If you’re a parent, finding the right toys for your kids is definitely going to be one of your biggest priorities. And, over the years, different toys have been developed to keep children preoccupied while parents take care of them.
One of these toys is teethers. And, as you can imagine, silicone has become a major material for the manufacturing of these toys. However, considering that there have been several questions about silicone teething straws, we decided to look into whether they are safe and what parents need to know about them.
Teething and Its Challenges
Teething has grown as a major consideration for parents and their children over the years. So, what are its dynamics, and how do parents generally work their way with it?
What is Teething?
As a child develops, one of the most significant challenges that parents would have to face is teething.
Essentially, teething refers to the process where a child’s first teeth start to emerge. So, how long do babies use teethers? Well, for most kids, teething starts around the 4-month period. However, there have also been cases where teething is delayed up to 6 or 7 months. And, the process can easily last until the child is about 3 or 4 years old.
It’s understandable that many parents don’t like teething – it can be painful for the children, and they in turn get quite irritable. However, teething is a natural process that is part of a child’s development.
Signs and Symptoms of Teething
In general, you can find that your children are teething when you start to notice some of these symptoms:
- Irritability: During the teething process, babies start to get fussier and more irritable.
- Drooling: The development of teeth also coincides with higher saliva production. This can lead to drools.
- Gum Swelling and Sensitivity: As the teeth develop, the gums become red and swollen, while also growing more sensitive.
- Chewing and Biting: Of course, babies will feel the urge to bite or chew objects to relieve some of the pressure that’s been building on their gums.
- Low-Grade Fever: There are also cases where babies develop higher body temperatures during teething. It isn’t an illness, though – instead, it’s just the body’s response to the process generally.
Silicone As A Solution For Teething
What Is A Silicone Teether Made Of?
When children start to experience teething, then parents will want to get a natural rubber teether for them.
Over the years, different materials have been used to make the types of teethers that can have kids feeling comfortable and make the entire teething process more bearable. And, silicone has grown to become one of the more popular options for teether manufacturing.
When it comes to teethers, food grade silicone has been the silicone variant of choice for making this tool. The material is known for its safety and non-toxic nature, both of which make it perfect for babies to chew on while they teether.
Remember – one of the major symptoms of teething in babies is that they try to test out their new teeth on just about anything. And, when they bite things, you want to make sure that they are safe and protected from germs. Food grade silicone fills this void perfectly.
Food grade silicone is a type of synthetic polymer that comes from a mixture of Silicon (Si), Hydrogen (H), Carbon (C), and Oxygen (O) atoms. It is durable and flexible, while also especially being perfect for human consumption.
Properties of Silicone
Here is a better understanding of the formulation and composition requirements for a silicone teether ring or a rubber teether.
Food-Grade Silicone:
As explained earlier, textured teethers are made from a specific form of silicone known as food grade silicone. It is a silicone variant that has gone through different testing modules to ensure that it is safe from any hazardous chemicals – including lead, phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and more.
Soft and Chewable Texture:
In general, silicone rubber teething toys are built to have a soft and chewable exterior. This provides the right, relaxing sensation for a baby and offers relief for their sore gums as they bite down on it.
Shapes and Designs:
Manufacturers of a soft silicone teether also take great care to provide them in different designs and shapes. In most cases, you’d find the teethers resembling everyday items and characters that children might relate with and be attracted to.
As long as the designs can be molded into the silicone as part of the manufacturing process, there isn’t much of an issue.
Safety Features:
Despite the inherent safety of food grade silicone, many silicone teethers also come with additional safety features – from oops to handles – that make them easily accessible and handled.
Intricate designs for these silicone baby toys also ensure that they prevent choking hazards.
Operational Durability
When designed properly, a silicone baby teether will be able to stand the test of time. Your baby will be able to chew on it for as long as the teething issue persists, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.
Ease of Cleaning:
Considering that your baby will have to use this teether several times, you want to make sure that cleaning it is easy enough. Fortunately, you won’t have an issue with that when you get non toxic chewing toys made out of silicone.
Safety Parameters With Silicone Teether
Considering that they are chewed by children, there is no overstating the importance of safety precautions and parameters when it comes to silicone chew beads and teethers. And, for manufacturers, it is beyond critical to understand the safety regulations and precautions that need to be taken when making these products.
Regulatory Standards
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Regulations
The Food And Drug Administration has long had its eye on silicone baby teethers in a bid to police them and their use. Here are some interesting things to note according to the agency and its classification:
- Food-Contact Materials and Regulations: As far as the FDA is concerned, silicone baby teethers are classified under “food-contact materials.” This is because babies place them in their mouths. Already, the agency has rules that govern the use of food-contact materials to ensure that they are indeed safe for the use you intend.
- Food-Grade Silicone: As such, every form of silicone that is used in baby teethers will need to meet FDA regulations and standards for safety. The material needs to be formulated and processed in a way that doesn’t introduce any hazardous substances or contaminants into the baby’s system.
