Teething is an incredibly uncomfortable phase in development for babies, toddlers, and parents! Sleepless nights, slight fevers, itchy gums--the whole process is frustrating. Luckily, some toys exist to make teething easier on everybody.
You can find many teething toys and products on the market these days, but not all of them are designed to serve babies beyond the first year or toddlers with most of their teeth already cut in. Moonkie's teething toys are designed to last through multiple teething stages, making them perfect gifts!
To understand which teething toy gift will best serve the family you have in mind, you need to determine which stage of teething their little one is currently in. Here is a quick overview of teething, when teething waves are expected, and which toys will best serve babies and toddlers.
In This Article
Why Do Babies and Toddlers Teethe?
Babies and toddlers teethe because the process of "cutting new teeth" through their gums causes red, swollen gums that feel hot, itchy, and tender. This process typically occurs in waves, spanning between 4 and 36 months, until all 20 primary teeth have appeared.
Teething includes biting or chewing on anything and everything, fussing, irritability, difficulty sleeping, excessive drooling, and a slight fever of less than 101 degrees F (source). It's a miserable process that babies and toddlers go through without being able to explain or understand what they feel.
To ease their pain and irritation, babies often put whatever they get their hands on in their mouths. Throughout their first year, exploring objects with the mouth is a fundamental part of sensory exploration. Although that tendency will subside somewhat in toddlerhood, teething will still cause toddlers to bite, chew on stuffed animals, or put their fingers in their mouths.
Teething is just one of the many amazing developmental milestones little ones progress through. Learn more about what to expect in 7 Things Every Parent Should Know About the Early Stages of Child Development.
When Do Babies and Toddlers Teethe?
Teething typically begins around 4 months old, but can occur earlier for some babies. The first signs are generally excessive drooling, increased fussiness, and more biting and chewing on objects than usual (source).
Teeth typically appear in pairs (one on the right and one on the left), with the bottom sets appearing before the upper sets do. Every child is different, but here is a general timeline for cutting new teeth:
Age |
Teeth |
4 - 7 months |
2 central lower incisors |
6 - 10 months |
2 central upper incisors 2 lateral lower incisors |
8 - 12 months |
2 lateral upper incisors |
10 - 16 months |
2 first lower molars 2 first upper molars |
16 - 22 months |
2 upper canine teeth |
17 - 23 months |
2 lower canine teeth |
25 - 33 months |
2 second lower molars 2 second upper molars |
Investing in ways to help little ones navigate the teething phase is a massive help during the first three years of life (and it helps the parents, too!).
How Can I Help My Teething Baby Through Discomfort?
Teething babies find comfort primarily through being held by their parents and chewing on something that won't be taken away from them. I keep a small basket of safe teething toys accessible to provide relief at home or on the go.
Some babies prefer to chew on cloth, while others prefer natural rubber or silicone teethers. You need to be picky about what your little one teethes on. The silicone toys full of gel for freezing seem like a great idea until you have a baby or pet that manages to poke a hole in one.
Wooden teethers are not solid options because tiny teeth put little dents in the toys, giving bacteria places to hide. Since you cannot boil or soak wooden toys for cleaning, they can become nasty.
Opting for a wet washcloth from the freezer is an effective old-school comfort teether, but you need to ensure that the cloth wasn't washed with fragranced laundry detergent (with chemical binding agents holding the fragrance in the fibers of the fabric). Also, you don't want a washcloth to come apart in your baby's mouth.
Personally, I prefer solid silicone teethers because they withstand sterilization, wear, and toddler antics.
How Can I Help My Teething Toddler Through Discomfort?
Speaking of toddlers, they go through waves of teething, too! But calming a teething toddler is a bit different from calming a teething baby. For instance, toddlers can eat solid food, so snacks can help them through some irritation.
However, toddlers cannot live on snacks alone (unless they are healthy, well-balanced snacks). Providing toys that withstand teething with nearly full sets of teeth is vital to ensuring they do not swallow small pieces.
Thanks to my years of experience in nurseries and toddler foster care, I have seen which materials hold up well to teething toddlers and which ones don't. Natural rubber holds up well at first, but it is a bit too soft for toddlers who tend to be rough with it.
