Teething Toys for Babies: 10 Types for Teething Relief

Struggling with teething pain and overwhelmed by all the baby’s teething toy options? I’ve rounded up the 10 best types of teething toys for babies to help your little one (and you) get some relief! 

As a mom of two little ones, I know all too well that teething can be a challenging time for both babies and their parents.

The seemingly endless fussiness, drooling, and sleepless nights can leave you feeling exhausted and searching for anything that might provide some relief.

One of the simplest and most effective solutions? Teething toys for babies. These little lifesavers not only soothe sore gums but also keep your little one engaged and entertained. 

In this post, I’ve rounded up 10 types of the best teething toys for babies, so you can find the perfect one to help your baby through this milestone with a little less pain and even some fun, too!

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Babies usually get their first teeth anywhere between 6-10 months, but teething symptoms can happen a lot earlier. Both of my girls got their first teeth around seven months old but started chewing on everything they could around four months old. This is where teething toys for babies can help. 

Babies chew to massage their gums and help the teeth pop through. It’s an instinct all babies are born with! Teething toys for babies help because it gives them something to provide counterpressure on the spot where the teeth are coming through – as the teeth put pressure on the gums from the inside, babies counter this by putting pressure from the outside. 

Baby teething toys help soothe the gums and give an outlet to their instinctual need to chew, but they also help with physical and cognitive development. Teething toys help babies:

• Stimulate their senses with different colors, textures, and shapes
• Develop tongue and jaw muscles to help them eat solid foods
• Refine motor skills and coordination as they reach for, pick up, and move teething toys into their mouths
• Entertain themselves as they play with a fun and engaging toy

Not all teething toys are created equal. You want to be sure to pick ones that will be the best and safest for your baby. You know them best! 

When I’m looking for new teething toys for babies, I look at the design of the teether first. I like one that’s are all one solid piece without parts that can detach and become choking hazards or holes that can trap bacteria. My exception to this rule is if it has multiple parts but none are choking size and it can be easily cleaned. 

I also pay attention to the materials the teething toy is made of. I usually do food grade silicone teethers, but natural rubber (watching for breaking down over time), and even wooden teething toys are great options for babies. I also make sure they’re free of BPA, phalates, or any other toxins I wouldn’t want in my baby’s mouth. 

The last criteria I have for baby’s teething toys is that it matches baby’s development stage. When they are very little, I look for baby teething toys that are easy for tiny, clumsy hands to hold and don’t have longer pieces baby could accidentally gag themselves with. As they get older, I look for baby teething toys that have some engaging element to interest them like fun colors, sounds, textures or moving parts.

Based on my three criteria for baby teething toys – design, material, and developmental stage – I’ve created a list of 10 types of the best teething toys. Each baby teething toy on this list has a unique feature to offer your baby. I hope you find one (or a few) baby’s teething toys to help your little one!

Teething symptoms can start early before baby truly has control of their hands, which makes teething mittens a great first teething toy for babies It’s basically what it sounds like – a teething toy that covers baby’s hand like a mitten. 

These are great teething toys because they capitalize on baby’s natural instinct to mouth on their hands. Plus, they’re harder for babies to drop. 

There are two different kinds of teething mittens. The first is an actual mitten you put on babies hand that has textured silicone on the outside, like this one. The second, which my babies have preferred, is more like a silicone dome with teethers and a handle in the middle for baby to grip. Some even have an adjustable band at the wrist to help keep it secured to baby’s hand, like this one.

Teething means sore, swollen gums and one of the best ways to soothe them is with something cold. It helps reduce inflammation and even numbs the pain a bit without having to give little bodies medicine. There are a few different options when it comes to cold teethers.

You can go old school with a DIY frozen teether using a washcloth and an ice cube or breastmilk. Just wet a clean washcloth with breastmilk and freeze it or put an ice cube in the middle of a washcloth and tie a knot to secure it. Either way is helpful and easy to do at home, just make sure you supervise baby closely with the ice cube! 

You can take regular teethers you already have and put them in the freezer. This works well with silicone ones especially but it’s a short-lived solution because it doesn’t stay cold very long. I usually keep a few teethers in the freezer so I can rotate through as they warm up. 

You can go new school with refrigerated or frozen teethers. These are teethers that are made to hold their cold temperature, usually because they have sterilized water or a special gel inside. Don’t fret about them getting punctured, though – if you go with a well-trusted company, like this one, you shouldn’t have any issue! I also love this brand because their cooling teethers come with handles so baby’s hands don’t get too cold or warm the teether up.

You can also go the popsicle route (my babies’ favorites) by getting a teether pop designed for babies. I love this one because you can fill it with anything (breastmilk, smoothies, purees), it’s easy for my babes to hold, easy for me to clean, and it very rarely leaks. I’ve had some for a couple years that are still holding up well!

