Teething can be a stressful time for both you and your little one. It can cause your baby a lot of pain and discomfort, causing many sleepless nights! The best way of relieving this pain is to give your little one a teething ring. Here are our top tips for choosing the right teething ring for your baby.
Make sure the teething ring doesn’t have any small pieces
Some teething rings are decorated with small beads and other such pieces to make them appear more attractive to babies. However, these pose a potential choking hazard if they become loose. It is much safer for baby, to use a solid teething ring with no added decorative pieces.
Avoid liquid filled teething rings
Quite a few teething rings on the market today are filled with liquids that are harmful to babies if ingested. They can be full of bacteria and can pose both a choking hazard and make your little one poorly.
Avoid using teething rings that have chemicals
Some teething rings can contain some dangerous chemicals, such as phthalates or bisphenol A. These chemicals are usually added to plastic to make it more flexible but these could leak out and be ingested, which may cause medical problems for baby.
Avoid putting the teething ring in the freezer
It is often recommended that you should freeze your teething ring to soothe sore gums, but this is not the best idea. Freezing the ring can make it very firm and could bruise baby’s gums if they bit down too hard or they could also cause baby to get frostbite. Try refrigerating your little one’s teething ring, as this will make it cold enough to soothe your baby’s gums whilst avoiding the risks associated with freezing the teething ring.
Make sure your baby sees a paediatric dentist
Before your little one’s first birthday, you should take them to see a paediatric dentist. The dentist can check the progress of your baby’s teething, check for any problems and generally provide advice and alleviate any concerns you may have.
