The Best Teething Toys in Australia (2026): Soothers for Sore Little Gums

The first tooth usually arrives somewhere between four and seven months, and it rarely arrives quietly. Drool soaks through three bibs before lunch, a normally cheerful baby gnaws on everything within reach, and sleep goes sideways for a week. A good teething toy will not make teeth come through any faster, but it does give your baby a safe, satisfying surface to chomp on and something cool to press against sore gums. That combination of counter-pressure and something clean to bite is the whole job, and the right toy makes it far easier to hand over at 3am without hunting through a drawer.

The trouble is that "teething toy" covers everything from a $9 plastic ring to elaborate silicone contraptions with detachable rattles, and a lot of them are either too hard, too big for a small hand, or a nightmare to keep clean. We wanted to cut through that. Below are six teethers you can buy on Amazon Australia right now, chosen for safe materials, an honest grip a young baby can actually manage, and the kind of easy cleaning that keeps a chewed-on toy from becoming a science experiment in the nappy bag.

What is the best teething toy in Australia right now?

For most families the best all-round teether is the Matchstick Monkey Silicone Teether. It is made from BPA-free silicone treated with BioCote, an antimicrobial that helps keep germs at bay on a toy that spends its whole life in a baby's mouth, and the whole body is dishwasher safe. The clever bit is the textured brush-tip head, which lets you apply a teething gel straight onto sore gums without putting your finger in there. It sits at 4.8 stars across more than 1,100 reviews, which is a strong signal for a product this specific.

If your budget is the deciding factor, the Bright Starts Oball Easy-Grasp Pineapple gets the job done for under $10 and is one of the most-reviewed baby toys on the whole Australian store. The rest of this guide walks through each pick, who it suits and where it falls short, followed by a plain-English buying guide, care notes, and the accessories that pair well with a teething stage. Teething discomfort is usually mild and passes on its own, but if your baby seems unwell, has a fever, or you are worried, speak to your GP or child-health nurse rather than relying on a toy.

The quick answer (TL;DR)

Last updated June 2026. If you want the short version, here it is:

• Best overall: Matchstick Monkey Silicone Teether & Gel Applicator ($23.58) for antimicrobial silicone, a genuinely useful gel-applicator head, and an easy-grip monkey shape.
• Best value: Nuby Silicone Teethe-EEZ ($12.09) for soft bristles, a hygienic travel case, and the biggest review count of any dedicated teether here.
• Best budget: Bright Starts Oball Easy-Grasp Pineapple ($8.99), an ultra-light grab-and-chew ring newborns can hold, for under $10.
• Also worth it: Jellydog Never-Drop Rocking Teether ($19.99) for a chillable, one-piece design; Nuby Pasta Ring ($14.51) for the most sensitive gums; and the Pigeon Step 1 Training Teether ($23.95) from a trusted baby brand.

Every pick is BPA-free, made for a baby to mouth, and easy to clean. Prices are current at the time of writing and can move, so check the live figure before you buy.

How do these teething toys compare at a glance?

The six teethers below split neatly into three groups. The Matchstick Monkey, Jellydog and Pigeon are the more considered designs: one-piece silicone, thoughtful shapes and, in the Matchstick Monkey's case, a built-in gel applicator. The Nuby Teethe-EEZ and Nuby Pasta Ring are the affordable, do-one-thing-well soothers that most parents reach for first. And the Bright Starts Oball is the featherweight budget option that a very young baby can grip before they can manage anything heavier.

Price runs from under $10 for the Oball up to around $24 for the Matchstick Monkey and Pigeon. Every option here clears a 4.7-star average, so the choice comes down to what matters to you: hygiene and gel application, a travel case, chillability, or simply the lowest price. The sections that follow explain exactly where each one earns its place.

How we evaluated these teething toys

NestPath is a research and aggregation site, not a testing lab, so we are upfront about our method. We did not put these toys in babies' mouths ourselves. Instead we combined a few sources that, together, give a reliable picture of which teethers are worth your money in Australia.

