The teething ring test

WHEN a baby starts teething, many parents turn to a teething ring to satisfy the child’s urge to chew on something and soothe their swollen gums.

But product testers warn you should avoid overcooling the ring. Parents often put these rings in the freezer to quickly cool them down, and testers for a prominent consumer magazine say this is not a good idea.

Teething rings containing a liquid are too cold after lying in the freezer and can harm the mucous membrane in the baby’s mouth, writes Frankfurt-based Oeko-Test, which tested 20 such products. Parents should take care to never cool rings below fridge temperature.

The organisation also looked at whether the products had any rough or bumpy edges, small parts that could break off, or dye that could rub off.

Fourteen of the teethers received a rating of either ‘very good’ or ‘good’, one ‘satisfactory’, and two ‘adequate’. Most of the high-ranked rings were made of natural rubber, wood or textile rather than plastic or silicone.

Two teething rings were rated ‘inadequate’, and one failed the test completely. In all three, elevated levels of naphthalene were detected in the plastics.

An organic compound, naphthalene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and suspected carcinogen.

If a teething ring isn’t an option, paediatricians suggest trying some cool food or a gum massage, which can help take some of the pressure off – but make sure your hands are clean enough for the latter.

Parents should not, however, resort to using an antiinflammatory or local anaesthetic, as these can lead to illnesses in small children.

Experts also advise against giving your child amber or wooden chains to chew on. These are sometimes said to help against toothaches, but there’s a strong risk that children may swallow a part of it, pick up bacteria or choke themselves with it.

By the age of roughly two-anda-half, all 20 milk teeth should have finally broken through. – dpa