Silicone Baby Teethers: What to Check Before You Buy

Silicone is everywhere in the baby aisle now — plates, bibs, spoons and teethers all lean on it, and for teethers in particular it's become the default recommendation. That doesn't mean every silicone teether on the market is equally good, though. Here's what "safe" actually depends on, and what's worth checking before you buy.

What "Food-Grade Silicone" Actually Means

Food-grade silicone is a medical- and food-safe grade of the material, free from the fillers and additives used in lower grades made for non-food purposes. Properly made, it doesn't react with saliva, doesn't leach anything under normal chewing, and holds up to repeated washing and sterilising without breaking down. The catch is that "food-grade" isn't independently policed on every product that claims it — it's worth looking for the certifications below rather than taking the phrase on trust.

Is It Really BPA-Free?

Properly made silicone is inherently free of BPA, PVC and phthalates — these are additives used in some plastics, not ingredients in silicone itself, so a genuine silicone product doesn't need them formulated out. Where "BPA-free" claims go wrong is usually on cheaper products blending silicone with other materials, or on paint and coatings added purely for colour. A single-material, uncoated silicone teether is the safest bet if you'd rather not have to think about it at all.

The Certifications Worth Checking For

Rather than relying on marketing language on the packaging, look for:

• LFGB — a German food-contact safety standard that's become a widely used benchmark for silicone baby products, testing for migration of harmful substances into food or saliva.
• EN 14372 — the European safety standard specifically for feeding and teething products, covering both materials and mechanical safety, including small parts that could break off.
• Phthalate-free and BPA-free — should be stated explicitly, not just implied by the word "silicone."

All of our own silicone teethers are tested to these standards — it's worth asking the same question wherever else you're buying from.

How to Spot Poor-Quality Silicone

A few practical checks, none of which need special equipment:

Smell it. Genuine food-grade silicone is odourless. A strong chemical or rubbery smell, especially straight out of the packaging, points to a lower-grade material or leftover manufacturing residue.

Check the finish. Good silicone has a smooth, slightly matte texture. Anything sticky, tacky, or that leaves a residue on your hands isn't right.

Look for single-piece construction where possible. A teether moulded in one piece has no seams for bacteria to collect in and nothing that can be chewed loose. Multi-part designs aren't automatically unsafe, but they need more careful cleaning.

Cleaning and Caring for Silicone Teethers

Most silicone teethers are dishwasher-safe — check the specific product first — or can be washed in warm soapy water and rinsed thoroughly. Silicone resists mould and bacterial growth better than fabric or foam-filled teethers, but it still needs a proper wash daily during heavy teething use, not just a rinse. Avoid soaking in anything other than water or a mild sanitising solution made for baby items; stronger chemicals can degrade the surface over time even where they don't harm your baby directly.

What About Natural Rubber?

Silicone isn't the only safe material for teethers — natural rubber is the other one you'll see recommended, and the two differ quite a bit on cleaning, durability and allergy risk. We've set them side by side in Natural Rubber vs Silicone Teethers, worth a read if you're deciding between the two rather than just confirming silicone is safe.

FAQs

Can silicone teethers go in the freezer?
Most can, and a chilled teether is genuinely soothing during a bad teething day — check the specific product, but silicone tolerates cold well without becoming brittle the way some plastics do.

How long do silicone teethers last?
With normal use and proper cleaning, a good-quality silicone teether should last through the whole teething period without degrading. Replace it if you notice any tears, punctures or a change in texture.

Are silicone teethers a choking hazard?
A well-made teether sized appropriately for your baby's age isn't designed to break apart, which is exactly why single-piece construction and proper certification matter. Always check the manufacturer's recommended age range and supervise teething sessions, especially with anything that has smaller parts or attachments.

Does silicone contain latex?
No — silicone and natural rubber latex are entirely different materials, which makes silicone the safer default if your baby has, or might have, a latex allergy.

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If you're just starting out with teething generally rather than choosing a material, our complete teething guide covers timing, symptoms and relief methods beyond the teether itself.

Every teether in our silicone teether range is tested to LFGB and EN 14372 standards, BPA and phthalate-free, with free UK delivery on orders over £25.