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Teething toys UK: what helps and what to skip

Which teething toys help, from silicone teethers to Sophie la girafe; what to avoid, including amber necklaces and teething gels; and UK listings to compare.

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By BabyNido editorial team · Published · Last updated

4 min read2 sourcesHow we researched this

A simple rubber teething ring on a wooden high-chair tray

Links marked with * are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our links work. This is a desk-researched buying guide.

Do you need teething toys for a newborn?

No. Newborns chew fists and muslins long before a giraffe is useful. Buy a teether when they actually gnaw, not because Amazon ranks sensory sets. Black-and-white toys are for supervised tummy time. Nothing hanging in a sleep space overnight. Sophie is a gift, not a milestone.

Source: NHS — Tips for helping your teething baby (checked 13 Aug 2026).

NHS teething tips include a teething ring and a clean finger. They do not name a brand. Amazon toy bestsellers include Sophie, Lamaze clip-on toys and black-and-white sets (checked 13 Aug 2026). Volume is not a need.

Teether, dummy or amber necklace — which is safe?

A one-piece teether you can wash is the shopping product. A dummy is a soother, not a chew toy — dummies. Skip amber, beads and jewellery marketed for teething: they can break or strangle. Skip gel you have not had a pharmacist name. Skip filling a dummy with anything sweet.

ItemChoose ifSkip if
One-piece silicone or rubber ringThey are gnawing and you can wash itIt has small parts that unscrew
Sophie-style gift teetherYou want a named gift they can chew laterIt would live in the cot
Sensory black-and-white setSupervised floor timeOvernight in the Moses basket
Teething necklace / amberNever as our pickAlways skip jewellery they wear to chew

Can teething toys go in the cot?

Not as bedding. The Lullaby Trust wants a clear cot. A teether is for awake, watched time. If they fall asleep chewing, move them to the firm flat mattress without the toy. Clip-on pram toys are for the pram, not the sleep space.

Source: The Lullaby Trust — Safer sleep advice (checked 13 Aug 2026).

Which teethers and sensory toys are worth comparing?

Compare Sophie, a simple silicone teether, and a black-and-white set — not a ranked best toy. We have not chew-tested them. Skip jewellery teethers. Check the exact listing, pack size and seller before you buy. Floor play still belongs on a mat, not in the cot.

Ad · affiliate link Compare teethers at John Lewis*

Example UK options to compare, not a ranked best-of. We have not lab-tested them. Model checks are dated where available. Affiliate links (*). Check the exact listing, seller and included parts before buying.

  • Teethers · Amazon UK

    Sophie la girafe teether

    A teether to compare for supervised use. Check it is intact, cleanable, and not a cot toy overnight.

    Skip if: You would leave it in the sleep space, or they are not teething yet and a muslin is enough.

    Ad · affiliate link Compare Sophie la girafe on Amazon UK*

    Read the buying guide

  • Teethers · Amazon UK

    Silicone teething toy

    A simple chewable. Compare one-piece silicone you can wash, not a bead necklace they can break.

    Skip if: It is a teething necklace or bracelet — skip jewellery they can choke on or chew off.

    Ad · affiliate link Compare silicone teethers on Amazon UK*

    Read the buying guide

  • Teethers · Amazon UK

    Black and white sensory toy set

    Check the stated age suitability and instructions. Supervised tummy time, not a cot mobile that stays in overnight.

    Skip if: You would put it in the Moses basket to “help them sleep”.

    Ad · affiliate link Compare newborn sensory toys on Amazon UK*

    Read the buying guide

Are teething toys a good newborn gift?

A simple teether with a receipt is fine for later. A huge sensory bundle for a two-week-old is storage. Muslins still win on day one — muslin cloths. Skip anything with a rattle too small to be EN71-obvious on the listing.

We will not invent a lab result. If the listing will not show a toy standard, do not pay a gift premium.

When is teething not a toy problem?

When they have a fever, a rash, or you are worried they are unwell — that is NHS advice, not a harder teether. Teething gels and powders are a pharmacist conversation. This page will not dose anything. A toy does not treat illness.

If they are chewing because they are hungry, feed them. A toy is not a meal.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best teething toy in the UK?

There is no honest winner we have tested. A one-piece washable teether is the filter. Sophie is a popular gift, not a medical device. Skip necklaces.

Can I put a teether in the freezer?

Follow the maker. NHS mentions a teething ring; it does not require a freeze. Do not freeze liquid-filled toys until they split. Never in the cot.

Are amber teething necklaces safe?

We say skip. Beads and cords are a choking and strangulation risk. They are not a BabyNido pick.

Check the evidence

Sources & how to use this guide

Our recommendations use published guidance and product information. We have not physically tested these products. Check the exact model, instructions and retailer listing before buying.

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