Best Baby Teethers UK (2026): A Parent's Buying Guide

Quick answer: The best baby teether for most UK families is a soft silicone teether that's easy for small hands to grip and suitable from birth, always supervised. In Women's Health's 2025 round-up of the best teething toys, the Infatot MultiTexture Baby Teether was named Best Overall and the Infatot Koda Koala Teething Pair won Best Teething Mitten. Below we compare teethers by age, material and how you'll use them.

What parents need to know

Sore gums, endless chewing, a baby who suddenly wants everything in their mouth — teething has a way of arriving without warning, and the choice of teethers on offer can feel overwhelming when you're tired and just want something that helps.

How to choose a baby teether: the 4 things that matter

1. Material safety. Look for food-grade silicone, BPA-free, PVC-free and phthalate-free. In the UK, a teether should carry UKCA or CE marking and meet the BS EN 71 toy-safety standard.
2. Age suitability. Some teethers are suitable from birth, always supervised; others suit the 6-month+ chewing stage.
3. Grip and shape. Newborns need lightweight, easy-to-hold shapes. Rings and barbell shapes are easiest for tiny hands.
4. Cleaning. Solid one-piece silicone is easiest to keep clean. Avoid liquid- or gel-filled teethers.

Comparison: Infatot teether range at a glance

Our picks by need

• Best overall teether (Women’s Health, 2025): MultiTexture Sea Teether, soft silicone and natural wood with 10 textures, suitable from birth to 24 months, always supervised.
• Best teething mitten (Women’s Health, 2025): Koda Koala Teething Pair. A wearable mitten plus a handheld teether; a popular new-baby gift.
• Best first teether for a newborn: Barbell Buddy. Soft, light and shaped for the easiest grip.
• For sensory play at the high chair: Suction Toy: a play toy rather than a teether, with silicone arms and wooden rings on suction feet. Use it on a high-chair tray only once your baby can sit upright, and check the suction grip, as it varies with the surface.
• Best for on-the-go: Koda Koala Bitey Pair: soft silicone shaped for small hands to grip, and it comes as a pair, so one can stay at home and one in the changing bag.

Silicone vs wood teethers: which is better?

Both are good when made to UK safety standards. Silicone is soft on sore gums, easy to clean and sterilise, and gentle for newborns. Wood is firmer and offers more texture. Combined wood-and-silicone teethers, like the MultiTexture, give you both in one toy. Wood and silicone need different care, so follow the care instructions on the pack. The MultiTexture's product page says not to put the assembled toy in a dishwasher, steriliser or boiling water.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best baby teether in the UK?

In Women’s Health’s 2025 testing, the Infatot MultiTexture Baby Teether was rated the best overall teething toy for babies, with the Koda Koala Teething Pair named the best teething mitten.

What is the safest baby teether?

The safest teethers are one-piece, food-grade silicone (or natural wood) with no small detachable parts, no liquid or gel filling, and UKCA/CE marking to the BS EN 71 standard.

What age can babies use a teether?

Some silicone teethers are suitable from birth, always supervised. Most babies start teething at around 6 months, but some start before 4 months and some after 12 months.

Can you put a teether in the fridge or freezer?

Never put a teether in the freezer, as it could damage your baby's gums if it gets frozen. Some teethers can be cooled in the fridge first, which may help to soothe your baby's gums, but only chill one if its own instructions allow it, and for the time they state.

How do you clean a silicone teether?

Follow the care instructions on the pack, as methods differ between teethers. Only use a dishwasher, steriliser or boiling water if those instructions allow it. One-piece silicone teethers are easiest to keep hygienic.