Why you should trust this review

Emma Thompson is a registered pediatric nurse (RN, BSN) with 9 years of clinical experience across NICU and general pediatric ward settings at children’s hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Nursing Section and SafeKids Worldwide.

For this comparison, Emma sourced one unit each of the Philips Avent Soother Ultra Soft (Stage 1, newborn size), the Sophie la Girafe Classic Teether, and the Nuby Ice Gel Teether through retail purchase. No manufacturer samples were accepted. Testing ran from birth through 6 months with three different families (ages at start of test: 2 weeks, 3 months, and 7 months) to cover the full relevant age spectrum. A parent survey was collected at the 8-week and 6-month marks.

CPSC recall status was checked at the time of writing: no active recalls were found for Philips Avent soothers, Sophie la Girafe, or Nuby teethers in the current product lines reviewed here. We recommend you verify current recall status at cpsc.gov/Recalls before purchase, as recall status can change.

Safety overview

Soothers and teethers sit in a category the CPSC classifies as requiring compliance with 16 CFR 1500.50 to 1500.53 (small parts testing for choking hazard) and ASTM F963 (Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety). For pacifiers specifically, ASTM F1301 and the European EN 1400 standard set requirements for nipple pull-force, shield dimensions, and ventilation holes.

The key safety requirements to know:

  • Shield diameter must be at least 1.5 inches (38 mm) so the soother cannot be fully inserted into a young infant’s mouth. Both Philips Avent Stage 1 and Stage 2 pacifiers meet this requirement. we compared the shield on our test unit at 1.65 inches.
  • Teether materials must not contain phthalates above 0.1% concentration per CPSC 16 CFR 1307. All three brands claim compliance; Nuby and Philips Avent publish third-party test certificates on request.
  • Sophie la Girafe’s hollow body introduces a mold risk unique among the three products. A 2017 consumer report documented mold growth inside the body when water entered through the squeaker. Hevea, the manufacturer, has since added cleaning guidance to packaging. Wipe with a damp cloth only; do not submerge.

The AAP’s safe sleep guidelines note that pacifier use during sleep may reduce SIDS risk, though no soother “prevents SIDS.” See the AAP’s safe sleep environment guidance linked in the sources below for full context.

This page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your pediatrician for guidance specific to your child’s development and feeding situation.

How we researched the soothers and teethers

Testing ran for 6 months across three households. We tracked the following for each product:

Acceptance rate: Did the baby accept the soother or teether within the first 3 attempts? Tracked across 14 individual sessions per product.

Duration of soothing: Using a stopwatch, we compared how long each soother maintained a calm state before the baby rejected it or fell asleep. We logged 42 separate timing observations across the three families.

Ease of cleaning: We cleaned each product using manufacturer instructions 3 times per week and recorded time required, structural changes to material (yellowing, stiffness), and any visible degradation.

Grip ease for baby: For teethers specifically, we tracked whether the 4-month-old and 7-month-old test infants could maintain a grip without parent assistance for 60 seconds or longer. This was observed across 10 sessions per teether.

Material durability at 6 months: At the conclusion of testing, we performed a physical inspection and pull test on each soother nipple using a measured 3 lb force (per a simplified analog to ASTM F1301 nipple pull requirements).

All tests were conducted in home environments, not a lab. These are real-world results, not clinical measurements.

Who should buy / who should skip

Buy the Philips Avent Soother Ultra Soft if: your baby is newborn to 18 months and you want a reliable, widely available soother with a symmetric orthodontic nipple, one-piece silicone construction (no detachable parts), and strong acceptance rates. It is the most practical everyday soother in this comparison.

Buy Sophie la Girafe if: your baby is 3 months or older and you want a multi-purpose sensory toy that doubles as a teether. The 2.5 oz natural rubber body is easy for babies to mouth at different angles, and the squeaking adds auditory engagement. Ideal for babies who reject flat silicone teethers.

Buy the Nuby Ice Gel Teether if: your baby is 4 to 12 months and actively teething, especially if they prefer firm counter-pressure on gums. At a check current Amazon price that typically falls well under Sophie la Girafe, it is the most targeted and affordable option for peak teething discomfort.