- Lead Content: The FDA is also particular about regulating the content of lead in childrens’ products. And as you can imagine, this includes teethers as well. These rules are designed to cut lead content as much as possible, ensuring that children barely come in contact with them – if at all.
- Labeling and Packaging: Regulations from the FDA also cover packaging and labeling requirements for baby teethers. This means that manufacturers will need to clearly state the details of the product and its materials – as well as the parameters for use.
- Testing and Certification: When you create a silicone teether, it is on you to ensure that it meets FDA safety standards. You would need to conduct tests and risk assessments to confirm that the product is in proper compliance with relevant laws, and in some cases, you might need to contact a third-party testing agency to help with this.
- Recalls and Safety Alerts: Finally, the FDA keeps a close eye on the safety of all baby products. If any teether is found to be dangerous, it will need to be recalled in a bid to protect consumers.
Now, it is worth noting that the FDA’s rules concerning safety can be varied over time. The agency tries to keep its rules up to date, and as a manufacturer, your job is to always remain in the know. This way, you can create the best non toxic teething toys for kids.
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards
The ASTM is an agency that publishes standards of production for several materials and products that operate across different fields. Like the FDA, it has also established several standards that guide the development and use of baby teethers.
At the moment, here are some critical standards and regulations that you might want to keep in mind if you’re creating a silicone bead teether:
ASTM F963 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety:
In general, this standard mostly applies to toys and playthings. However, there is an argument to be made that baby teethers qualify as toys as well. With ASTM F963, you have a standard that sets the safety requirements that address any possible dangers of toys such as a non toxic teether.
The requirement sonvers aspects such as ingestion, choking, sharp points, and more. And, for many manufacturers, referencing this standard will go a long way in optimizing product safety.
ASTM F3118 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Inclined Sleep Products:
These days, you have several baby teethers that are built to be attached to sleep products like bassinets. As such, ASTM F3118 provides a look into the ASTM’s requirements for safety as far as these products are concerned.
The standard covers aspects such as structural integrity, operational stability, and even the right labeling rules.
ASTM F2236 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Soft Infant and Toddler Carriers:
If you’re creating silicone baby products that will be attached to infant carriers, then you probably want to keep an eye on ASTM F2236 may apply. The standard puts forth safety requirements for these carriers, affecting aspects such as design and build.
ASTM F3274 – Standard Specification for Consumer Product Safety for Sling Carriers:
If your teether will come attached to a sling carrier, then ASTM F3274 will most likely apply to your product. The standard rules anything that has to do with sling carriers, and it focuses primarily on labels, durability, and more.
ASTM F2388 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Baby Changing Products for Domestic Use:
For teethers that come as part of baby changing products, the ASTM F2388 guidelines set the required safety requirements.
Compliance with these laws will be more than important if you want to bring a silicone baby teether to market. However, it is also important for you to remember that these laws change over time. So, to ensure that you’re in line, you want to keep an eye on them and tweak the parameters of your product to keep them in check.
Potential Hazards to Avoid With Teethers
Ideally, a silicone teether should be made in a way that is entirely safe and free of any hazards. However, these products can sometimes be a bit finicky to work with. And, as a manufacturer – or a consumer, there are several possible hazards you want to keep clear of as far as they are concerned:
Choking Hazard:
A teether should be developed in such a way that there are no small parts or components that could break off and pose a possible choking hazard. Parents should be wary of this and select those that are designed either as single pieces or which have securely attached parts.
Toxic Materials:
At every turn, parents should ensure that teethers are made from food grade silicone. As for manufacturers, this should be made clear on labels to ensure that customers understand the unique value propositions of the teethers.
Unsanitary Conditions:
Teethers should also be cleaned at all times to ensure that they are free of germs. They should not be placed on dirty surfaces or allowed to come in contact with any dirty objects.
At Legenday, we always focus on making our silicone baby products with food grade silicone material. However, we also recommend washing teethers and other products with warm, soapy water. Rinsing should be thorough, and we ensure that our teethers are also dishwasher-safe.
Temperature Extremes:
Is silicone safe for babies? Yes, it is. However, you also want to avoid exposing the teethers to extreme temperatures. Some teethers are designed to offer relief through chilling, they shouldn’t be frozen as excess cold can harm your baby’s gums.
We at legendary will provide the right instructions for you to follow so you know how best to ensure the safety of your baby teethers.
Sharp Edges or Points:
Teethers should generally not be built with sharp edges or rough surfaces. Also, manufacturers should avoid points that could injure babies’ gums. As for parents, the best non toxic teething toys are those that have smooth edges along them.
Supervision:
It is important for parents to avoid leaving their babies supervised. We at Legenday produce our silicone baby teethers to be as safe as possible, but you also want to ensure that your child is able to use it in a safe manner. And, that requires proper vigilance.
Supervise your baby while it teeths, and ensure that it uses its teethers safely.
Allergic Reactions:
It is pretty rare for silicone to cause any allergic reactions. However, the material should still be used under watchful eyes. Some children have allergies to silicone, so you want to make sure your child doesn’t react to the material before purchasing any silicone teethers.
