Teethers
Teether
— a specific kind of toys designed to “make life easier” for both the child and others during teething. In fact, it is not even so much a toy as an additional hygienic accessory.During teething, the baby experiences severe itching in the gums. The easiest way to get rid of this itch is to chew on something; moreover, any objects that come to hand in time, as well as their own fingers and fists, can act as this “something”. If this is not possible, the baby becomes capricious, sleeps poorly and causes a lot of trouble for the household. Therefore, instead of struggling with chewing "everything", it is better to give the child a specially designed object for this — a teether.
Teethers can be made from a variety of materials, both elastic (latex, silicone, rubber) and hard (plastic, wood). In general, the first variety is considered the most suitable — soft products are the least traumatic. However, in some cases, a harder massage of the gums may be required, so you will have to find a product that is firmer. It all depends on the preferences of the baby.
Also note some features of the most popular materials. So, latex is a natural polymeric material; it is the softest and most elastic, but wears out quickly. In addition, latex products may have a specific taste and smell that the baby may not like. And if your baby is prone to allergies, this material should be used with caution — it is considered hypoallergenic, but does not give a 100% guarantee (due to natural origin). In turn, silicone is deservedly considered an perfect material in terms of hygiene — it is hypoallergenic, tasteless and odorless, and if necessary, such products can be washed in hot water and even boiled. On the other hand, silicone teethers are noticeably harder. Plastic, in turn, is most often not elastic at all; such products are designed mainly for cases where a soft teether is not enough. The same goes for the wood; at the same time, many consider this material to be an perfect choice due to its “naturalness”, however, wood does not have any noticeable advantages over the plastic (moreover, it is inferior to it in general practicality and convenience), but it costs much more.
In addition to materials, teethers also vary markedly in shape. Recommendations say that the shape should be "anatomical" so as not to interfere with the formation of a normal bite. However, if you are not an orthodontist, it can be quite difficult to determine the "anatomy". Often it is mentioned on the packaging or in the instructions, but if you have any doubts, it's ok to talk with a pediatrician about a particular toy.
Also, speaking about the shape, it is worth mentioning that teething in a baby occurs in three conditional stages: first the lower front teeth, then the upper front teeth, then all the rest (lateral and distant). Each of these stages has its own characteristics, and corresponding teethers are produced for them. However, there are universal toys that are suitable for the entire period of growth of milk teeth.
Finally, we note that when choosing, do not forget about the tastes and preferences of the child. In fact, even perfect teether becomes useless if the baby refuses to take it. So if such an “perfect” option did not work, you can try a simpler toy; the main thing is that it should not be harmful (in particular, it should not spoil the bite).