Teether models for teeth: which is better to choose?

The main time gap for families with small children is the stage at which the child has teeth. It is easy to guess that the feeling of the baby while not pleasant, because he is constantly crying. For a long time, during this period of time, parents were advised to simply be patient and wait, but the inventive genius of man came up with a better solution - the so-called teether.

Usually parents have to make sure that the child does not pull into his mouth anything, however, the teether is such an unusual toy, created specifically for this. The fact is that while the teeth grow, the baby feels a strong itching in the gums. And the most logical thing he wants to do is to scratch them. The easiest way would be to do this with a solid meal, but chewing something hard without having teeth is problematic, and even in its infancy the baby does not eat anything but milk.

Previously, the problem was partially solved by wrapping some not too solid food (a piece of fruit or bread) in cheesecloth - thanks to this, the little sufferer could chew and scratch gums without risking choking on a badly chewed piece. However, it was not very convenient, because my mother had to make sure that the edges of the gauze remained outside, and the fabric could tear over time.

The teethers solved this problem, because they are a fairly durable piece of material that cannot be chipped into pieces, But the whole large object cannot be swallowed either.

It’s simpler to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of teethers when it’s not about all such products as a whole, but about a specific variety of this or that material. If we talk in general about all products of this kind, the benefits for babies are as follows:

• due to safe chewing, the child begins to feel better, does not feel stress and can sleep properly;
• some teethers are filled inside with water or a special cooling gel, which almost completely eliminates discomfort;
• A teether is not only an object that is good for the health of the mouth, but also a toy that entertains the baby and helps him to develop fine hand motor skills more quickly.

If the teether is selected correctly, then it should not have any flaws. Problems are possible only if the material was not so safe or too fragile. In addition, it may be that the selected model simply does not help to scratch the gums where the baby is experiencing discomfort.

To determine the choice of model should be based on where exactly the baby's teeth erupt. They do not all grow at the same time, but scientists, fortunately for their parents, have long noticed the regularity of the order of their appearance, which allows you to choose the appropriate option.

At the same time, there is no exact date for the “normal” onset of teeth. - Experts say that this indicator is individual for each person. On average, the first tooth can erupt both at 4 and 8 months, and neither the one nor the other is considered a deviation.In this case, the lower central incisors first grow, and the task of the parents is to track the moment when the first tooth can be seen. It is from this period of time that teethers should be offered to the baby.

This product is divided into three main types:

• for incisors (front teeth) - the first stage;
• for canines and first molars - the second stage;
• for back teeth - the third stage.

For the production of teethers suitable quite a large number of different materials each of which has its own strengths and weaknesses.

• Silicone - one of the most common types of material for such products. Silicone teethers are made of food-grade silicone, which is completely safe for humans and has several advantages. The product is flexible and elastic, allowing the gums to be massaged without too sharp an impact. A huge plus is the ability to wash the teether in hot water, but you should carefully read the instructions so as not to overdo it with the temperature. The only drawback of such products can be except that relative dullness - the product usually has no interesting design, and even often lacks color.

• Latex. Teethers made from this material have all the advantages of their silicone counterparts, but they are almost always painted in bright colors. Sometimes these products have a pleasant taste, which disappears after the first wash. At the same time, the material even allows sterilization using mild detergents. Another thing is that even high-quality products made of latex may have an unobtrusive chemical smell when purchased. Experts indicate that you can get rid of it with the help of the same washing, but there are also low-quality varieties where the strong smell cannot be removed in any way.
• Plastic. This solution is suitable for those children who want to nibble something hard, and not limited to soft latex or silicone. Plastic models are often available with a water tank. In addition, they have a bright and attractive design. Care must be taken to ensure that the surface of the product is perfectly smooth.

• Tree. Wood teether is another very durable type of solution to the problem of growing teeth. Such products are made of beech or maple wood, as a result, it will successfully save the wooden surfaces of furniture from the traces of children's teeth. The choice in favor of wood is made due to the high strength of such a product, which can serve for a very long time with proper care, but there are also disadvantages. First of all, you should not wash wooden objects - you will have to restrict yourself with wet napkins. Moreover, parents often complain that the wooden teethers have a rather large weight, and therefore may pose a risk of injury.

• Textile. The fabric is still used to reduce the itchiness in the baby’s mouth, only now they make full-bodied teethers. Woven material is the most mild effect on the oral cavity, because it is chosen for those children who have just begun to grow teeth. Fabric solutions allow washing in different conditions, and actively absorb saliva, allowing clothes to remain clean. At the same time, the presence of saliva on the tissue of organic origin can cause a rapid increase in the number of microbes, and this option is not suitable for gnawing kids too actively, since they can quickly deteriorate it and even choke on the contents.

Contrary to the fact that the assignment of teethers is always the same, the finished product can take the most unexpected forms.Choose a particular model should be not only for the aesthetically attractive appearance, but also for other functions that this item may have.

A classic example of such a device is an ordinary ring, which, for safety and better perception, can be decorated with a thickening in the shape of a toy. This product may resemble in appearance, for example, a banana, a flower or beads. However, the teether may not be at all like a ring or have other, equally useful properties.

