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How to find the best teething buys for your baby
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It’s fair to say that teething is not much fun for anyone.
It’s exciting to see a new tiny tooth poking through your baby’s gum, but that milestone is usually preceded by sleepless nights, crying, dribbling, ear-pulling and general misery – for both of you.
The good news is that there are plenty of teething and baby healthcare products that can help make this stage a little easier for everyone, from medicines and ointments that aim to relieve pain to teething toys that are satisfying for your baby to chew on.
What to spend
At the cheapest end of the scale are teething gels, which cost around £2 to £3 for a small tube. If you want to spend a little more – about £5 – you can try out herbal or homeopathic teething remedies.
Teething toys also start from around £5, although if you want to max the budget, it’s possible to spend as much as £30 on designer teething rings.
A third natural option is an amber teething necklace, bracelet or anklet. These cost from roughly £15 to £30.
Key features
Teething gels are designed to be rubbed onto your baby’s gums, and contain local anaesthetic and antiseptic to soothe pain and prevent infection.
These are inexpensive and handy to keep in the changing bag. However, the effects tend to wear off pretty quickly, as the gel gets washed away by your baby’s saliva.
It’s important to choose a sugar-free gel so you don’t damage your baby’s teeth as they break through, and also to make sure you follow the age guidance and dosage instructions carefully.
Herbal and homeopathic remedies are little sachets of powder or granules that you tip directly into your baby’s mouth or mix with cooled boiled water for them to drink.
There’s no scientific evidence that they work, but they’re cheap, portable and natural, although it’s still essential to follow the instructions on the packet.
Giving your baby a teething toy to chew on can help to ease pain by relieving the pressure of the teeth poking through the gums.
As well as healthcare products, giving your baby a teething toy to chew on can help to ease pain by relieving the pressure of the teeth poking through the gums.
You can either buy toys intended specifically for teething, or generic toys that have parts that are designed to be chewed. Teething toys are made of plastic or rubber and typically have different textures that aim to ease sore gums. Some are filled with water so you can put them in the fridge.
Chilling them makes them more soothing, but you should never put them in the freezer as this could hurt your baby’s gums.
Make sure that the toy you’re buying is easy for your baby to hold and can be washed or, better still, sterilised when it inevitably gets thrown out of the buggy.
Necklaces, bracelets and anklets made of amber beads are not advisable because of the risk that your baby could choke if the thread breaks and the beads come off.
Need to know
As well as using topical teething treatments and toys, you can give infant paracetamol or ibuprofen for teething pain. Always follow the directions on the bottle to make sure you’re dosing your baby safely.
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Checklist
- Teething gels and powders are designed to be applied to your baby’s gums to ease teething pain.
- Teething toys help to relieve the pressure on your baby’s gums and are fun to play with too.
- Always follow the directions on any baby healthcare product.
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