8 best teething toys to ease pain and distract from discomfort

Easy on the eye, simple for a baby to grip and good for the bank balance at £10, this cute monkey made us smile in many ways. Launched in the UK in 2016 after winning backing from Touker Suleyman from Dragons’ Den, Matchstick Monkey offers a range of teethers in different shapes and sizes but we found the original was the easiest for our baby to grip and use independently, even from a few months old.

The monkey is made from FDA-approved food-standard silicone, is dishwasher and sterilisation machine safe and the back of the head features soft bumps that are gentle on a baby’s sensitive gums. Both of our baby testers quickly worked out to direct the monkey’s head to where they were feeling pain.

For extra relief, Matchstick Monkey suggests applying teething gels or granules to the bumps on the back of the head to ensure they directly reach the source of the baby’s pain. This toy can see them through all stages of teething from the front teeth to the molars as the ergonomic shape means it can reach all areas of a baby’s mouth.

The slim design of this banana-shaped toy is highly appealing for little hands. When placed into a pile of teething equipment, the yellow design and slim shape meant that this was the toy that was reached for first. The peel at the sides makes it easy for little ones to chomp down and they’re long enough to be able to reach the molars at the back when a child enters that stage of teething.

It doesn’t take up much room either, making it ideal to pack in your changing bag for use when out and about. Popping it in your baby’s steam steriliser next to the baby bottles will keep it safe and hygienic between uses. For a fiver, you can’t really fault it. Just make sure you don’t store it in a toy box with larger toys, as the slim shape could make it easy to misplace.

Packaged like a first aid kit for babies, this cute animal kit features everything you need to combat teething troubles. If you’re a parent who likes to feel prepared for all situations, you’ll appreciate the choice offered by Cheeky Chompers to equip you with the right toy for their needs for all teething stages.

A British family business, founded by two mums who’d been through the teething process multiple times, it’s clear this brand cares about babies and their parents. The website offers an incredible amount of free advice about teething and the survival kit comes with a QR code that parents can scan for even more practical solutions and tips. It also features five milestone cards, which you can use to snap photos with your baby, such as “my first tooth” and the back of the cards feature remedies or teeth charts, which you can tick off when each tooth arrives.

Our baby testers loved the cute hippo chewy toy but parents will appreciate the neckerchew, which is a thick bandana-style bib with a chew at the end. It’s a practical solution for the extra drool that a baby produces while teething and they can chew on the end of it too. Finally, the kit includes a starter flexi-brush toothbrush to gently massage and clean gums and new teeth.

Beautifully packaged and with a cute rabbit top, there’s an air of luxury about this teething toy, even though it’s affordable. It’s great for gifting, as it comes in a lovely box and parents are sure to appreciate the rabbit’s cute but minimalist aesthetic.

Out of the box, the mix of soft coral and beech wood looks calming and gentle on the eyes. If a baby, not long out of the womb, is confused and shocked about the sensations in their mouth, they won’t always appreciate a brightly coloured toy that dazzles their eyes. Hand them this, and they know exactly what to do. The silicone is lovely and soft, which would give relief for a little one’s gums, with the bumps adding an extra level of massage. There’s also the option of a wooden fox top.

If you have a curious baby, who loves to keep busy and is constantly working out what things do, the Fisher-Price twist and teethe otter toy will stimulate their minds so they’re not thinking about pain. It features flexible rings that are easy for little hands to grasp, shake and twist for engaging sensory play. We loved that there are multiple teething options on the same toy. One day your baby could put a ring in its mouth and another day they might use one of the fish or star beads for gum relief. You can let your baby be the guide.

With so much to do, shake and twist, it also helps to develop a baby’s fine motor skills. The rattle beads reward your baby’s shakes with fun sounds while the otter has a fabric tail for extra sensory play. Made from BPA-free plastic, it’s easy to keep clean, but has a harder feel than silicone toys.

Infantino has upped the game in the world of teething toys and developed one that vibrates. There’s no need to switch it on or off, rather it reacts to pressure on the leaf or stem part, and gently shakes to provide extra counter pressure to a pesky tooth that’s fighting its way through the gum.

The vibration is extra soft, so not at all overpowering for babies, but it can take some getting used to. At first, our tester did drop it when it started vibrating. However, it’s worth sticking with as it doubles up as a first toothbrush. The bumps on the leaves act as mini toothbrush bristles to lift up grime in a baby’s mouth and the soft flat leaves of the apple can reach all parts of a baby’s mouth.

Among parents and grandparents, Sophie is famous. She’s one of the very first teething toys to offer a fun way to help babies and their carers through this developmental milestone, being made in France since 1961. And she’s still a hit today, with our testers reaching for her in the toy box, even when they didn’t appear to be suffering with any teething symptoms.

Sophie is no ordinary giraffe and no standard toy. She’s designed to awake a baby’s five senses. Her squeaker stimulates hearing and keeps baby amused and her scent of natural rubber makes it easy for your child to identify amid all other toys. Natural rubber also feels soft and flexible in a baby’s tiny hands, which means no man-made chemicals will be going into your baby’s mouth.

Mam has designed a simple but effective toy that can be stored in the fridge so you have something soothing to hand when your baby needs it. The unique shape perfectly reaches the back teeth as they come through. Babies can hold the ring and direct it to the backs of their mouths, allowing you to see where the pain is coming from and offering some reassurance that the discomfort is being soothed.

We loved the clip, which meant that the toy never got dropped on the floor even when it was discarded. Mam has been an expert in baby safety for over 40 years and it’s these little details that give that away. Founded in 1976 by the Austrian plastics engineer Peter Röhrig, the mission is to create extra-safe baby products that combine attractive, innovative design with proven medical benefits. It may not be as friendly to look at as a toy with an animal-shaped head or a rattle but it does the job of soothing gums brilliantly.