As a parent, safety is frequently the motivating force behind all of your decisions. In addition, as your infant begins to develop their first teeth, it is important to choose teething products that will protect their teeth and gums.
Most infants begin teething around the 6-month mark, and symptoms can begin before the first tooth emerges. As your child begins to seek dental relief, they will want to suckle and bite to soothe the irritation in their gums.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of some of the most popular teething products on the market, which you may want to consider when your infant gets their first teeth. To help you make the most informed decision possible for your family, we’ve also added some safety tips.
Baby Teething Rings
A teething ring is a form of baby teethers for infants that is typically made of silicone. Silicon is a durable enough material for your infant to enjoy a blissful chew without you having to stress about a piece splitting off mid-bite.
Teething rings are also simple for small infant palms to grasp but are not a choking hazard.
Be alert for products free of bisphenol A (BPA) when shopping in-store or online. This exceeds the definition of “non-toxic.”
Additionally, inspect your teething device between uses; it does spend the entire day being chewed on. A damaged teether can pose a suffocation hazard, but this can be avoided by inspecting it thoroughly.
You could also refrigerate them, as opposed to freezing them. A little burst of cold is wonderful for infants, but frozen teething rings can damage gums and reduce the toy’s durability.
Teething Cookies
Teething cookies or teething biscuits are a type of edible food that dissolves upon contact with the molars of your infant. They directly stimulate and relieve the affected area.
Cookies for teething should not be given to infants fewer than eight months. Always supervise your infant when they use a biscuit (or eat any solid food) to prevent suffocation.
However, teething cookies are not recommended because they typically contain sugar and can increase your child’s risk of developing cavities in the future.
Fabric Chew Toys
Like other objects in your baby’s nursery, cloth chew toys are designed specifically to provide dental relief.
Ensure that the dyes used in these products are all-natural vegetable dyes or are free of metals. Heavy metals such as copper and chromium can cause health issues, so checking the label before purchasing is always a good idea.
As with teething rings, a fast inspection for frayed threads will go a long way towards keeping choking hazards away from your child’s mouth.
Mould can flourish in moist environments, and these fabric objects are especially susceptible. Ensure that the object you choose is simple to clean so that you can keep it sanitised!