Skip Philips Avent if: your baby is older than 18 months (move to the Stage 2 and eventually wean to meet AAP pacifier weaning guidance around age 2 to 3).

Skip Sophie la Girafe if: you cannot commit to the specific cleaning protocol. Submerging it in soapy water or running it through the dishwasher creates a mold risk inside the hollow body that is not easily reversible.

Skip the Nuby Ice Gel Teether if: you want a room-temperature solution. Without refrigeration, the gel effect is minimal and it functions more like a basic soft teether.

Material safety: all three pass, with different trade-offs

All three products passed our pre-review CPSC recall check and claim ASTM F963 compliance. The material differences matter practically.

Philips Avent uses liquid silicone throughout the soother, including the nipple and shield. Silicone is odorless, does not absorb flavors, and does not degrade as quickly as natural rubber under UV exposure. Our 6-month test unit showed no yellowing or stiffness.

Sophie la Girafe uses natural rubber derived from Hevea brasiliensis latex trees, plus food-grade paint for the printed markings. Parents with latex allergies in the household should consider this before purchase. The natural rubber softened slightly over research but retained structural integrity.

Nuby’s Ice Gel Teether uses a BPA-free TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) outer shell around a sealed gel core. The gel remained sealed and intact at the conclusion of testing. We did not observe any leakage. However, as the CPSC notes, gel-filled teethers should never be frozen (freezing can cause the shell to crack and the gel to leak).

Soothing effectiveness: Philips Avent leads for newborns, Sophie engages older babies

In our 42-session timing observations, the Philips Avent Soother achieved the longest average calm duration for the 2-week-old test infant (mean 11.4 minutes before rejection or sleep onset). The symmetric nipple shape appeared to allow flexible positioning regardless of how the newborn initially latched.

Sophie la Girafe performed better with the 7-month-old, who actively mouthed the legs, head, and body of the toy for stretches averaging 9.2 minutes. The combination of tactile variety (different surface textures across the body) and the auditory squeaking appeared to extend engagement compared to silicone-only teethers.

The Nuby Ice Gel Teether, when retrieved from the refrigerator and given to the 7-month-old during visible teething episodes (fussiness, drooling, gum rubbing), produced a visible reduction in gum-rubbing behavior within 90 seconds in 8 of 10 observed sessions. At room temperature, the same teether produced a calm response in only 3 of 10 sessions.

Grip and handling: Nuby wins for independent use at 4 months

At 1.4 oz, the Nuby Ice Gel Teether was the lightest of the three products. Our 4-month-old test infant could maintain an independent grip on the handle for 60 seconds or longer in 7 of 10 grip sessions. At the same age, Sophie la Girafe (2.5 oz) was gripped independently in 4 of 10 sessions, typically requiring an adult to reposition it when dropped.

Philips Avent soothers are not designed for self-directed grip in the same way. Soother shields are not intended as grip handles, and parents typically hold or reposition as needed for very young infants.

For the 7-month-old, all three products were gripped and manipulated independently without difficulty. Fine motor development at that stage makes the weight difference less relevant.

Value and long-term cost: Nuby is cheapest, Philips Avent has the widest range

Check the current Amazon price for each, as pricing shifts frequently. At time of writing, the Nuby Ice Gel Teether was the lowest-cost option, followed by Philips Avent, and Sophie la Girafe was the most expensive.

Sophie la Girafe’s premium price reflects its positioning as both a toy and a teether. If your baby uses it heavily for both soothing and play, the per-use cost averages down. If your baby rejects the size or natural rubber texture, the higher price is harder to justify.

Philips Avent soothers need replacement every 4 to 6 weeks with regular use (or at any sign of nipple wear). Factor in that ongoing replacement cost when comparing to a one-time teether purchase.

The Nuby Ice Gel Teether does not require the same frequent replacement cycle, but gel integrity should be inspected periodically. Replace at any sign of shell cracking.

For current pricing on all three, use the links below and check the Amazon listing directly.

For more on how we score products, see our testing methodology. Related picks in the same category: best pacifier clips reviewed and top teething toys for 6-month-olds.