Wooden toys tend to get chewed up and damaged quickly, while high-quality silicone holds up remarkably well, with one caveat: the silicone toys must be designed as solid pieces. Toddlers biting hard or constantly chewing on something can quickly tear things apart, so I'm very particular about toddler teething toys.
I'm also picky about educational toys for toddlers. Check out some of my top picks in 10 Montessori Stacking Toys for Toddlers.
5 Comfort Gifts for Teething Babies
Teething is such an uncomfortable process, but it is necessary for little ones to develop a healthy set of teeth as they transition from milk and purees to solid foods. Nomming on teething toys can go a long way in helping a teething baby feel some relief and calm down, but not every teething toy is safe for babies.
Some teething toys are designed for toddlers rather than babies, while others may not have undergone proper testing. Some toys may have passed numerous tests but be made from low-quality materials that will soon break down or release harmful toxins.
At Moonkie, we take pride in creating baby teething toys designed to engage young minds while protecting their bodies with easy-to-clean, high-quality platinum silicone. Our silicone teething toys can withstand the pressure of baby and toddler teeth, boiling water, and years of use, making them perfect gifts for growing families.
Here are a few of our most popular teething toys for babies:
1. Stacking Teething Rings
Teething rings are a classic baby toy item, but they can be so much more than the plastic ring set you are likely accustomed to seeing in stores. Teething ring sets can challenge a baby's grip, chewing, and coordination skills.
Our Stacking Teething Rings feature a variety of shapes, hardness levels, textures, and weights to promote safe and engaging exploration through teething. Moreover, our teething rings are made entirely of high-quality platinum silicone, so they are durable, long-lasting, and easy to wash in a dishwasher and sterilize with boiling water.
My own babies have enjoyed these stacking rings for months. The variety of weights and textures ensures there is a ring for every preference and developmental season!
2. Baby Food Feeder
Teething babies have inflamed, sore gums that make them feel miserable. They can even spike a low-grade fever and feel sinus discomfort. One of the most clever gifts you can give a teething baby is Moonkie's Baby Food Feeder.
When making baby food purees, put some into the Baby Food Feeder's silicone mold and freeze it. Then, load one into the teething pouch (the more solid one for young babies and the bigger one for older babies and toddlers).
The cold treat will soothe those sore gums and provide a nutritious snack to keep the baby entertained for a while. If the little one gets distracted with something else for a bit, you can pop on the provided lid and place the whole feeder into the freezer until needed again. What a clever way to promote feeding and teething relief!
3. 2-in-1 Koala Teether
If you haven't noticed yet, most of Moonkie's teething toys are designed to do more than provide teething relief. They challenge a baby's hand-eye coordination skills, sensory exploration, and gripping skills. Moonkie's 2-in-1 Koala Teether is no different!
The top of this teether is shaped like a toothbrush to introduce the toothbrushing motion, but it is entirely made of platinum silicone for safety and durability. This teether is also easy to grip in the proper position for brushing teeth, and it has a suction cup on the bottom to keep the tip clean. It is a nifty gift!
4. Silicone Phone Press Toy
If you want to purchase a baby gift that is safe for teething babies, easy to clean, perfect for long car rides, and will still be entertaining in a couple of years, then Moonkie's Silicone Phone Press Toy is the gift you are looking for!
The press and pop buttons are mesmerizing for babies, but they become even more mesmerizing once little ones are able to pop them by themselves. Since it is made entirely of high-quality silicone that is easy to clean, this phone press toy can serve as a bathtub toy, an outdoor toy, or a travel toy.
5. Lamb or Alligator Teether
Moonkie's Lamb and Alligator Teethers are simple teethers that make perfect baby stocking stuffers. Each teether's adorable design is easy for little hands to grip and is covered with a variety of textures to explore.
The large hole in the center makes attaching these teethers to a seat belt or strap straightforward. For families with multiple children, these silicone teethers will withstand teething toddlers, too, so sterilization and tiny teeth are no problem!
