All children, without exception, have a teething moment. The process of the appearance of milk teeth is quite unpleasant for both the child and the parents. Painful sensations that bother the baby, impair the quality of sleep, and also significantly reduce appetite. To relieve pain, there are a considerable number of different ointments that are applied to the gums, and a teether can also help the baby.
Most teething drugs contain lidocaine, which is not recommended. There is a safer method to alleviate the condition of the child - the use of special teethers.
Tips for parents on choosing a teether for milk teeth
A teether is the best option for relieving pain. Moreover, it can be used many times. But, before proceeding with the purchase of this product, you need to familiarize yourself with some recommendations that are important to pay attention to.
Accessory material
The material from which teethers are made can be different. It is better to choose safe materials that lend themselves well to processing. Also, the product should not emit an unpleasant smell.
Silicone
The most popular among mums are silicone teethers. This material is the safest and most pleasant to the touch. Silicone has no unpleasant odor and taste. And also silicone teethers are quite elastic and dense, so it is almost impossible to gnaw and deform them. They are easy to sterilize and do not lose their appearance.
The silicone teether has a fairly long service life and is undoubtedly recommended for purchase.
Latex
Latex teething products have a more elastic, pliable, thinner material. Therefore, these teethers are not durable. Also, the disadvantages include the fact that latex is not suitable for sterilization. Handle latex products in warm water and detergents. This material has a specific smell and taste that the child may not like. Latex can change color and quickly lose its original appearance.
Plastic
Teethers can be made of high quality plastic. This material is quite dense, easy to process. It is quite difficult to bite off a piece of plastic, it does not crumble, so it is safe.
Wood
You can also find wooden teethers on the modern market. But such a teether requires special attention before purchasing. Products for teeth should be made of hard, dense wood species (beech, maple, juniper). Teethers can be natural in color and are better suited for the baby. There are also multi-colored products.
Although most manufacturers use safe paints that contain food additives, it is still recommended to opt for natural colors. Wooden teethers do not crack or break. If a chip or other defect appears, this indicates that the product is made of softer wood species (birch, linden).
A wooden product that has lost its original appearance may be unsafe and it is strongly discouraged to give such a teether to a child.
Textile
Textile teething devices are quite soft and cannot fully provide an analgesic effect. Such products quickly absorb saliva and are easily washed off after use. This type of teether can be used for babies when the first teeth are erupting.
Teether shape
The next parameter that requires attention is the shape of the teether. This indicator can be very different. The main form for "rodents" is oval or round with a hole inside. That is, it is easy for a child to take a ring in handles and use it as intended. But there are other shapes, for example, triangular. This type of teether is very convenient because this shape can reach any part of the gums.
Where should you get a teether?
Today, more and more various children's specialty stores appear, where you can find any device or accessory. You can also use the online store, which are also sufficient on the Internet. This option is very convenient for mothers, for whom shopping is a very difficult task.
What teethers are there?
Manufacturers have created different teethers over time. For a specific child, you can find your ideal option.
Cooling teethers
The cooling teether is the most popular item among mothers. In addition to the fact that the baby can “scratch” his gums, the teether has an additional function - the cooling effect significantly reduces pain. Such a product looks like various figures or animals. The teether is usually equipped with a comfortable handle so that the baby can independently hold the "teether".
The material can be combined. It is usually made of silicone and plastic elements. This option is the most optimal, because the child can chew on both silicone inserts and plastic. The silicone contains water or a special gel inside.
Before giving the teether to a child, the item must be placed in the refrigerator for about 1 hour. The liquid or gel is cooled and kept cool. Such a "rodent", when used, provides an analgesic effect.
In addition, silicone inserts on the surface often have various elements, thanks to which the child can scratch his gums more effectively. The cooling teether is quite heavy, so it is recommended to give it to babies from six months.
Teether nipple
Teething nipples, as the name suggests, are shaped like a pacifier. They can be made of silicone, plastic or other materials. You can gnaw both the nipple itself, and the ring, and the limiter. The nipple itself may have additional protrusions, elements, for a better effect.
