Product Spotlight Series: Teething Accessories

doxiemoxie212 · February 2018

This is a place for FTMs to ask questions and S+TMs to share the wealth of knowledge they've accumulated on baby products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week it's.... teething accessories!

Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.

For S+TMs:

Any lifestyle factors that could influence your picks:
Favorite [teething accessory]:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
What you like about it:
What you don't like about it, if anything:
Is there a [teething accessory] you don't have but are considering? Why?:
Is there a [teething accessory] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?:
Additional thoughts on [teething accessories]?:

For FTMs

[teething accessory] you're interested in:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
Any questions about it/them for S+TMs?:

To view past Product Spotlights or view the upcoming schedule, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gjNtxy2Kd2JceTYYR5wkwVcpTbU-khgazhjcZnfI1y4/edit?usp=sharing

(Also just a reminder that if anyone wants to revive old threads to ask questions as we get further along and it becomes more likely everyone is doing further research, please feel free!)

pupsicle23 · February 2018

DD loved the cheap plastic rings - the kind you can freeze - from the grocery store. I don’t have a specific brand, but they cost a few bucks.
She also really liked to chew on stuffed animals.
Sophie the giraffe held her interest for, like, a day. But other people’s kids loved Sophie.

doxiemoxie212 · February 2018

I have heard that Sophie the giraffe is not ideal if you have dogs because of the squeaker (and that it sort of looks like a dog toy lol) - confirm/deny? @pupsicle23

pupsicle23 · February 2018

My dogs are not real dogs and don’t chew on toys for some reason, but I could totally see that! We fostered a Pitt mix for about a year, and he destroyed a lot of toys. @doxiemoxie212

ETA now that I think about it, I remember H and I joking that we might as well have gotten a chew toy from the pet aisle for $2

marcus7676 · February 2018

@doxiemoxie212 chances are, you'll get Sophie if you have a shower. People love buying Sophie. The problem with Sophie is that you can't get it wet - - there is a hole and if water gets in it, instant mold / mildew. It's disgusting. Don't google it (or do, but I warned you). It's a known problem. Plus, Sophie is crazy expensive. DS had Sophie, then I tossed Sophie because it was mildewy (and we never submerged or washed it - - it was from drool). We went to France and Sophie was only 7 euro (which was the equivilent of $7). It's a ripoff.

@pupsicle23 were they munchkin brand? We have some of those rings that are freezable.

DS loved:

Sharkie (https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Banana-Brush-Original-Sharky/dp/B004OYWY98/)
This teether (https://www.amazon.com/Comotomo-Silicone-Baby-Teether-Orange/dp/B00913DY3W)
Vibrating teethers (https://www.amazon.com/Free-Nuby-Vibe-eez-Vibrating-Teether/dp/B01ALGE1TS)
This toy (https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Toy-Winkel-Sensory-Teether/dp/B000BNCA4K/)

There are munchkin mesh feeders that we would put frozen fruit in. They made a mess, but DS loved chewing on them. Also, frozen wash clothes were great.

sunshineandwhiskey · February 2018

We had Sophie the Giraffe, the Munch Mitt, the Sassy Banana and the frozen teething rings (which we didn't use).

My dog did not mind Sophie - granted, shes not allowed around her toys. However, there was a BIG warning around Sophie because the spit and stuff can get into the hole, and parents were cutting them open to find tons of mold growing inside.
The Munch Mitt was good. She learned quickly how to pull it off though.
Sassy Banana was my favorite. Plus it acted as a starter toothbrush. Its soft silicon, and DD seemed to prefer it the most. Its relatively cheap, and she was able to grab it too.
Frozen teething rings - be careful. They are not necessarily recommended anymore because they are too hard and can do more damage than good (tear up their gums). We used this instead.

Honestly - the kids will chew on what they want to chew on. DD was big on her sleeve haha. And the BEST thing for teething was Motrin (once they are 6 months+).

pupsicle23 · February 2018

Didn’t know that about the teething rings! Granted, DD chewed them as is, but you never know what kid 2 will prefer. Thanks, @sunshineandwhiskey

sunshineandwhiskey · February 2018

@pupsicle23 DD chewed them as is too! So funny. I swear, i'm gonna wing it more with this kid because who knows what works will DD will work with this LO

dinodna3 · February 2018

My kids never actually used teething toys, so no recommendations here. We had them, they just didn’t like them.

DS drooled so much when teething. We stocked up on bandana bids because he was drooling through like 5 outfits a day.

And +1 to Motrin once they are over 6 months.

rnielsen321 · February 2018

@doxiemoxie212
We have 2 small dogs and they were cool with Baby Toys being baby toys for the most part. (like one or 2 got destroyed)

DD had both the classic Sophie and the Teether Sophie, and definitely preferred the Teeether one.
https://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=12374848

We also had a silicone teether on a clip like a paci clip that we took when we travelled. Clipped it to the Carrier...