5 Comfort Gifts for Teething Toddlers
Some folks don't realize that toddlers also go through teething, with some cutting their teeth as late as 36 months old! Toddlers undergo rapid physical, emotional, social, and mental development, so anything that can make one of these processes easier is worth the investment.
As rough as infant teething can be, toddler teething is a whole new level, as some toddler teething coincides with potty training and fewer daytime naps. Moonkie has designed several toddler toys that are chewable for teething struggles, but also engaging and comforting.
You may have heard that toddlers should be weaned off comfort objects. Make sure you read several perspectives before making that choice. Here are some points to consider: Comfort Objects: Are They Okay for Toddlers?
1. UFO Silicone Pulling Toy
As far as engaging goes, Moonkie's UFO Silicone Pulling Toy takes the cake! All of my kids enjoy this toy, from the baby to the six-year-old. The disc is made of a rigid, high-quality plastic, while everything else is made of platinum silicone, which is safe for teething toddlers.
Each thick silicone rope features a unique pattern, making it fun to pull and listen to, and interesting to teethe on. Toddlers also find the poppers, sliding, and clicking buttons fun to fidget with. This is a long car ride favorite in my family!
2. Moonkie Hug & Go™
With so much change in a toddler's development, a wave of teething can make a toddler sleepless, irritable, and insecure (especially if they start going to daycare around this time). Gifting an adorable Moonkie Hug & Go™ buddy could be an incredibly thoughtful gift during this emotionally tumultuous time!
The cute little stuffie has a harness on the front of the backpack so the toddler can strap in his buddy as part of his or her "getting ready to go" routine. The backpack itself is the perfect size for tiny tots, yet big enough for a couple of toys, a change of clothes, and a water bottle. How functional, yet cute!
Check out Moonkie's Hug & Go™ options:
3. Sensory Spinner Toy
Does the teething toddler you have in mind enjoy fidgeting with wheels? Then he or she will love Moonkie's Sensory Spinner Toy! This surprisingly heavy spinner is made from platinum silicone, making it safe for toddler teeth and suitable for sterilization.
It also has a suction cup so it can stick on a car window, toddler bed rail, or table surface. While anchored to a surface, it can really spin, redirecting the teething crankiness to giggles and spins!
4. Silicone Training Cup with Straw
If you want to give teething toddlers a more functional gift, consider a training cup that can withstand teething. Moonkie's Silicone Training Cup with Straw is heavy-duty, so it withstands teething fussiness, drops, and even outright tantrums exceptionally well.
The cup comes with two thick silicone straws: one with a valve to slow the flow of fluid and prevent choking, and one without a valve for advanced straw use. Moonkie has a clever interlocked seal for the lid and cup that makes this training cup truly spill-free!
In my own family, I've used the same two Moonkie training cups for two kids over the years, and they have been my favorites. I love that one cup covers three drinking phases, so I don't have a drawer full of cups for each kid. Two is all I need!
5. Bunny Baby and Dino Baby Lovey
Some babies and toddlers prefer teething on fabric rather than silicone, natural rubber, or wooden toys. Such little ones will typically pick a favorite towel or blanket to carry with them and chew or suck on a corner of it. Littles with a preference for cloth may enjoy Moonkie's Baby Loveys.
Moonkie designed their Bunny Baby Lovey and Dino Baby Lovey for infants and toddlers alike, and they are adorable! They feature a variety of cloth textures, including knotted legs for super agitated gums, and a detachable silicone teether. There is even a soft rattle and crinkly ears to toy with!
Make Your Gift Ultra-Special
Moonkie gifts are beautiful, well-designed, developmentally challenging, and long-lasting, but you can make them even better by personalizing them with the little one's name!
When placing your order, simply add the personalization option for a small fee. We also offer full gift sets with personalization for grander occasions. They come in either standard boxes or Luxe Boxes (chic gift boxes with a faux leather handle).
Many of the teether toy options I listed above also come in gift sets. Here are our gift set options:
In a Nutshell
Giving a gift that teething little ones will love and grow with is a thoughtful way to bless a young family trying to survive their child's irritability and sleeplessness. Thankfully, Moonkie has you covered with high-quality silicone teething toys and products designed with safety and development in mind!
Teething is a tough process, but this too shall pass!