This teether is intended only for biting, it will be impossible to suck it. The nipple comes in many different shapes. This "rodent" will be ideal for those who love pacifiers. The advantage of this teether is that with the help of a special accessory you can attach it to your baby's clothes.
Teether rattle
This device is a combination of a teether and a rattle or toy. Such a "rodent" can also consist of several different materials. For example, the rattle is made of plastic, while the biting elements are made of silicone.
Teether inserts can have different colors and shapes, as well as additional elements needed to provide a massage effect. Many children love to chew on their toys, so this item combines business with pleasure.
Silicone brush
A silicone teether with bristles, which resembles a brush, is also in high demand. It can be placed on a stick or have a special fingertip that a mother can put on her finger and scratch the baby's gums.
Vibration teether
The teether can be made from a variety of materials. But the distinguishing feature is its additional vibration function. This item is powered by batteries and begins to vibrate after the baby bites the item. The massage effect improves the child's condition and improves blood circulation in the gums.
At what age can a teether be used?
The teething process is quite individual. Someone's first tooth came out at 4 months, and someone in a year. This process cannot be influenced in any way, and it is not necessary. In any case, if there are tooth rudiments, then sooner or later they will erupt. You can offer a "rodent" to a child from 3 months of age. During this period, the baby begins to be interested in toys and pull everything into his mouth.
It is better to have the child touch a clean, specially designed teether in his mouth than hands, food or pieces of cloth. To begin with, a three-month-old baby can be offered the simplest "rodents" that have a simple shape (oval or round), homogeneous material and appropriate size.
Many experts agreed that the child should be given a toy that will be larger than his cam.
After 6 months, when the active process of teething begins, you can use cooling "teethers", as well as teethers of various shapes. Because some babies will need to scratch the entire gum, not just the central incisors. Closer to the year, when premolars and molars erupt, products with all kinds of protrusions will be needed so that the teether can reach the right place.
How to take care of your accessory?
Care measures have some differences, depending on the material from which the teether is made. Silicone products can be sterilized in special devices. They can easily withstand this process, and you can sterilize them many times and not be afraid that the product may lose its original appearance.
But you should not do this every day, because it is not recommended to keep the baby in sterile conditions. After using the "rodent", it should be doused with boiling water and kept dry until the next use.
Latex products may not withstand regular sterilization, so they must be handled in hot water with detergents. The same goes for plastic. Wooden teethers cannot be boiled and sterilized, because wood does not tolerate water and high temperatures. And the wood species from which the "rodent" is made have antiseptic properties.
Before the first use, it is recommended to wipe such teethers with a damp cloth. It should also be done as it gets dirty and stored in a dry place.
Pros and cons of teether
The main advantage of teethers is their massage, soothing, in some way, dehydrating and cooling effects. During use, the child's microcirculation in the gums improves, the swelling goes away. If you use this product for its intended purpose, as well as follow all the rules of operation and storage, then there are no shortcomings in the "rodent".
TOP 10 most popular teethers
Canpol Babies Teether Rattle
This product is composed of a combination of plastic and silicone. The rattle has the shape of a ring, which is convenient for the baby to hold. Hollow, transparent plastic inserts contain colorful balls inside, which are fun to watch. They also create a pleasant sound. Silicone inserts have different colors and relief elements that create a massage effect. The ring is fitted with silicone rings of different shapes and colors, and also have a different surface.
This product is suitable for children from 3 months. Kids can touch them in pens, developing fine motor skills. This "rodent" is the best value for money. The cost of such a teether is 320 rubles.
Teether-rattle Canpol Babies Multicolored rings 2/450
Pigeon teething rattle
"Rodent" of the Japanese manufacturer has a simple form and laconic design. It has a very modest size and light weight, therefore it is suitable for children from 3 months of age. The teether consists of a handle, inside of which small balls roll, making a sound. A flat silicone part with a raised surface is attached to the handle. This "rodent" has no unnecessary details. The price is 350 rubles.
