Teether on the floor again: what to do when you're out with the pram

7 min read

Quick answer: If a teether lands on a café floor or the pavement, put it away and give your baby a clean spare. Wash the dropped one at home using its own cleaning instructions. A rinse under clean running water is a fallback when there's no spare. Never fix a teether to a cord round your baby's neck.

What parents need to know

Teethers get dropped all the time, especially once your baby can grip, wave and throw. On a walk, that usually means wet pavement, grit or a café floor.

UK health guidance doesn't set a rule for teethers dropped outdoors. It's much clearer on attaching them. The NHS and RoSPA both warn against anything tied round a baby's neck, so the realistic answers are a spare in the changing bag and a teether that's harder to drop.

Rinse or swap: what to do with a dropped teether

The NHS sterilising guidance covers bottles, teats and other feeding equipment until your baby is at least 12 months old. It doesn't mention teethers, so cleaning one comes down to the maker's instructions. For example, the Koda Koala Teething Pair listing says to clean it with water and rinse it after each use. It can also go in the dishwasher, in boiling water or in a steam steriliser.

Out with the pram, the simplest habit is to swap and wash later. Put the dropped teether in a separate bag, hand over a clean one and clean the dropped one properly at home. If you have no spare, a rinse under clean running water at least removes grit and crumbs. Then give it a full wash once you're home.

Dropped on a pavement, a café floor or anywhere you can't see what it touched: swap it for a spare and wash it at home
No spare with you: rinse it under a clean tap, never with water from a puddle or a used cup
Back home: clean it using the method in its instructions, and look for splits or damage while you're at it

Why cords should never go round your baby's neck

Tying a teether on stops it hitting the floor, but the safety advice is clear. The NHS says never to tie a teething ring round your baby's neck because it could be a choking hazard. The Oral Health Foundation gives the same advice.

RoSPA explains that there's a strangulation risk with any cord round a child's neck, especially a baby's. It does not advocate any cord being placed round a baby's neck at any time. Its concerns about amber teething necklaces also include beads and clasps coming loose and becoming a choking hazard.

Leave any cord off and pack a spare teether instead.

Woman in beige sleeveless shirt carrying baby in white shirt

Packing the changing bag so a clean teether is always to hand

Two teethers and somewhere clean to keep them cover most trips. Pack them last so they sit at the top of the bag.

Pack two clean teethers. Keep each one in its own clean, lidded box or zip bag, so the spare stays clean while the first one is in use
Bring a bag for dropped ones. A separate pouch keeps a dirty teether away from the clean spare and everything else in the bag
Chill at home, not in the freezer. Some teething rings can be cooled in the fridge before you leave, following their instructions. The NHS says never to freeze them, because a frozen ring could damage your baby's gums
Add a soft cloth. Teething can mean more dribbling, and the NHS says gently wiping your baby's face may help prevent a rash
Pack food to chew from 6 months. If your baby is 6 months or older and has started solids, give them soft foods to chew, such as ripe melon or banana or well-cooked vegetables cut into suitable pieces. Soft fruit like melon can soothe gums. Stay with your baby while they eat in case they choke

Try this. Choose a spare that looks different from the everyday teether. When it comes out of the bag you'll know it's the clean one, even after a long day.

Teething beliefs that come up on days out

These ideas often come up on a walk or at baby group. Each one sits alongside what the guidance says.

What parents often hear

What the guidance says

“A cord round the neck stops the teether getting lost”

The NHS says never tie a teething ring round your baby's neck, and RoSPA does not advocate any cord round a baby's neck at any time

“An amber necklace will help with teething”

RoSPA has raised concerns that the beads and clasps can come loose and cause choking, and that the cord can strangle

“A frozen teether soothes better”

The NHS says never put a teething ring in the freezer, because it could damage your baby's gums. If its instructions say it can be chilled, cool it in the fridge instead

“Teething gel should be the first thing you try”

The NHS says there's a lack of evidence that gels work, and suggests teething rings or sugar-free pain relief first

“A rusk is a handy thing to chew while you're out”

The NHS advises avoiding rusks, because nearly all brands contain some sugar

Cutting down on drops with a wearable teether

A teether that stays on your baby's hand falls on the floor less often, and it does this without a cord. The Koda Koala Teething Pair comes with a silicone koala mitten and a handheld remote-shaped teether with raised buttons. The mitten has an open design that lets air move around your baby's fingers.

Swap between the two pieces, and keep one clean in the bag while your baby uses the other. Both pieces come in the same colour: blue, plum, cream, teal or pink.

From Infatot

Koda Koala Teething Pair

The mitten stays on your baby's hand so it hits the floor less often, and the handheld teether is a ready spare.

See the product

Practical checklist

Pack two clean teethers, each in its own lidded box or bag
Keep a separate pouch for any teether that's been dropped
Swap a dropped teether for the spare and wash it at home
If a teething ring's instructions allow it, chill it in the fridge, never the freezer
Never put a cord round your baby's neck
Clean each teether using its own instructions

Frequently asked questions

Can I give my baby pain relief for teething while we're out?

If your baby seems in pain or distressed and comforting or a teething ring hasn't helped, a sugar-free children's paracetamol can be given from 2 months. The Oral Health Foundation says ibuprofen can be given from 3 months if your baby weighs more than 5kg. Follow the dose on the label for your baby's age or weight, and ask a pharmacist if you're unsure. Children under 16 should not have aspirin.

What if teething seems to be making my baby properly unwell?

The Oral Health Foundation says teething doesn't usually cause serious illness. There is no strong evidence that it causes diarrhoea or a high fever. If your baby seems very unwell or you're worried, contact your doctor.