As soon as a baby starts teething, their parents will do just about anything to bring them comfort, which is where the Nuby IcyBite Keys Teether comes in. It’s a ring with three “keys” attached, each of which is filled with cooling gel and is textured to massage and soothe sore gums. The keys’ filling will provide a cooling sensation at room temperature, but can also be refrigerated to give your baby a little more relief. Read on for all the details of this infant toy and teether.
Design: Built for a teething baby
This teether is brightly colored, which will certainly appeal to a baby. Beyond the fun hues, the rest of the design is purely functional. The three “keys” are attached to a loop with a soft (chewable) texture that’s still rough enough that it won’t slip out of a baby’s hands when it is covered in drool. Each part of the teether seems durable; the loop won’t break easily, a baby shouldn’t be able to bite through the gel-filled sections, and the keys seem to be strongly connected to the loop. It’s also BPA free. Each little key has two teething components, a soft gel-filled section and a firm section with soft ridges meant to massage a baby’s gums. The gel-filled portion offers the cooling effect as well as a surface that will massage sore gums. The downside to this teether’s design is that the keys don’t come off the loop. While the teether as a whole is made from materials that are easy for a baby to grab, the ring is a little crowded with all three keys on it, which makes it a little difficult for a baby to hold on to. Additionally, after I removed the teether from the refrigerator, I noticed that my 5-month-old (adjusted age, she was born six weeks premature) didn’t like the two other keys touching her hand because they were cold.
Key Features: It works even if it’s not refrigerated
A lot of teethers need to be frozen in order to be effective, but the IcyBite Keys Teether doesn’t. You have the option of putting it in the refrigerator to cool it down a little more, but the gel that fills the soft part of the “keys” is meant to give your baby a cooling sensation even at room temperature. This is particularly nice for when you’re on the go since it’s not easy to keep things frozen in a diaper bag.
Entertainment Value: Don’t confuse it with a toy
Currently, my baby is in a stage where she puts everything in her mouth as a way to explore new things and textures, but not necessarily because she’s teething. Surprisingly, even though this product is meant to be chewed on, she didn’t show much interest. In all fairness, it’s not designed to be an entertaining toy, it’s meant to be a teether. So, don’t buy it if you’re looking for something to entertain your baby.
Age Range: Whenever your baby starts teething
The IcyBite Keys Teether is easy for a baby to hold, but not really made to encourage the grasping/grabbing development. The manufacturer’s recommended age range is 3 months+, but it won’t do your little one much good until they’re teething and need some relief.
Ease of Cleaning: Dishwasher safe
This toy is dishwasher safe! You may want to put the dishwasher on a cooler setting to be on the safe side (we’ve all seen a plastic dishwasher-safe dish or cup melt a little!), but the good news is that you don’t have to hand wash it.
Price: On the low end
There is no shortage of teethers on the market, and there’s a wide range of pricing for them, but at around $5, the Nuby IcyBite Keys Teether is on the low end. This price point is even better knowing that you don’t have to refrigerate or freeze the teether for it to do its job, unlike a lot of other cooling teethers.
Competition: So many options
Munchkin Fun Ice Ring Teether: If you’re looking for a teether that will get really cold and is still budget-friendly, these little rings will do the trick. You can cool them down in the refrigerator or the freezer, and you can get two for around $6. The big differences between the Munchkin teether and the IcyBites Keys Teether are that your baby will have to hold the Munchkin ring to chew on it, despite how cold it is, and it doesn’t have a cooling effect if it’s room temperature. Nuby Silicone Teethe-eez Teether With Bristles: Some babies don’t need the cooling effect to make their gums feel better, they just need a little massaging. This Nuby silicone teether is also around $5 and is designed to do just that. It has little bristles that will provide relief and has a shape that is easy for a baby to hold. Since this goes in a baby’s mouth, it also comes with a little carrying case so it doesn’t collect crumbs or germs if you toss it in your diaper bag. Bonbino Baby Teether Rings (4-Pack): These little silicone rings from Bonbino provide relief to sore gums, also provide some entertainment, have rave reviews, and can be found for around $13 for a pack of four. Each different-colored ring is just the right size for little hands to grab, is soft and flexible, and has various ridges around it that are great for teething as well as for sensory play. However, these rings don’t have the cooling gel the IcyBites Keys Teether has, so if you’re out and about on a particularly tough teething day, there’s no extra relief. If you have a baby who is simply miserable from teething pain, the Nuby IcyBite Keys Teether is exactly the kind of product you want to have on hand to provide them with a little relief. If you’re looking for a product that doubles as a teether and a toy, this isn’t it.