Pigeon R-1 teether rattle
Giraffe Sophie Vulli
The world-famous giraffe is produced in France. Such a toy is created by hand from natural, high-quality, environmentally friendly and safe rubber. The giraffe is light and very pleasant to the touch. The manufacturer tried to create a material that would mimic the skin of the mother.
From the first days of life, the baby can hold the toy in the handles, feeling more comfortable. After 3 months, he can use the giraffe as a "rodent". You need to carefully approach the purchase, because there is a high probability of meeting a fake. The price is quite high and amounts to 1800 - 2200 rubles.
Teether-rattle Vulli Giraffe Sophie 616400
Rattle-teether Tiny Love Flower
This product resembles a small dumbbell. At one end there is a ball, which has the function of a rattle, and at the other end, a flower. One layer of the petals has a silicone material, which is ideal for the role of a "rodent", the other layer is rustling, making a pleasant sound. The thin part is a handle, supplemented with silicone balls that prevent the toy from slipping out of the baby's hand.
Such a rattle can be played with a baby from an early month. But for independent play, such a "rodent" is suitable for older children, because the rattle has a rather heavy weight. The price is 450 rubles.
Teether-rattle Tiny Love Flower 385
Chicco cooling teether Cherry
This "rodent" of the Italian brand is an ideal option for children of the first months of life. The silicone cherries contain a special gel that has a cooling effect. But first, the teether must be kept in the refrigerator for some time. "Rodent" is made of high quality and safe materials. You cannot boil such a product. For disinfection, the teether must be kept in the freezer for about 2 hours. The price is 320 rubles.
Chicco Fresh Relax teether
Happy baby cooling teether
This teether has a ring shape that is easy to hold and use. Such a "rodent" is filled with water, thus providing a cooling effect. The advantage of the teether is that an additional accessory is included with the product - a clip, which is fixed to the baby's clothes. The price is 200 rubles.
Happy Baby Water teether 2018
Tommee Tippee teether
This product is ideal for distant teeth due to its oval shape. Despite this, it can also be used by children in the first months of life. It is also suitable for teething front teeth. This product can be processed in a sterilizer, as well as by boiling. The price may seem somewhat overpriced to some, since it is 450 rubles.
Teether Tommee Tippee Medium Teeth
Pigeon teether toy
Interesting design and shape will interest any child. The product is made in the form of a flower, the petals of which can be gnawed. Silicone, durable material can retain its original appearance for a long time. Such a product is suitable from 4 months. The toy has a stand.
This product is suitable for the sterilization process. And also it can be refrigerated for better effect.
The price is 450 rubles.
Teether Pigeon Educational 4+ months. 13069
Teether Dr. Brown's
This special pacifier can be used from 3 months of age. The product is made of durable, hypoallergenic, environmentally friendly silicone. The grooved surface of the nipple has a massage effect.This product is best used by children who are used to pacifiers. The teether nipple has a ring with which the "teether" can be fixed to the baby's clothes. The teat tolerates boiling well.
The price is 380 rubles.
Teether Dr. Brown's Orthees transitional
Teether Philips Avent Elephant
The elephant shape will appeal to many children. The product is made of heat-resistant, highly ecological, safe material. The teether has a hole, which is very convenient for the baby to hold on to. And also the product weighs a little, which is suitable for the smallest children. The price is quite high and amounts to 550 rubles.
Teether Philips AVENT Elephant SCF199 / 00
How to make a teether with your own hands?
It is quite possible to make teethers with your own hands. But you need to choose safe, environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic materials. It's quite difficult to do it yourself. Most often, wooden "rodents" are made at home. Some elements are tied with threads. The tree should be of dense species (juniper, beech).
Conclusion
The teether has many benefits. These products are an excellent alternative to various medications that are applied to the gums and often contain lidocaine. Each mother decides for herself which material is best to use. But it is better to buy products from trusted and reliable brands that have appropriate certificates.