First, we looked at the Amazon Australia catalogue and filtered for teethers that are genuinely in stock and shipping locally, because there is no point recommending something you cannot actually buy. Second, we read the aggregate review data closely: not just the star rating, but how many ratings sit behind it and what recurring themes come up in the written reviews, since a 4.8 across 3,000 ratings tells you far more than a 5.0 across four. Third, we checked the material and safety claims each brand makes, favouring BPA-free, phthalate-free and food-grade silicone, one-piece designs with no small detachable parts, and toys that are dishwasher or cold-water steriliser safe.

Finally, we weighed the practical stuff a spec sheet does not always show: whether the shape is easy for a small, uncoordinated hand to hold; whether it is light enough for a young baby; and how much of a chore it is to keep clean. Where a product has a known weakness, we say so in its "Flaws but not dealbreakers" note rather than pretending it is perfect. None of this replaces advice from a health professional about your own child.

Which teething toy is best overall? Matchstick Monkey Silicone Teether & Gel Applicator

The Matchstick Monkey is our top pick because it solves two problems at once: it gives your baby a safe surface to chew, and it gives you a hygienic way to apply teething gel. The silicone is treated with BioCote, an antimicrobial that helps limit germ build-up on a toy that lives in a baby's mouth, and the whole 11cm monkey is dishwasher and cold-water steriliser safe, so keeping it clean is genuinely low-effort. The textured head doubles as a soft brush, letting you dab gel directly onto sore gums instead of using a finger. It holds a 4.8-star rating across more than 1,100 reviews.

The shape is the other quiet win. The monkey's arms and legs give a small hand several places to grab, and the whole thing is light enough for a baby to lift and steer to their mouth without help. Parents consistently mention that it is easy to hold and that the different textures across the body give sore gums variety, which matters more than it sounds when a baby is working on the same tooth for days. Because it is one moulded piece of BPA-free silicone, there are no rattles or detachable bits to come loose. If you only want to buy one teether that will still be useful when a second tooth arrives on the other side, this is the one we would choose.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

At $23.58 it is one of the pricier options here, and if you never plan to use teething gel then the applicator head is a feature you are paying for but will not use. The silicone can pick up lint and dust from a nappy bag if you toss it in loose, so it is worth carrying it in a small pouch or clip case. None of that changes the recommendation: for a well-made, easy-to-clean teether with a genuinely useful extra, it earns the top spot.

What is the best value teething toy? Nuby Silicone Teethe-EEZ

The Nuby Teethe-EEZ is our value pick because it delivers the essentials of a good teether for around $12 and backs it up with the biggest review base of any dedicated teether on this list. The soft SoftFlex silicone bristles massage and gently clean the front gums, which is exactly where those first bottom teeth push through, and the fish shape is easy for little hands to hold. It comes with a clip-shut hygienic case, so it stays clean in a nappy bag or handbag, and it sits at 4.7 stars across more than 4,500 ratings.

What makes it such an easy first buy is the low risk. It is 100% silicone, dishwasher friendly, and cheap enough that you can keep one at home and a spare in the car without thinking about it. The bristled surface is the standout feature: it reaches the ridges of the front gums in a way a smooth ring cannot, and babies tend to gum it happily for long stretches. Reviewers repeatedly describe it as the one their baby actually reaches for, which is the only test that really counts. For a family who wants a proven, no-fuss soother and does not need a gel applicator, this is the sensible middle of the range.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The included case is handy but small, so it is easy to misplace, and the fish shape is a touch bulkier at the tail than some very young babies can manage in the first weeks of teething. The bristles also trap a little more moisture than a smooth surface, so it needs a proper dry after washing rather than a quick shake. These are minor gripes on a product that does its main job well for the price.