+1 to Bandana Bibs, we were going through 4-5 a day with DD... So I had like 30 kicking about. Luckily my MIL is a quilter so I bought a few off of etsy, and handed to her for a template.

jsl82 · February 2018

DD started teething when she was only 3 months old- it was horrible because she was so young. The doctor recommended chilling a wet washcloth- but DD also didn't like the cold, so we just gave her damp wash clothes. She also chewed on her burp cloths all the time too. We had a few silicon toys that were more for us/ photos like her chicken wing and batman signal- she chewed (and still does chew) on EVERYTHING. She has these balls that she liked to chew on- super durable and now that she is old she likes to roll it back and forth with me/ DH.
I believe I mentioned her very hungry catepiller as one of her favorite toys before- that thing was CONSTANTLY covered in drool.

Whatever LO decides they like to chew on- stock up on- the toys will go everywhere with you- and once they hit the floor (and they will) you will have to either have a back up or be able to clean it off. Also they need to be cleaned pretty often- cause they are shoving them in their mouths all day- so have a back up for laundry day too.

Also, with her molars she grinds her teeth- worst sound in the world. I recommend NOT being pregnant while you child is going through this- because it makes me miss wine so much!

Xtabbikatx · February 2018

Any lifestyle factors that could influence your picks: Not really. No pets or other young kids at the time
Favorite [teething accessory]: Mesh pacifer
Link/picture: https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-fresh-food-feeder-2pk/-/A-13991507
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): 5$
What you like about it: He would use it.
What you don't like about it, if anything: Very messy.
Is there a [teething accessory] you don't have but are considering? Why?: No we tried a few of them. We never tried the amber necklace thing. Freaked me out as a chocking hazard.
Is there a [teething accessory] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: Nothing I hated, but my kid would rather chew on his own fingers than any teether. We did try that oarjel for babies. DS HATED it. He would cry until it wore off.
Additional thoughts on [teething accessories]?:

My kiddo didn't really like them. But when he was older and eating baby food. I would freeze bananas or blueberries ( I made my own baby food) and stick a frozen cube in the mesh pacifier. He would chewing that and it seemed to help.

momac1919 · February 2018

I had some teething necklaces I got from target that DD loved, but if those weren’t available she’d pretty much chew on anything, regardless of whether it was a teething toy or not. And +1 for bibs, the drool is unreal

katelynrae86 · February 2018

I got DS a Sophie because they were "all the rage" even though I scoffed at the $25 (!!) price tag and he loved that thing. I don't know if its the texture of the plastic which is kind of rough or the different shaped parts (legs, neck, ears) to hold and chew on, but he would grasp it and gnaw on it before any other toy or teether.

I was sure our boston terrier would destroy it at some point (we had a few stuffed animal casualties before DS was even born) but somehow she survived

The other big winner for us was the mesh feeder. My fav was to put frozen grapes inside (less messy than berries or banana but still kind of a pain to clean out). He liked those for soothing but also to self feed before he had the pincher grasp. I know some kiddos like them with just ice, but only frozen fruit would do in our house.

We tried cold wet washcloths and the little freezable toys but he wasn't interested. I also used baby orajel from time to time...to be honest, I don't know if it made a huge difference but I felt better doing something to try to ease the pain.

@jsl82 I feel your pain on the molars while pregnant...lol. We deserve wine

edited because I almost dropped my phone in the bathtub and hit submit too early (yes I'm bumping in the bath...should I save that for FFFC?)

MissKittyDanger · February 2018

For FTMs

[teething accessory] you're interested in: Sophie vs the world {lol}
Any questions about it/them for S+TMs?: Is Sophie that big of a deal? I also found another that seems pretty neat and has bumps
link: https://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=102336496
Also, I've seen a lot of Sophie issues regarding mold inside. Is that a thing? Should I just quickly glue gun the little hole?

ramennoodlegif · February 2018

TTM

Any lifestyle factors that could influence your picks: I like pretzels, so we have them on-hand.
Favorite [teething accessory]: Frozen Pretzels (SuperPretzels)
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): $
What you like about it: Don't have to worry about baby choking on them because they don't thaw too quickly. Don't have to worry about BPA and other plasticky checmicals.
What you don't like about it, if anything: If baby's not in the mood, that's a wasted pretzel
Is there a [teething accessory] you don't have but are considering? Why?: Kids never really used anything specifically designed for teething. They would bite on pretty much anything that didn't have that as the intended use.

jsl82 · February 2018

@katelynrae86 we deserve so much wine! And a metal for dealing with molar teething without wine.

