Best Teething Toys for Babies UK 2026

Compared for safety, relief and value, so you don't have to guess what works.

When your baby starts gnawing on everything within reach, fingers, muslins, the corner of the sofa, it's time for a proper teething toy. The right one soothes sore gums, keeps them occupied, and doesn't fall apart after a week. We compared the most popular teething toys available in the UK, looking at material safety, how well they actually relieve discomfort, ease of cleaning, and whether they're worth the money.

Here's the short version: the Matchstick Monkey is our top pick for most babies, the built-in gel applicator is genuinely useful, the antimicrobial silicone is easy to keep clean, and the monkey shape is easy for small hands to grip. For a budget option that still works well, the Nuby IcyBite Keys stay cool longer than most gel teethers and cost under six quid.

How We Compared These Teething Toys

We looked at three things that actually matter when your baby is dribbling on a teether at 2am: material safety, how well it soothes gums, and how easy it is to keep clean. Every product on this list is BPA-free and made from food-grade materials. We also checked Amazon purchaser reviews for real-world durability, because a teether that cracks after a fortnight isn't saving anyone money.

Price matters too, but not the way you'd think. A £12 teether that lasts six months and actually helps is better value than a £4 one you replace every fortnight. We noted the price-to-longevity ratio for each pick.

1. Matchstick Monkey Original Teether, Best All-Rounder

The Matchstick Monkey has earned its reputation for a reason. The textured bumps on the monkey's head massage sore gums as your baby chews, and the antimicrobial silicone means it doesn't harbour bacteria the way cheaper plastic teethers can. The real differentiator is the built-in gel applicator, you can slot teething gel directly into the monkey's head so it reaches the gums while your baby chews, rather than trying to rub gel onto a squirming baby's gums with your finger.

The shape is deliberately easy for small hands to grip. At 3+ months most babies can hold onto something if it's the right size, and the monkey's ears and limbs give them multiple points to grab. Multiple Amazon reviewers mention their babies preferring this over ring-shaped teethers because there's more to chew on from different angles.

What parents say: "The gel applicator bit is a game-changer. My daughter would not let me near her gums with the teething gel, but she'll chew on this happily and the gel gets where it needs to go." Several reviewers note it survived months of daily use without degrading.

2. Nuby IcyBite Keys, Best Budget Pick

The Nuby IcyBite Keys have been a fixture in UK baby shops for years, and there's a good reason they keep selling. Each key has a different texture, bumps, ridges, and smooth surfaces, so your baby gets variety without you needing to buy five separate teethers. The gel fill stays cooler for longer than water-filled alternatives, which makes a real difference when gums are inflamed.

Pop them in the fridge for 15-30 minutes before use and the cooling effect lasts through a decent chewing session. The key ring format is also handy for clipping onto a pram or high chair with a teether clip so it doesn't end up on the floor every thirty seconds.

At under six quid, these are easy to buy a couple of, keep one in the fridge and one in the nappy bag. They're not as premium-feeling as the Matchstick Monkey, but they do the core job well: cold, textured, and easy to hold.

3. MAM Bite & Relax Teether with Clip, Best for Front Teeth

MAM's teething range is designed with input from dentists and paediatricians, and the Bite & Relax shows it. The 3D shape is specifically contoured for front teeth, the first teeth most babies get, with four different textured surfaces that massage gums from multiple angles. The dual-material construction means part of it is firm (for pressure on emerging teeth) and part is soft (for gentle gum massage).

What sets this one apart is the hygiene clip and sterilisation case it comes with. Clip it to your baby's clothes so it doesn't drop, and when it needs cleaning, the case doubles as a microwave steriliser. For parents who worry about teethers picking up germs from floors and pram trays, that's a genuine practical advantage.

MAM also makes a Phase 1 mini version for younger babies (2+ months) if you want something smaller for the very earliest teething signs. Both versions are available on Amazon UK.

When Do Babies Start Teething?

Most babies begin teething between 3 and 12 months, with the lower front teeth usually appearing first. The NHS notes that some babies show signs as early as 2 months, excess dribbling, chewing on anything they can reach, and unsettled sleep are the classic tells.

Every baby is different. Some sail through teething with barely a fuss, others are miserable for weeks before a tooth breaks through. Having a couple of different teething toys on hand, one cooling, one textured, covers most situations without needing to panic-buy at midnight.

What to Look For in a Teething Toy

The basics are simple. Material safety comes first, food-grade silicone or natural rubber, BPA-free, phthalate-free. If a product doesn't state what it's made from, skip it. Texture variety matters because different textures soothe different kinds of gum discomfort, some babies prefer firm pressure, others need a gentler rub. Ease of cleaning is the one people forget until they're scrubbing dribble out of crevices at midnight, dishwasher-safe or easy to wash in warm soapy water saves time.

Avoid teethers with small detachable parts, liquid-filled centres that could leak, or anything that hasn't been tested to UK toy safety standards (BS EN 71). If a teether has a strong chemical smell out of the packaging, that's a red flag, proper food-grade materials shouldn't smell of anything.

Chilling Teethers, What Actually Helps

A cool teether can genuinely ease inflamed gums. The cold numbs the area slightly and reduces swelling. But there's a right way and a wrong way. Do: place the teether in the fridge for 15-30 minutes. Don't: put it in the freezer. Frozen teethers are too hard and too cold, they can damage delicate gum tissue and most babies won't tolerate them anyway.

Gel-filled teethers like the Nuby IcyBite work well for this because the gel retains cold longer than water. Silicone teethers like the Matchstick Monkey can also be chilled, though they lose their cool faster. If cooling is your main priority, gel-filled is the way to go.

Our Verdict

You don't need to spend a fortune or buy a dozen different teethers. One good all-rounder like the Matchstick Monkey covers most situations, and a pair of Nuby IcyBite Keys gives you a cooling option for particularly bad days. If your baby is in the early front-teeth stage, the MAM Bite & Relax is purpose-built for that phase and the hygiene clip is genuinely useful.

The most important thing isn't which teether you pick, it's having one to hand when your baby needs it. Keep one in the nappy bag, one in the kitchen, and one in the fridge. You'll thank yourself at 2am.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last reviewed: August 25, 2026 · Evidence-based content · Contains affiliate links