A big fan favorite in our family are pop-it teethers. These are flat little teethers with pop-it sections so it’s a teether and a toy all in one!

They’re usually made of sturdier, food-grade silicone than regular pop-it toys, which could rip with sharp little baby teething gnawing on it. 

Both of my girls were/are obsessed with this super cute purple dinosaur one. It’s easy to hold, has different textures to naw on, and the pop-its aren’t too hard for little fingers. I love it too because I can use a paci clip with it so it doesn’t get flung out of reach in the car or drop on the ground. There are lots of cheaper copycats on Amazon but, be warned, I’ve found they’re flimsier and smaller than our favorite purple dino.

Most teethers are made from silicone but some are made with 100% natural rubber, making it a great teether for more natural-minded families. There aren’t any synthetic materials or toxin corners, they’re more eco-friendly, and they still get the job done with teething relief.

Enter the iconic Sophie the Giraffe. This natural rubber teething toy has been a beloved for 60 years for its adorable design and unique materials. Sophie is a great baby teething toy because it’s easy to hold, has lots of parts to chew, and even has a soft little squeaker. 

If you’re looking for a more teether-like version, there is also a Sophie la Girafe teether ring. It’s made of 100% natural rubber as well, but is smaller, sturdier, and has two textured rings to hold and chew. Both of my girls preferred this Sophie version over the original, plus it’s cheaper! 

Another classic baby teething toy is the teething tooth brush, often in the shape of a banana. These are great for massaging gums, getting babies used to tooth brushes, and doing *a little* cleaning of any teeth that have already popped.

This adorable little teething toy is shaped like a partially peeled banana with a “toothbrush” style silicone top. Besides the toothbrush piece, this baby teether toy is great for its manageable size and built-in banana peel handles.

My girls have loved this toy and I’ve bought multiples over the years. The only downside is the toothbrush end can be hard to keep clean because of it’s compact, silicone design. If you don’t mind that (or don’t have kiddos who put it in the dirt or try to brush the dog with it like I do) then this is a great option!

Teething chains are an upgrade to a traditional teething ring. Instead of just one silicone ring, you get several of them interlinked in a line. It’s like a bunch of teething toys in one!

It’s a great teething toy option because the rings are easy to hold, fun to play with, and textured with bumps to massage sore gums.

I’m a big fan of this teething chain option because it has a built in clip so you don’t have to worry about it dropping or fuss with adding one. It also comes in a bunch of fun and funky colors so there’s something to fit everyone’s aesthetic. 

All babies love keys making the classic key ring teether toy a natural favorite. These teething toys combine the fun jingle of keys with safer chewing options than regular car keys.

It also gives babies lots of different options for teething relief, whether they need the wide top of the keys for front teeth of the long ends for those hard to reach back molars. 

A lot of key ring teethers come in more of a hard plastic style but I’m a big fan of this silicone version. It’s a brand I love and comes in adorable muted colors. It may not be the traditional “keys” but it sure is cute and still functional!

In my experience, molars are the most painful part of the teething journey for babies. It can be hard to reach those back teeth with teether toys for babies to get relief.

Fortunately, there are teether toys designed for those tough to reach molars. Unfortunately, a lot of them have very log pieces that can (in my opinion) be a gagging or chocking hazard. 

Our favorite is this spiral teether that has lots of textured spokes that are long enough to reach the molars but short enough to not hit their throat. These are easy for them to hold and my girls love moving around the circle trying all the different options. Plus, it’s made by another brand I trust and use regularly. 

If you want to try super traditional, go for a wooden teether. This is exactly what it sounds like – a teething toy made out of wood. 

Some babies really find these teethers more satisfying because the harder wood gives more pressure and therefore more relief to their gums. Kind of like a deep tissue massage, if you will. 

If you go this route, make sure you’re getting a high quality wooden teether, like this one made in the USA, that’s free of chemicals and well-made. There would be nothing worse than your baby getting splinters in their gums from a cheap or poorly-made wooden teething toy.

Last but not least in our teething toy round up is the teething activity ball. These teethers blend chewing satisfaction and play to create a teething toy that they won’t ever tire of. 

Teething activity balls can be made of different material but usually include different lots of options for play. There are parts that spin, rattle, slide, jungle, twist – you name it!

Our favorite is this one made of silicone, does all of the above, and is designed so that no pieces can come off. Satisfaction and fun for babies, better peace of mind for mama!

I know teething can be a challenging phase for both babies and parents, but the right teething toy can make a world of difference!

With so many options available, it’s important to choose toys that are safe, soothing, and engaging for your little one. Whether you prefer a classic silicone ring or a playful animal-shaped design, there’s a teething toy out there to suit every need.

I hope you feel like you understand how teething toys can help your baby, what to look for, and are excited to explore a variety of choices. With the right teether, you can help ease your baby’s discomfort—and bring a little more peace to both of your days.