Teething Rings
A lot of mothers prefer to use teething rings over any other means in alleviating the discomfort of baby teething. Unlike gels they are believed to be free of chemicals, and unlike teething biscuits there is no risk of baby digesting too much sugar, salt or any other food stuff that they don't need to eat. Teething rings have been around a long time and have come in all shapes and sizes.
The history of the teething ring
Teething rings have been around for thousands of years. The first recorded use has been found on Sumerian sandstone tablets, around 3000 years ago. The Egyptians used coral teething rings and they had a head of Bes inscribed, a god associated with child welfare. They also wore a child's first shed tooth as an amulet against the pains of teething. Parents in the 1600s used white candy sticks as teething rings for their children - hmmm, not sure that this was a good idea! Gum sticks and gum rings were also used in the 17th and 18th centuries. Wax candles were popular as gum sticks, as well as sticks of liquorice dipped in honey.
Legend has it that in 1683 in Vienna, Austria, a local Jewish baker wanted to thank the king of Poland for protecting his countrymen from Turkish invaders. As bagels gained popularity in Poland, they were officially sanctioned as gifts for women in childbirth and mentioned in community registers. Mothers used them as nutritious teething rings that their infants could easily grasp - a practice still popular today.
The expression 'born with a silver spoon in his mouth' comes from the nineteenth century, when it was common practice for well-off parents to use a silver spoon as an aid to relieve the discomfort of teething. The well-healed also like to use teething rings made from mother-of-pearl.
During the mid-nineteenth century gum rings were manufactured using rubber. Within a few short years rubber had replaced other materials such as coral, bone, ivory and bread-crusts. The early rubber teething rings came in three colours, white, blue and black. Unfortunately, the white rubber models contained large quantities of lead!
What types of teething rings can you buy?
Today there are many different types of teething rings available. Thankfully, they are free of lead! In fact, all rings bought in most western countries are nontoxic, so you can rest assured that no matter what kind you buy, it will be safe for your baby. Some are made of firm rubber (with or without bumps); others are filled with water and made to be chilled in the refrigerator. Don't freeze these types of rings or teethers because they become too hard and may harm your baby's gums. For those of you who consider your self as upper-crust (only kidding), you can buy silver teething rings. These can also be chilled in the fridge.
Clean teething rings, teethers, and toys after each use. Check the package label to see if the object is dishwasher-safe. It is highly recommended that after you clean your child's teething ring, you place it in a bottle sterilizer. Don't boil water-filled teethers because they may break open.
Never tie an object such as a teething ring or pacifier around your baby's neck. The cord could tighten and choke the baby or, at the very least, irritate his or her skin.
A note of caution
During the last few years, concern has been raised over the use of diisononyl phthalate in plastic teethers. This chemical is used as a softening agent during the manufacturing process and most teething toys contain about 10 to 20 percent phthalate. This chemical is believed to be cancer causing and the fear is that babies may ingest the chemical as they suck on the ring. The Consumer Product Safety Commission have advised parents to dispose of Gerber Products Inc. Clear and Soft line of pacifiers, nipples and teething toys. These products contain diisononyl phthalate. The following manufacturers have stopped or will stop using phthalate in teething toys by early 2000: Sassy, Hasbro, Tyco Preschool, Shelcore Toys, The First Years, Safety 1st, Playskool, Chicco, Little Tikes, Disney, Fisher-Price, Mattel and EvenFlo. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Germany and Belgium have already proposed a complete ban on soft toys that contain phthalates. Although the U.S. warning stopped short of complete prohibition, Sears, Walmart, K-mart, Toys R Us and Target vowed not to sell toys that contain phthalate.
The concerns raised by the Consumer Product Safety Commission are only precautionary and it is still a matter of debate if diisononyl phthalate found is teething rings could cause cancer. If you wish to avoid teething rings that contain diisononyl phthalate then best bet is to buy ones made of latex or silicone.
Do look after you child's teething ring. Throw away a ring if it is damaged in anyway; rough edges can cut your baby's gums and inner mouth and bent or misshapen teething rings have been known to be swallowed by children.
Do's and Dont's of teething rings
Do's
- It is preferable to use a teething ring instead of teething biscuits or cookies.
- Cool liquid filled rings in the refrigerator but never freeze
- Throw out a liquid filled ring if it leaks, or if a ring is damaged in anyway
- Always thoroughly wash teething rings after use.
Don'ts
- Never, ever freeze liquid filled teething rings. They may burst or crack if frozen.
- Never boil teething rings or put them in the dishwasher (unless the manufacturer instructions say it is dishwasher safe).
- Your baby's teething ring is their teething ring; never share.
- Don't tie the teething ring to the baby with a string. This could strangle the baby.
- Don't use a teething ring made of several parts. Small pieces can break off and cause the baby to choke.