Can Babies Eat Teething Biscuits? Safety and Sugar
Most babies can have teething biscuits from about 9 months, once they are sitting up and handling finger foods. The real things to check are whether the biscuit truly dissolves (a hard chunk that breaks off is a choking risk), how much added sugar it has, and whether it hides milk or egg. Pick a dissolvable, low-sugar one and stay within arm's reach.
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- When to introduce
- From about 9 months
- Common allergen?
- Contains wheat; many also contain milk or egg, so read the label
- Texture
- Should truly dissolve or soften to mush in the mouth; a firm chunk that snaps off is a choking risk
- Key nutrients
- Mostly carbohydrate from wheat flour; often added sugar, so treat as an occasional snack, not a nutrition source
Somewhere around the six-month mark, a lot of us stand in the baby aisle holding a box of teething biscuits, wondering if it is a smart soothing tool or a marketing trick with a cute drawing on it. The honest answer is that it is a little of both. A teething biscuit is basically a firm wheat cracker shaped like a stick, designed to be gummed on. For most babies it is fine from about 9 months, once they are sitting up well and already chewing on finger foods. The catch is that "teething biscuit" is not a promise of safety or health. Some dissolve into harmless mush, some stay hard enough to break into a firm chunk, and many carry more added sugar than you would guess. So this page skips the guilt and gives you the actual sugar, choking, and allergen picture, plus how to make the whole thing work when you are tired and the gums are winning.
Why it matters: A biscuit that dissolves turns to harmless paste against the gums, while a hard one can break into a firm chunk that lodges in a small airway, which is why the dissolve test matters more than the label's promises.
Prep School: how to prepare teething biscuits for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées
Are teething biscuits safe? Choking & prep
Choose teething biscuits that truly dissolve. A hard biscuit that breaks into a firm chunk is a choking risk, so test it before you hand it over and take away any chunk that snaps off1. These contain wheat, and many are also sugary or contain milk or egg, so read the label every time, especially if allergens are a concern in your family. Always keep your baby sitting upright and stay within arm's reach while they eat, never letting them gum a biscuit in a car seat, stroller, or lying back1.
Log the first teething biscuit in YummyYucky and jot whether it was a yummy hit or a yucky betrayal face. Tracking new foods one at a time makes it easier to catch a reaction and remember which brand actually dissolved.
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Nutrition
Teething biscuits are mostly carbohydrate from wheat flour, so think of them as a snack and a gum-soother, not a source of the iron, protein, and healthy fats a growing baby needs. The bigger nutrition footnote is added sugar: many commercial ones are sweeter than they look. The CDC advises keeping added sugars out of the diet for babies under 2, so a low-sugar or unsweetened biscuit is the better pick, and an occasional one is nothing to fret over. If you want a version you fully control, a hard-toasted strip of plain bread does the same soothing job with no added sugar.
Goes well with
A cold (not frozen-solid) clean washcloth to alternate for gum relief · A wedge of soft ripe banana or avocado for a no-sugar gummable option · A chilled peeled cucumber spear (supervised, for older, confident chewers) · Plain water in an open or straw cup to wash down the sticky paste · A hard-toasted strip of your own bread as a lower-sugar homemade swap
Storage & freezing
Store biscuits in their sealed package or an airtight container in a cool, dry spot, and mind the best-by date since stale ones can go crumbly or oddly hard. Once a biscuit has been gummed and gone soggy, toss it rather than saving it. If you make a homemade toasted-bread version, keep it airtight for a day or two, but a fresher batch dissolves more kindly than an old rock-hard one.
More grains to explore
Introducing this allergen
Related reading
- Grains for babies: first cereals & whole grains →
- How to cut food to prevent choking →
- Signs your baby is ready for solids →
- Baby-led weaning vs. purées →
Common questions
Can babies eat teething biscuits?
Yes, most babies can have them from about 9 months, once they sit up well and are already handling finger foods. Choose one that truly dissolves, watch for added sugar and hidden milk or egg, and stay within arm's reach while they gum it.
At what age can I give a teething biscuit?
Around 9 months is a common starting point, but it is more about readiness than a birthday: your baby should sit upright unsupported and already be chewing soft finger foods. There is no need to rush; a cold washcloth soothes gums with zero choking or sugar to think about.
Are teething biscuits a choking hazard?
They can be. The danger is a biscuit that stays hard and breaks into a firm chunk instead of dissolving. Test one first by pressing or dunking it: if it turns to paste, it is the safer kind. If it snaps into hard pieces, skip it, and always take away any chunk that breaks off.
Do teething biscuits have too much sugar?
Many commercial ones have more added sugar than parents expect. The CDC recommends no added sugars for babies under 2, so look for a low-sugar or unsweetened biscuit and keep them occasional. It is not about guilt, just about not making a sugary stick the everyday habit.
Do teething biscuits contain allergens like milk or egg?
They contain wheat by default, and plenty of brands also include milk or egg. Labels vary a lot between products, so read the ingredients every single time, especially if your family is watching for an allergen. Introduce one new potential allergen at a time so you can spot any reaction.
How do I choose a safe teething biscuit?
Pick one labeled as dissolvable, then verify it yourself with the dunk-or-press test. Favor low or no added sugar, and check for milk or egg if that matters for you. A single whole biscuit your baby can grip works better than broken pieces they could stuff in at once.
Can I make my own lower-sugar teething biscuit?
Yes, and it is easy. A strip of plain bread toasted hard until dry gives the same soothing chew with no added sugar, and it softens as your baby gums it. A ripe banana half left in its peel for grip is another no-sugar, no-choking-chunk option for younger gummers.
Can teething biscuits replace a feeding?
No. They are a snack and a soother, not a meal, and they should not stand in for breast milk or formula, which remain the main nutrition source through the first year. Offer a biscuit between meals or during fussy teething moments, not as a substitute for milk feeds.
Sources
Further reading
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Starting Solid Foods
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Encourage and Limit
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Start tracking for freeLast updated July 2026. Next review January 2027. How we write these: grounded in widely published pediatric guidance (the AAP, WHO, the NIAID 2017 allergen guidelines, and the LEAP study), and pending independent review by a pediatric professional. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these.
This is general information, not medical advice, and has not been individually reviewed for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.
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