Through proper vigilance and an adherence to the right guidelines, parents and caregivers can ensure that their babies use silicone teethers the right way – and the effective way – to provide relief during the critical teething process.
How To Select Safe Silicone Teethers
As a parent, a critical decision you would have to make when it comes to silicone teethers is selecting a safe option for your child. To do this, you need to consider several factors that ensure you’re getting a high-quality product that’s free of any potential hazards.
To that end, we recommend the following:
Choose Reputable Brands:
At every point, you should be aware of the brand that’s supplying you with the baby teethers. At Legenday, we have a track record that speaks for us as well as the quality of our products. So, you can rest assured that our teethers are of the perfect quality.
Check for Age Appropriateness:
You also need to ensure that the teether you choose is appropriate for your child’s development and age. Some teethers work better for infants, while others are more suited for toddlers.
Look for Safety Certifications:
Keep an eye on the teether you choose and whether it aligns with any of the safety regulations we already mentioned above. These regulations were put forth to ensure safety at all times, and we recognize their importance as we design our teethers.
Material Safety:
As expected, see to it that whatever product you choose is made with food grade silicone only. The material has been cleared for its safety, and it is what we use at Legenday.
Temperature Safety:
For teethers that are designed to be chilled to provide that soothing feeling, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines – especially when it comes to cooling. Remember that teethers shouldn’t be frozen so as to avoid gum damage.
Read Reviews and Ask for Recommendations:
Always check online reviews for teethers before you make a purchase. Informed decisions can come from your friends, family, and acquaintances who have used these products in the past.
Supervise Use:
Vigilance is always necessary when it comes to teethers. Keep a close eye on your child when he or she is using a soft teether, so you can act if you find signs of something wrong.
Inspect Regularly:
As we explained earlier, regular inspections are important if you hope to protect your child. Examine the teether to check for signs of damage, wear, or material degradation.
Consult with Healthcare Providers:
If your child has any specific health sensitivities, then you might need to liaise with healthcare professionals to get more guidance on the right teethers to select.
Baby Silicone Teethers And Their Benefits
Silicone has been the material of voice for most manufacturers of teethers for a long time. And, to be fair, it’s easy to see why the material is so popular;
- Gum Relief: Thanks to their soft, chewable texture, silicone teethers provide gentle pressure on your child’s gums. This offers optimal relief from any discomfort or soreness that is usually associated with the teething process across the board.
- Cooling Effect: You can also chill most teethers in fridges and refrigerators. With this added coolness, your baby gets additional relief from gum inflammation, thus cutting swelling and pain.
- Safe for Chewing: When it comes to teethers, safety is the name of the game. Everyone wants teethers that are absolutely safe for consumption, and this is where food grade silicone easily shines.
- Easy to Clean: Maintenance is another aspect where this product does quite well. You can easily wash it with warm, soapy water and rinse it, taking out any germs or contaminants. The silicone teethers available at Legenday can also be washed with dishwashers, so you don’t have any problems.
- Durable: Silicone is known for its durability and ability to withstand repeated biting and chewing without losing its form or deteriorating. So, teethers made of the material remain firm over time.
- Varied Shapes and Textures: Thanks to silicone’s flexibility, teethers made with the material are also variable and can take different designs and shape forms.
- Safe for Mouth Contact: With food grade silicone, you have a silicone variant that can be put in a child’s mouth and which will remain safe. This feature also encourages oral exploration and helps keep babies more comfortable.
- Portable: Silicone teethers are typically lightweight and easy to carry. This means that they are great for parents and children on the go.
- Reduction in Excessive Drooling: By chewing on a teether, your child can cut out drooling considerably. Remember that this is a major symptom of teething, and it is one that will need to be addressed sooner or later.
- Parental Peace of Mind: As a parent, you need something to give you a bit of peace as your child starts to teether. A silicone tethering toy from Legenday provides this – and much more.
We understand at Legenday that every baby is unique. As such, we do our best to ensure that every teething requirement they have is met and exceeded thanks to our teethers.
Conclusion
As a parent, your choice of a baby teether is one of the most important decisions you will make. And, considering that there are different materials available, choosing the right one will be critical.
At Legenday, we make use of professional, high-quality food grade silicone to create the right teethers for children.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will silicone teethers fall apart?
One of the many issues that parents have with silicone teethers is the possibility of them falling apart or losing their form. Fortunately, the silicone teethers we provide at Legenday don’t have this issue. They are incredibly secure, and you can count on them to hold their form for as long as possible.
What is the right age to give a baby teething toys?
Generally, babies can begin teething at 4 to 5 months. So, as for when to introduce teething toys, we recommend that you can start giving them the toys at that age. However, the general consensus is that babies should begin teething as soon as you notice any of the teething symptoms.
Keep an eye on those and make sure that you’re able to manage the symptoms as much as possible. And if you find that the symptoms require teethers, you can purchase one from Legenday.
Are silicone teethers safe for babies?
Absolutely! Silicone has pretty much become the standard for creating teethers, and one of the most significant reasons for that is that the material is especially compatible.
However, it is important that you get food-grade silicone when you’re choosing teethers.