The smallest can be useful teether, which will keep the mother. It is often worn on a finger or hand, but such a product can imitate a toothbrush. Such a “mitten” helps parents to actively stimulate the gums of the baby, but it should be noted that not every child likes this.

Some models of teethers are even equipped with a small vibration motor, which allows you to increase the impact on the gums. Although not everyone likes oral massage, models with vibration are quite popular - the effect is softer than in the case of putting on models that need to be set in motion manually.

If a teether allows itself to be filled with a special gel, then it has a cooling effect. In this case, another big question is what removes the discomfort better - the ability to scratch the gums or the presence of a coolant.

The above are examples of only the most common additional functions of teethers, whereas a wide range of such products can capture the imagination, and named models for each child are far from the limit of the imagination of developers. Theoretically, the teether can be connected to any other object.

It can be difficult for parents to decide on what degree of hardness the chosen teether should be, because the child himself is just crying - he cannot yet explain what exactly does not suit him. Especially for such a case, combined models were invented in which both a soft and hard tip are combined.

Such an acquisition would bring the greatest benefit if the parents found their way on time and bought it as the first such product. Most likely, both parts of the product will not be useful to the child immediately, but in the process of teeth germination, he will repeatedly face situations when he needs soft or hard stimulation of the gums. Consequently, parents can save their own money and time by buying one toy instead of two.

It is easier for many parents not to go into the details of choosing a good teether, but simply to choose a product from the manufacturer who, by his attitude, has proved that he can be trusted. This solution is not always ideal, but in some cases it is precisely this solution that allows a teether of decent quality to be chosen.

It should immediately warn consumers from buying Chinese teethers. It is impossible to say unequivocally that such products are necessarily of poor quality, however many brands will never become widely known. Some of them are “ephemeral” at all, therefore they do not strive to provide high quality goods. Considering that the choice in favor of China is usually made for the low price of the goods, you should not rely on high quality.

At the opposite pole are European and Japanese teethers, which, on the contrary, differ from the best side. Such a teether will certainly cost the parents a tidy sum, but there is no doubt that the acquisition will be durable and completely safe for the child. If we talk about specific manufacturers, you can highlight, for example, Chicco, Dr Brown, Pigeon, Canpol, Avent, Tommee Tippee, Kurnosiki, Tiny Love, Vulli. However, this list does not end there.

Russian products are traditionally a cross between European quality and Chinese low prices. It may not be exemplary in terms of functionality or durability, but still many children have experienced one of the most difficult periods of their lives with the help of such teethers. Especially popular among customers have won brands "Kurnosiki" and "Giraffe Sophie."

It is quite difficult to choose a teether for a baby, since this process is always subjective, and there is no universal solution for all occasions. Nevertheless, experts have made some proven recommendations, thanks to which you can at least superficially navigate the range.

• For a start, you should pay attention to the box - perhaps it indicates on which teeth this model was released. It should be remembered that the teeth grow from the center to the edges, so before choosing anything, you need to inspect the baby’s oral cavity and determine the condition of the teeth at a particular stage.
• Silicone is most often chosen as the first teether, since for the delicate tissues of the oral cavity, the teeth in which are just beginning to form, more rigid materials will not work.

• After the incisors, the canines and the first lateral teeth begin to grow, so the functional part of the teether should be wider in order to reach all the itchy spots. Since these teeth are designed specifically for chewing, the surface should have prominent protrusions in order to actively stimulate the gums.
• Do not buy a baby teether on the principle of "this model is bought by everyone I know." Each child is an individual, and a much more correct solution would be to first examine the baby’s mouth, and only then decide on the model. The only right decision would be to choose a teether based on some logical conclusions.

A teether does not have to be bought at all - you can make it with your own hands, which will help save money and give you confidence in the safety of the product. Actually, the easiest option is to wrap a piece of apple or carrot in gauze or cotton. Such a solution will not only be useful for the baby, but also will be pleasant to him because of the sweet taste. However, experts advise to give preference to those tastes that are already familiar to the baby.

More complex forms of creativity are also acceptable. For obvious reasons, textiles act as the main material, and at the same time only natural fabrics should be chosen to be sure of their safety. Cotton remains the leader among materials, but as a filler you can use beans, peas, wooden beads and much more.

Finally, a few more tips on how to properly use teethers, so that they bring the maximum effect.

• Hard teethers help teeth to break through a little faster, but it is better to let nature do its own thing.Such an adaptation is necessary, first of all, to relieve discomfort, therefore it should be used sparingly, otherwise gums can be damaged.
• The refusal of the child from the purchased teether does not at all mean that the choice was made poorly. As a rule, at the time of teething, children are trying to gnaw literally everything that comes their way, and since the baby ignores the proposed product, it means that the time for active growth of the teeth has simply not come yet.
• The teether gets into the baby’s mouth, so it must always be perfectly clean. The baby can throw it on the floor or soil it in any other way, therefore you should first wash it with baby soap.

Maria's advisor on baby products will tell and show you how to choose a teether for a child and for what age it is better to prefer which rodent models.