Teething is one of the more challenging phases of early babyhood. Sore, inflamed gums, disrupted sleep, and a baby who wants to chew on everything in reach are the hallmarks of this stage, which can begin as early as 3 months and continue through the second year. The right teether makes a genuine difference, and the material it is made from matters more than most parents realize.

Wood and silicone have become the materials of choice for parents who want safe, effective, and durable teethers. Here is why they are a better choice than traditional plastic, and what to look for when choosing one.

The problem with plastic teethers

Traditional plastic teethers have been the default for decades, but they come with real drawbacks. Many older plastic teethers contain BPA, PVC, phthalates, or other chemical plasticizers that can leach into a baby's mouth during chewing. Even BPA-free plastics can contain other chemicals that raise safety concerns. Plastic also scratches and degrades over time, creating rough surfaces that harbor bacteria and are difficult to fully sanitize.

Beyond safety, plastic simply does not feel good. It is lightweight, uniform in texture, and provides little sensory variation. Babies who are exploring the world through their mouths get far less information from a smooth plastic ring than from a toy with varied textures and natural material properties.

Why wood works

Natural hardwood, particularly beech wood, has properties that make it genuinely well-suited for teething. It is dense and firm, which means it provides real counter-pressure against sore gums. When a baby presses a wooden teether against an erupting tooth, the firmness of the wood provides the kind of resistance that actually helps. Plastic and soft silicone alone cannot replicate this.

Wood is also naturally cool to the touch, which provides immediate soothing relief to inflamed gum tissue. It has a subtle natural scent that babies find engaging, and its weight and texture provide rich sensory information that supports early sensory development.

The key is choosing teethers made from solid, named hardwoods with a food-safe finish or no finish at all. Look for products that specify beech, maple, or linden wood and are explicitly free from lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals.

Why food-grade silicone works

Food-grade silicone is the safest soft material available for baby teethers. It is completely free from BPA, phthalates, PVC, and lead. It is non-porous, which means it does not harbor bacteria the way porous materials can. It is heat resistant and can be sterilized in boiling water or on the top rack of a dishwasher. And it is flexible and soft, which makes it gentle on tender gum tissue.

Silicone teethers can also be placed in the refrigerator before use for additional cooling relief. Do not freeze silicone teethers, as extreme cold can make them too hard and potentially damage the material.

The combination of wood and silicone in a single teether gives babies the best of both materials: the firm counter-pressure of wood and the soft, flexible relief of silicone, with varied textures that keep babies engaged and provide comprehensive gum coverage.

Our teether picks

The Wooden Baby Forest Teethers combine natural wood and silicone in a woodland animal design that is easy for small hands to grip. The varied textures target different areas of the gum, and the natural materials are free from harmful chemicals throughout.

For a purely silicone option, the Deer Silicone Baby Teether is soft, easy for newborns to grip, and completely BPA-free. The gentle deer shape is appealing to babies and the soft silicone is safe for mouthing from birth. The Silicone Pig Teether with Ring Handle and Silicone Monkey Teether with Ring offer similar quality with ring handles that make them particularly easy for young babies to hold independently.

For babies who want more textural variety, the Flower-Shaped Silicone Teether Rattle combines teething relief with auditory stimulation, giving babies a multi-sensory experience that keeps them engaged longer.

How to care for wood and silicone teethers

Silicone parts can be washed with warm soapy water, placed on the top rack of the dishwasher, or sterilized in boiling water. Wooden parts should be hand washed with mild soap and warm water and dried immediately. Do not submerge wood in water or put wooden teethers in the dishwasher, as prolonged moisture exposure can cause the wood to crack or warp. To keep wood conditioned, a small amount of food-grade beeswax or coconut oil rubbed into the surface occasionally will maintain the finish and prevent drying.

Check teethers regularly for signs of wear. Discard any teether that shows cracks, tears, or pieces that could detach. Replace wooden teethers if the surface becomes rough or splintered.

Browse our full collection of Montessori baby toys and teethers at Oliver and Company and find the right teether for where your baby is right now.