Baby teethers: neem wood and natural teething toys

When do babies start teething and when do they need a teether

Most babies show the first signs of teething between 3 and 6 months: more drool, hands in the mouth, gnawing on anything within reach and a few grumpy evenings. The first tooth usually appears around 6 months, and some babies take until their first birthday, which is normal too. A teether earns its place as soon as your baby starts mouthing things, because gentle pressure on the gum is what soothes, and the mouth is how babies explore texture, weight and temperature in the first year.

Wood works well here because it is firm and cool to the touch, and neem wood is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, which is why most teethers here are neem. Babies at the 0 to 6 months stage tend to hold a teether with both hands and gum it; by the 6 to 12 months stage they bite down with the front teeth, rotate the shape and pass it from hand to hand.

Neem wood teether vs silicone teether

Silicone teethers are soft and bendy, and they suit babies who like to squish and suck. A wooden teether gives firmer counter-pressure on a swollen gum, and its weight and texture give the hands more to learn from.

Neem wood adds three things. It is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, so it suits an object that lives in a baby's mouth. Our neem teether set is 100% natural neem wood with a smooth, hand-finished surface, BIS approved and free from BPA and phthalates, and both the set of four and the interlocking discs are uncoated, so the surface your baby chews is the wood itself. And the shapes are light: they are designed to be passed from one hand to the other, which is how both sides of the brain start working together.

How to choose a teether for a newborn

Five things to check, in order:

1. Age on the page. In this collection the newborn neem gift box starts at 1 month, the rainbow ribbon teether and the rolling drum rattle at 2 months, and the neem teether set and interlocking discs at 3 months.
2. Weight and grip. A newborn's grasp is a reflex, so pick something light with a ring or a bar the fingers can close around. The ribbon teether is a light beech ring your baby's fingers close around, and the rolling drum rattle has vertical bars they slip between.
3. Material and finish. Look for solid natural wood with a smooth surface. The neem teether set, the interlocking discs and the newborn gift box are BIS approved, and the ribbon teether pairs a natural beech wood ring with fabric ribbons.
4. One shape, or several. A single teether is enough to start. The set of four adds an Elephant with a grip hole for hand-to-hand transfer, a Dove with smooth curves for sore gums, and a Hippo shape both fists can hold, so there is something for each stage of teething.
5. Your presence. Stay close while your baby uses any teether, and give every piece a regular look so a well-loved teether keeps doing its job.

How to clean a wooden teether

Wipe it with a clean, damp cloth after use and let it air-dry completely before it goes back in the mouth. Wood keeps its smooth finish when it dries in the air, so a wipe is all it needs. Give each piece a regular look before play. For the ribbon teether, wipe the wooden ring the same way and air-dry the ribbons after a spot clean.

Best teethers for babies 3 to 12 months: our picks

1. Neem Wood Teethers, Set of 4: four shapes in 100% natural neem wood (Interlocking Discs, Elephant, Dove and Hippo), each one exercising a different grip and a different part of the gum, for 3 to 18 months. BIS approved.
2. Interlocking Discs Neem Teether: neem discs locked together that roll and rotate, uncoated and sized for 3 to 18 month old hands. The place to start if you want a single teether.
3. Rainbow Ribbon Teether: a natural beech wood ring with seven rainbow ribbons, held in the hand or hung on the cot and play gym, from 2 months to 3 years.
4. Newborn Neem Gift Box: a rolling drum rattle, interlocking discs and a dove teether, all neem wood with a food-grade finish, BIS certified, from 1 to 12 months.
5. Rolling Drum Rattle: a neem wood drum with three coloured balls inside, bars the fingers grip through, and a smooth surface that doubles as a teething surface, from 2 to 18 months.
6. High Contrast Jungle Cloth Book: a crinkle cloth book with a natural neem wood teether ring attached, so vision practice and gum relief happen in one piece, from birth to 12 months.

Gifting a newborn? The Newborn Neem Gift Box puts a rolling drum rattle, interlocking discs and a dove teether in one box, and it suits a baby shower, naming ceremony, godh bharai or annaprashan. The set of four is the pick for a first-birthday hamper.

Questions parents ask about baby teethers

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