruption of the central teeth. And for older children, it is preferable to use other products that are easier to gnaw with the whole mouth (besides, they are usually much larger in size).

Teethers: which are better? Photos of some models and description of materials

Now there are many things that make it easier for parents to care for a child. One of them is a teether. Which is the best one to choose for your child? First, you need to focus on the material from which this product is made. The most common teethers are made from latex and silicone. The first material is softer and more pleasant to the touch, but the service life of items made from it is short. Silicone is tough, but it's true that products made from it last much longer.

There is one detail to consider when choosing a teether. Which material is better for this product is, in fact, not so important. The most important indicator is the absence of bisphenol (BPA) in the composition. It is a toxic substance that poisons the human nervous and reproductive systems. It is dangerous even in small doses, which is why many certified products are often labeled "BPA-free" on the packaging. This is one of the guarantees of product quality.

Requirements for teethers

When deciding for yourself which teether is better to choose, you need to remember that this product must meet the following requirements:

• be comfortable in size and appropriate for the age of the child so that he can easily hold the device in his small hands;
• easy to wash and sterilize;
• be made from harmless and non-toxic materials;
• do not contain small parts that a child can bite off or swallow;
• be light, because if a heavy object is accidentally dropped on the baby's head, it can injure or injure him.

And, of course, the most important condition for a teether is that the child should like it, interest him and evoke positive emotions.

Reviews

Parents often wonder which teether is best. Reviews indicate that everything is individual, and, unfortunately, there can be no universal advice in this matter. But many mothers have noticed that children aged 4-5 months are interested in small teethers of soothing colors, while older children preferthese items are large and in bright colors.

Reviews from parents confirm that it is often necessary to try several devices to understand which one is better. One child may love a teether, but not another at all (even mothers of twins have noticed this).

Most parents say their kids didn't immediately know what to do with a teether. Therefore, at the beginning of use, they put the product in the child’s hand and let it gnaw instead of a pacifier. Usually this helped to teach the baby to the teether and explain to him how to use it correctly.

Wooden teethers

Wooden products that help relieve the pain of teething are much less common than silicone and latex counterparts. This type of cutter has both advantages and disadvantages. Their advantages include:

• naturalness;
• durability;
• safety (subject to the correct manufacturing technology).

The disadvantage of these teethers is that they take a long time to dry and are difficult to sterilize. Insufficient grinding may leave nicks on the product that can scratch the child's gums. Quality wooden teethers are coated with safe dyes that are non-toxic to babies.

Brush fingertips

There is a kind of teether that a child cannot use by himself. Is it silicone orlatex brushes with small villi. They are put on the finger of mom or dad and they scratch their child's teeth with them. Usually children love this procedure, they find it funny, and parents at this time relieve the pain and discomfort of the baby.

Another plus of such a product is versatility. After the appearance of the first teeth, this brush can be used for the first hygienic cleansing procedures.

Vibrating teethers

There is a modification of silicone and rubber teethers, which, in addition to the massage surface, have a vibrating element. It works at the moment when the child begins to gnaw on the product. The teether vibrates and massages the inflamed gums, which slightly reduces pain and discomfort.

Many of these products have water inside, so they can cool in the refrigerator and then help to "freeze" the pain a little. The main thing when using such a device is to change the battery in a timely manner and make sure that it does not deteriorate and does not accidentally leak out. This is important because the child chews on this product and toxic substances must not be allowed to come into contact with it.

Can fruit or vegetables be substituted for the teether?

Many grandmothers often give advice to new parents about how they helped babies with teething in the old days. Considering that special devices did not exist before, they used improvised means. Bagels, an apple or a carrot were most often used. But is it safe?

Given thatfood products can crumble, they should not be given to eliminate discomfort for those children who already have teeth. But even if the baby just scratches his gums on an apple or carrot, this can also be fraught with danger for him. When sucking on a fruit or vegetable, juice is released. Albeit in a small amount, but sometimes it can cause allergies. This is especially dangerous for babies up to six months, because complementary foods are introduced only at 6 months (until this time, it is advisable for a child to receive only breast milk or formula and water). It is better to understand and choose which is the best teether made of artificial materials and use it.

Teether: which is better, types of products and their features

For the youngest children, it is best to use teethers of simple shapes (in the form of a circle, oval). Sometimes a rattle is also built into them to attract the attention of a child. It is necessary to pay attention to the material of such a product necessary for children, like a teether. Which one is better? As practice shows, each child needs his own version: someone likes silicone or wood, and someone likes latex.

Older children can be offered larger teethers, as well as similar products with fabric elements. They perfectly absorb a large amount of saliva and are pleasant to the touch for the hands of the baby.

Caring parents strive to get their child the best quality teether. Which is better and how to choose the perfect device for the baby? Cantry to buy several inexpensive models of different types and see the reaction of the child, because anyway this product needs to be changed periodically for safety and hygiene.