What is the best budget teething toy? Bright Starts Oball Easy-Grasp Pineapple

The Bright Starts Oball Pineapple is our budget pick, and at $8.99 it is the cheapest thing on this list by a clear margin. The open Oball frame is the whole point: those flexible finger holes are so easy to grip that even a three-month-old can hold it, which is unusual for a teether, and the whole toy weighs only around 40g. The textured leaf gives sore gums something to work on. It is also one of the most-reviewed baby toys on the entire Australian store, carrying a 4.8-star rating across an enormous number of ratings.

For a first teether, or a spare to leave in the nappy bag, it is hard to argue with. Because it is so light and so easy to grasp, it doubles as an early developmental toy: babies bat it, pass it hand to hand, and drop it a hundred times, and the flexible frame simply bounces. The wipe-clean, BPA-free plastic keeps things simple, and the pineapple styling is more cheerful than most. If you are not sure whether your baby is even ready to hold a teether yet, this is the low-cost way to find out without committing to a pricier silicone soother.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is a firmer plastic than the silicone picks, so the chewing surface is less yielding on very sore gums, and the open ball shape means it is not the best at delivering cool, cushioned pressure the way a solid silicone teether can. It is also not designed to be chilled. Think of it as a brilliant grab-and-chew starter rather than a heavy-duty soother for a baby deep in a tough tooth, and it is excellent value on those terms.

A chillable one-piece option: Jellydog Never-Drop Rocking Silicone Teether

The Jellydog is the pick for parents who want a teether they can pop in the fridge for extra relief without worrying about detachable parts. Shaped like a little balloon dog, it is one solid piece of food-grade silicone with eight textured chewing spots and easy-hold bars, so there is genuinely nothing to come loose. It wipes clean in seconds, and it can be chilled in the fridge so the cool surface gives sore gums an added moment of relief. A 4.8-star rating across more than 3,000 ratings backs it up.

The "never-drop" rocking design is a small but real quality-of-life feature: the shape means it tends to right itself rather than roll away when a baby lets go, which cuts down on the endless floor-retrieval that comes with teething. The variety of textures across the body gives a baby different surfaces to explore, and the bars are sized so small hands can hook onto them from several angles. It sits neatly between the cheap starter rings and the premium Matchstick Monkey: more substantial and chillable than the Oball, without the gel applicator or the price.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Chill it in the fridge, not the freezer, since a rock-hard frozen teether can be too much for delicate gums. It is also a slightly heavier piece of silicone than the featherweight Oball, so the youngest babies may need a few weeks before they can wield it comfortably. Neither point undercuts what is a well-made, fuss-free teether.

Gentle on the most sensitive gums: Nuby Pasta Ring Silicone Teether

The Nuby Pasta Ring is the one we would reach for when a baby's gums are especially tender. It is a soft, multi-textured silicone ring shaped like pasta shells, sized specifically for tiny hands, and the surface is gentle enough for the most sensitive stage of teething. It is latex-free, phthalate-free and BPA-free, rinses clean under warm water, and at around $15 it is one of the more affordable dedicated silicone teethers on the list. It carries a 4.8-star rating.

The appeal here is softness and simplicity. Where the Teethe-EEZ leans into firm bristles, the Pasta Ring offers a pliable, forgiving surface with just enough texture to feel interesting against sore gums. The ring shape is easy for small fingers to loop through, and the scale is right for a young baby rather than a chunky toddler toy shrunk down. For families who found firmer teethers made their baby fussier, a soft silicone ring like this is often the answer, and it is cheap enough to try without much risk.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Because it is so soft and light, it does not deliver the firmer counter-pressure that some babies actively want once a tooth is really pushing through, so it can be outgrown as teething ramps up. It also does not come with a travel case, so you will want a small pouch to keep it clean on the go. For its intended job of soothing sensitive early gums, it does very well.

A trusted-brand training teether: Pigeon Step 1 Training Teether

The Pigeon Step 1 is the pick for parents who put weight on a long-established baby brand. Pigeon is a name many Australian families already recognise from bottles and dummies, and this is a gentle, one-piece training teether designed for babies from four months to encourage lip closure and chewing. The soft material carries multiple textures, there are no detachable parts to worry about, and it earns a 4.8-star rating. Australian reviewers mention it being handed to them at child-health nurse visits, which is a reassuring sign.