I also wanted to mention breastmilk (or formula) popsicles. Just pump and pore the milk into popsicle molds instead of freezing in a bag. I froze some BM into an ice cube mold and used the mesh pouch with DD- but think small popsicle molds would be worth the investment. With DS I will buy the molds- and I will be able to use them this summer with DD. These are also great for pedialyte popsicles when the babies get sick too. We bought the freeze pops but having these molds on hand would mean we only need to buy the liquid pedialyte and having more options on ways to try to get her to drink it. Pedialyte is gross BTW.

krash_ · February 2018

@jsl82 now that I am a bit older and don't bounce back from a night of drinking as well we use Pedialyte as a hangover cure. The powdered drink mix that you mix with water isn't bad. Not sure if you have tried that but if not it might be worth a shot.

marcus7676 · February 2018

@misskittydanger I answered your questions re Sophie in my post above. Mold is real.

MissKittyDanger · February 2018

@marcus7676 what about plugging the hole with a glue gun?

icecubeinthedesert · February 2018

@MissKittyDanger full disclosure: FTM with no Sophie experience, but wouldn't the glue plug just pop out when squeezed too hard?

MissKittyDanger · February 2018

@icecubeinthedesert FTM also but I've heard different things from different people, so I'm not sure and figured maybe depends on how you glue it? {like make a seal instead of just a plug?}

May14th2011 · February 2018

This is a controversial one, I think.

Amber teething bracelet

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C3U7PHQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_E22GAbJ1T2WKA

$10-20, depending on which one you get

I use a Raw, unpolished bracelet, with knots between each bead and a plastic clasp. The knots keep all the beads from falling off if the bracelet breaks, so less of a choking hazard. The plastic clasp breaks apart easily if the bracelet gets caught on something, keeping baby from getting hurt.
I chose a bracelet, and used it as an anklet so I could leave it on more. I have a necklace too, but don't like leaving that on when I'm not near them.
I have used it with both of my kids and neither ever cried or had fevers, never had any indication they were even teething. Of course, I could just have easy teethers, but I'll be using it again with this baby.
I will say, when my son was 4 months old, he went to the hospital for RSV, for almost a week and I took off his bracelet while he was there. Didn't put it back on right away when he left, and he was so fussy for several days until I put it back on. Within a day, he was back to his normal self and three or four days later, two teeth popped through. Could be a coincedence, of course, but it sure seemed to help.

LaceyBee522 · February 2018

@May14th2011 So, does the baby chew on the amber bracelet? Or is it just for them to wear to relieve pain? Sorry if this is a dumb question. I'm just not sure I understand, if it goes on the ankle.

ramennoodlegif · February 2018

@LaceyBee522The idea behind the amber necklaces is that baby's skin absorbs oils from the amber.

May14th2011 · February 2018

@LaceyBee522 no, they don't chew on it. These ones are just to wear, so should be kept out of mouths, the beads could possibly be a choking hazard (one of the reasons its controversial) .

LaceyBee522 · February 2018

Oohhh! Thanks guys! @kfren @May14th2011

marcus7676 · February 2018

@misskittydanger I wouldn't feel comfortable gluing it out of fear it would pop out and the baby would eat it.

MissKittyDanger · February 2018

@May14th2011 I've heard great things about the Amber beads! I may try it out with mine to see if it works. I've only seen necklace, does it also come in bracelet form as well?

May14th2011 · February 2018

@MissKittyDanger Yes, it does

lovesclimbing · February 2018

*lurker*

Re: frozen teethers. I have one of the teethers filled with a gel. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nuby-IcyBite-Keys-Perfectly-Pink-Teether/49915993?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228037949189&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=90382529432&wl4=pla-182537025392&wl5=9033936&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=49915993&wl13=&veh=sem

It specifically says not to freeze it and just chill it in the fridge. Supposedly the gel is designed to hold the chill for awhile, although I haven't noticed it being that great. I do put it in the freezer so it will chill faster, but I don't let it get solid.

Also, FYI, if you get one like that, I really like it, but we ended up cutting the ring, taking the pieces off and throwing the ring away. The individual pieces are great, but the design with them on the ring is very poor. When playing with it, she would grab the ring and chew on the ring. Which is fine, but because of the ring shape, she would be chewing with the gums farther back in her mouth and it wouldn't touch where her front teeth were coming through at all where she really needed it! I would try to get her to chew on the pieces by putting one up to her lips, she would close her mouth and bite it and grab the ring with her hands to hold it herself. I would try to get her to grab the piece and not the ring, but she wouldn't/couldn't. Then, because she was holding the ring and not the piece, the piece would fall out of her mouth quickly and she'd be back to chewing on the ring. All three on the ring was just too big and heavy. Once we cut the pieces off the ring, she was able to handle the individual pieces easily.

jsl82 · February 2018

For some reason I thought about this while getting ready for work today- Baby Orajel is no longer recommended. The active ingedient was benzocaine, which can cause a serious condition. They make a natural one- but I feel like it's more of a placebo for moms than effective for baby. I know we were gifted some while I was pregnant with DD- just a heads up in case some of you receive any to make sure it does not contain Benzocaine.

katelynrae86 · February 2018

Not a product recommendation, but just came across this on FB and wanted to share for a laugh:

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