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The Tot 10: Our Nontoxic Teether Picks

Teethers are a great way to soothe sore gums, keep babies entertained and help them hit milestones like reaching, grasping and shaking. From what chemicals to avoid to why you should try putting yours in the freezer, here are our picks and tips for choosing the best non-toxic teethers.

Summer Land Author + Writer

Teething can be one of the most challenging aspects of raising a baby. It can disrupt sleep, make any sort of outing a complete nightmare and leave little gums swollen and sore. Let’s not forget the constant drooling.

As seasoned mamas ourselves, we’ve found that having nontoxic teethers on hand can and will literally save the day. It doesn’t matter if you’re at home, in a check-out line or gearing up for a long haul flight, these little miracle workers are an absolute essential for your diaper bag and nursery.

When they’re not working wonders for your tot’s teething woes, teethers can also help little ones hit milestones like reaching, grasping and shaking. They do triple time encouraging hand-eye coordination, while providing comfort and fun at the same time.

When it comes to what they’re made of, we like to use either medical or food grade silicone or all-natural and untreated wood. Silicone is great because it’s durable, dishwasher safe, non-leaching and provides a soft and rubbery surface to help teeth break through gums. Natural wood on the other hand is sanded to an insanely soft finish that kids will love to gnaw on. Both silicone and wood are non-toxic, hygienic, easy for little hands to hold and can be popped in the freezer to provide extra comfort and help with swelling.

When shopping for a teether, we suggest avoiding the following chemicals:

BPA
PVC
phthalates
lead
cadmium
chemicals stains and finishes

You can read more about the chemicals we avoid and why.

Below are our top 10 teether picks. We love these options because many of them come with clips or can be hooked onto a stroller or activity mat. Babies drop stuff – a lot. Teethers that can be clipped on or have easy to hold grooves will save you both a headache and backache!

Happy teething!