One of the most difficult periods after birth is teething. We have done some research on teethers , which are one of the biggest helpers during the teething process that challenges both the baby and those around him . We have discussed topics such as whether to use a teether, whether the teether is harmful for the baby, how to choose a teether one by one. Here is the information we have obtained about teether products:
What is a Baby Teether and What Does It Do?
The baby instinctively scratches the palate to make teeth erupt more easily. They use objects, objects, hard foods, even the silicone tip of a bottle to scratch their teeth. Some toys and tools have been developed to help the baby in this process and whose sole purpose is to scratch the gums. We call these teether products for babies . However, they actually scratch the gums and palate, not the teeth. Now, let’s answer some questions about teethers:
1.Is It Harmful to Use a Teether?
A baby’s need to rub its itchy palate is natural and should not be interfered with. However, the question of where to rub is important. For a baby who does not know which objects or objects around him/her are harmful or dirty, almost everything can be used for this purpose. Keys, cell phones, remote controls, glass cups, forks, toys, the hard part of a chair, the nipple of a bottle, their own fingers, etc..
Here, you can help him meet his need to scratch more safely with a product that can be washed and that he cannot harm himself. Teethers can be used safely because they are produced for this purpose. Of course, there may be teether toys on the market that you cannot trust. So, how do we choose a teether?
2.How to Choose a Teether?
- Must not contain sharp parts that could harm the baby
- There should be no pointy parts
- It should not have a shape suitable for the baby to put it in the throat
- The shape should make it impossible for the baby to swallow.
- It should be disinfectable with a sterilizer or boiling water.
- It should not contain items such as string, fabric, tassels, etc. that are not suitable to enter the mouth.
3.What are the Types of Teethers?
There are baby teethers in many different shapes, features and made of different materials. We can list them as follows:
- Teethers in the shape of toys
- Ring-shaped teethers
- Aqueous teethers
4.What is an Aqueous Teether?
Juicy baby teethers have become very popular in recent years. They are basically made of a silicone material. It contains colored drinking water. The baby never comes into contact with this water anyway. You put the water teether ring (usually in the shape of a ring) in the freezer, freeze it and then give it to the baby. Thanks to this feature, it offers a relaxing massage experience that the baby’s palate has never experienced before.
5.How to Clean a Teether?
The answer to the question: yes! Because this object, which the baby constantly takes into his mouth, has to be clean. The accumulation of oral bacteria on the object over time, as well as the possibility of it falling on the floor and being passed from hand to hand, makes it a very dangerous object. Many parents avoid using teethers for this reason alone. However, it should not be forgotten that these products relieve the baby during the teething period when the baby is in great distress. Let’s answer the question of how to clean a teether:
- A cleaning should be done according to the nature of the teether product.
- Clean watery baby teething products under warm water with baby dishwashing detergent and allow to dry on a clean paper towel. Do not allow them to come into contact with anything else.
- Wash fabric teething toys in the washing machine on high cycle without detergent.
- You can also sterilize other toys by placing them in boiling water.
6.What Can Be Used Instead of a Teether?
If you can’t or don’t want to buy a teether, you can help your baby in other ways. Let’s give a few examples:
- You can give a large, hard carrot to your baby after cutting it short, washing it thoroughly and peeling it. Be careful not to give a thin and breakable carrot so that no pieces get into the baby’s throat.
- A thick slice of apple-pear-quince can do the same.
Pay Attention to Bottle Selection for Palate Development!
Choosing the right bottle is also very important for the palate development of babies. Negligence such as not buying the appropriate product by paying attention to how old the baby is when choosing the bottle, not paying attention to the flow rate of the bottle nipple can cause malnutrition and adversely affect the palate development of the baby.