The "training" angle is what sets it apart from a plain soother. The shape and textures are meant to help a baby practise the mouth movements of chewing, not just gnaw idly, which is a small developmental bonus on top of the gum relief. It is easy to hold, easy to clean, and made to a standard you would expect from a heritage brand. If brand trust and a bit of feeding-skill development matter to you more than a gel applicator or a chillable body, the Pigeon is a solid, dependable choice at $23.95.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It sits at the higher end of the price range for what is a fairly simple teether, and it is the least-reviewed pick on the list, so there is less aggregate data behind its rating than for, say, the Nuby options. Neither is a red flag given Pigeon's track record, but it is worth knowing you are paying partly for the name.

What should you look for in a teething toy?

A few things separate a teether worth keeping from one that ends up in a drawer. Start with the material. Food-grade or medical-grade silicone that is explicitly BPA-free and phthalate-free is the standard to look for, because these toys spend hours in a baby's mouth. Silicone also has the advantage of being soft enough to be kind to gums while firm enough to give the counter-pressure babies seek out.

Next, think about grip and weight. A young baby has limited coordination, so a light toy with several places to grab, like the Oball's open frame or the Matchstick Monkey's limbs, will get used far more than a heavy or awkward shape. As a rough guide, the lighter and more open the design, the younger the baby who can manage it.

Safety design matters too. One-piece teethers with no small detachable parts remove the choking worry that comes with rattles or clip-on beads, which is why every pick here is either one moulded piece or a simple frame. Look for a toy that suits your baby's stage: softer rings for the tender early days, firmer textured surfaces once a tooth is genuinely pushing through. Finally, favour something you can chill in the fridge if your baby responds well to cool pressure, and always follow the maker's guidance on freezing, since a rock-hard frozen teether can do more harm than good. If your baby seems in real distress, a chat with your GP or child-health nurse beats any toy.

How do you clean and care for a teething toy?

Because a teether is mouthed constantly, keeping it clean is not optional. The easiest options are the ones that are dishwasher safe or cold-water steriliser safe, like the Matchstick Monkey and the Nuby silicone teethers, since you can run them through with the bottles and forget about it. For a quick clean between uses, warm soapy water and a good rinse is enough, and it is worth drying textured or bristled surfaces properly rather than leaving them damp, since moisture likes to hide in the grooves.

A few habits make life easier. Keep a teether in a clip-shut case or small pouch when it is in the nappy bag, so it does not pick up lint and crumbs between the pram and the park. Check silicone periodically for any splits or tears, and retire a teether that is showing wear, since damaged silicone can trap bacteria and, if a piece were to come away, become a hazard. If you chill a teether, use the fridge rather than the freezer unless the maker specifically says freezing is fine, and never leave a baby unattended with any toy. Follow each brand's own cleaning and sterilising instructions, since silicone and plastic can tolerate different temperatures.

What else will you want for the teething stage?

Teething rarely arrives alone. The drool that comes with it soaks bibs, wraps and everything in between, so a few companion buys make the whole stage more bearable. Here are the accessories that pair naturally with a good teether, each available on Amazon Australia:

• Extra bibs and burp cloths to catch the constant drool. A stack of soft burp cloths on Amazon AU saves you doing laundry twice a day.
• Muslin wraps that double as mop-up cloths, comforters and pram covers. Browse muslin wraps on Amazon AU.
• A cold-water steriliser or steriliser bags to keep silicone teethers hygienic. See baby sterilisers on Amazon AU.
• A teether clip or holder so the toy stops hitting the floor. Look at teether clips on Amazon AU.
• A soft-bristled baby toothbrush and first toothpaste for once that first tooth actually arrives. Find baby toothbrushes on Amazon AU.
• A silicone bib with a catch tray for when teething overlaps with starting solids. See silicone bibs on Amazon AU.
• A small wet bag or pouch to keep clean and used teethers separate in the nappy bag. Browse wet bags on Amazon AU.

