Bright Starts Lots of Links

On average, a baby gets his or her first tooth around the age of 6 months, although this can happen as early as 3 months. The teething process can be quite uncomfortable for bab, and during that time, you may notice more mouthing of objects, excessive drooling and irritability. Fortunately, there are teething rings you can use to help your precious angel get relief.

When shopping for teething rings, it is important to make sure the item is BPA, latex and phthalate-free. Your infant is going to be mouthing the rings, and you don’t want him or her ingesting any toxins.

Next, examine the construction of the teething ring to make sure it won’t come apart in your baby’s mouth. For example, the Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether was made using a non-choking design. Parents can feel at ease when giving this teething ring to their child.

While looking at the design, determine whether the handle is made for tiny fingers and easy to hold. Even if your baby is too young to hold the teether at first, you want him to be able to hold it himself later on.

Check that the teething ring is able to provide relief for your baby. The Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys features Nuby’s PurICE technology that cools when placed in the refrigerator. The lower temperature gently cools your baby’s sore gums.

Some teething rings offer more than one benefit, like the Baby Banana Infant Training Toothbrush and Teether. This teether can be placed in the refrigerator, like the Nuby, but it also has soft silicone bristles that allow you to introduce teeth brushing to your baby. This gets your baby used to the practice and reinforces good oral hygiene habits at an early age.

Consider buying items that are complementary to the teething ring. Bright Starts Lots of Links are toy links that can be chewed on, but work best to attach toys and teething rings to car seats, play gyms and bouncy seats.

• Some teethers require parents to sterilize them in a pot of boiling water before the first use. Make sure you fully read the handling and care instructions on the product label.
• Always check to see if the teething ring can be placed in the dishwasher. Those that can’t must be cleaned by hand, using warm water and mild liquid soap. Rinse thoroughly and then dry the teether with a lint-free cloth.
• Never place a teething ring in the freezer. Refrigerators get the teethers cold enough to provide relief to your baby without the risk of bruising the gums or getting frostbite.
• If your baby develops a fever or isn’t getting enough relief from the teether, you may also need to administer an infant pain reliever. Talk to your pediatrician to determine the best pain reliever, the correct dosage amount and the recommended dosing schedule.
• When choosing a teething ring for an older baby, you want to make sure that the ring’s design reaches the back molars. First molars generally make their appearance somewhere around 13 to 19 months of age. Second molars are expected sometime between 23 and 33 months.
• Some teething rings come with textured surfaces. These are designed to help emerging teeth break through the gums. They are also great for massaging baby’s gums.
• As soon as your baby’s first tooth appears, you can begin using a toothbrush. Soft bristles are a must, and it is recommended that you use water with a smidge of fluoride toothpaste that is no bigger than a grain of rice.
• Fortunately, each of the teething rings comes at an affordable price.