The competition: what else did we consider?

Plenty of teethers did not make the final list, and it is worth knowing why. We passed over the many multi-part teething toys with clip-on rattles and detachable beads, because a one-piece design removes an entire category of worry for very little downside. We were cautious with liquid- or gel-filled teethers, since a split seam turns them from soother into hazard, and the silicone picks here give cool relief when chilled without that risk.

We also set aside a number of novelty wooden and fabric teethers. Wood can be lovely but is harder to sterilise thoroughly, and fabric absorbs drool rather than shedding it. The six picks above won out on the same three grounds throughout: safe, easy-clean materials, a grip a young baby can actually manage, and enough genuine review data to trust the rating. Where a strong contender existed but sat just outside those bounds, it did not make the cut rather than dilute the list.

Teething toy FAQ

When do babies start teething?

Most babies get their first tooth between four and seven months, though it can be earlier or later, and some are born with a tooth already. Signs include extra drool, chewing on everything, red or swollen gums and a bit of fussiness. A teether can be introduced as soon as your baby shows interest in mouthing objects. If you are ever unsure whether symptoms are teething or something else, check with your GP or child-health nurse.

Are silicone teething toys safe for babies?

Food-grade silicone that is labelled BPA-free and phthalate-free is widely used for baby products because it is soft on gums, easy to clean and does not shatter. The safest designs are one moulded piece with no small detachable parts, like most of the picks above. Always supervise your baby, inspect the toy for splits before use, and follow the maker's cleaning instructions.

Can you put teething toys in the freezer?

Only if the manufacturer specifically says so. Most silicone teethers are meant to be chilled in the fridge, not frozen, because a rock-hard frozen surface can bruise or damage delicate gums. Chilling in the fridge gives cool relief without that risk. Check the packaging for each toy, since guidance varies between brands.

How do I clean a teething toy?

For everyday cleaning, warm soapy water and a thorough rinse is enough, and textured or bristled surfaces should be dried properly so moisture does not linger. Silicone teethers that are dishwasher or cold-water steriliser safe, like the Matchstick Monkey and Nuby options, can simply go through with the bottles. Always follow the individual brand's cleaning and sterilising instructions.

Do teething toys actually help with pain?

A teether will not speed up teething, but the firm surface gives babies something safe to press against sore gums, and the counter-pressure many babies seek out can be soothing, especially when the toy is chilled. Every baby is different in what they respond to. If your baby seems to be in significant discomfort, is unwell, or has a fever, speak to a health professional rather than relying on a toy alone.

What is the best teething toy for a newborn?

For the youngest babies, the lightest, easiest-to-grip options work best, which is why the Bright Starts Oball Pineapple stands out: at around 40g with open finger holes, even a three-month-old can hold it. Soft silicone rings like the Nuby Pasta Ring also suit tender early gums. Heavier, firmer teethers tend to come into their own a little later, once a baby has more coordination and a tooth is genuinely pushing through.

Build your teething-stage kit

A teether is one piece of a bigger baby-gear picture. If you are setting up for a new baby or refreshing your kit as they hit the teething stage, these NestPath guides cover the things that pair naturally with it:

• The best baby muslin wraps in Australia for mopping up drool and doubling as comforters.
• The best baby burp cloths in Australia to catch the constant teething dribble.
• The best baby baths in Australia for keeping a mouthy, dribbly baby fresh.
• The best changing mats in Australia for the wipe-clean surfaces you will lean on daily.
• The best sippy cups in Australia for when teething overlaps with learning to drink.
• The best nappy caddies in Australia to keep teethers, wipes and bibs in one grab-and-go spot.
• The best baby mobiles in Australia for soothing a fussy, teething baby at nap time.

About the author

Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first-home-buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first-home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au