Quick answer: Nuby covers feeding, teething, and everyday baby care rather than one flagship product. MacroBaby carries the Nasal Aspirator, Happy Hands Teething Mitten, benzocaine-free Gum-eez Teether gel, no-spill Wonder Cups, silicone feeding mats, and fork and spoon sets. One safety note worth knowing: the FDA has warned against benzocaine-containing teething products for children under 2.
Nuby's lineup spans feeding, teething, and general baby care, without one single product carrying the brand. Here's a real look at what's worth knowing about a few of its most useful categories, one important safety warning, and what MacroBaby carries.
Teething relief: what's actually safe
This is worth knowing plainly: the FDA has warned against using benzocaine-containing teething gels on children under 2, due to a rare but serious risk of methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder that reduces the amount of oxygen carried in the blood. The Nuby Gum-eez Teether pairs a textured teether with a benzocaine-free soothing gel, which matters more than it sounds given the FDA's specific warning on that ingredient. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a firm (not frozen) teething ring and gently massaging a baby's gums as safer alternatives to topical numbing products in general.
Choosing a teether by stage
Teething generally starts anywhere from 3 to 12 months, and what soothes a baby's gums tends to change as more teeth come in. In the earliest stage, before any teeth are visible, gentle gum massage and a soft, easy-to-grip teether tend to work well. Once the first teeth start pushing through, textured silicone teethers with more surface variation, like ridges or bumps, give more targeted pressure relief. Molar teething, which typically happens later, in the second year, often benefits from firmer teethers that can handle a stronger bite. It's worth having more than one texture and firmness on hand rather than assuming one teether will work through the entire process. Chilling a teether in the refrigerator, rather than the freezer, is generally the better move, too; a fully frozen teether can be hard enough to bruise sensitive gums, while a cold-but-not-frozen one still provides real relief.
The teething mitten: for babies who can't hold a teether yet
The Happy Hands Teething Mitten is built for babies who aren't yet coordinated enough to grip and hold a traditional teether, letting them gum the mitten itself while it stays secured to their hand rather than getting dropped or lost. It's rated for 3 months and up, with soft silicone designed to relieve sore gums while protecting a baby's own hand from teething-related scratching. It's also genuinely useful in the car or stroller, where a dropped standalone teether usually means either stopping to retrieve it or listening to a frustrated baby until you can.
Nasal congestion: manual aspiration over medication
The Nuby Nasal Aspirator comes with a travel case and multiple filters, and manually clearing a congested baby's nose is generally the safer approach compared to over-the-counter cold medications, which aren't recommended for infants and young toddlers. Saline drops used beforehand help loosen mucus, making manual aspiration more effective right after. Most pediatric sources recommend limiting suctioning to roughly 2 to 4 times a day, since overuse can irritate delicate nasal tissue and sometimes worsen swelling rather than help it.
When congestion needs a pediatrician, not just an aspirator
A nasal aspirator handles routine stuffiness, but it isn't a substitute for medical care when something more serious is going on. Call your pediatrician if your baby has any fever (any fever at all under 3 months old, or a high fever in an older baby), signs of labored breathing like rapid breaths, flared nostrils, or the skin pulling in around the ribs or neck, refuses to eat or drink over several feedings, seems unusually lethargic or difficult to wake, has thick green, yellow, or bloody nasal discharge, or has congestion that lasts longer than 2 to 3 weeks without improving.
Feeding and drinking essentials
Nuby's feeding lineup includes the Natural Touch silicone squeeze feeder for purees, no-spill Wonder Cups for the transition off a bottle, and stainless steel and silicone soft-tip spoon sets built for smaller hands learning to self-feed. The soft silicone tip is specifically designed to be gentle on emerging teeth and sensitive gums compared to a hard plastic or metal spoon edge.
The squeeze feeder: purees on the go
The Natural Touch silicone squeeze feeder deserves its own mention, since it solves a specific early-feeding problem: getting purees into a baby's mouth without a spoon, mess, or a highchair being strictly necessary. Fill it with fruit, vegetable, or yogurt purees, and let your baby self-feed by squeezing and sucking, similar to how they'd use a bottle. It's a genuinely useful bridge between purely liquid feeding and full spoon-feeding, and it travels well since it seals closed between uses. As with any feeding tool a baby puts in their mouth unsupervised for stretches, check the tip regularly for tears, and replace it if the silicone starts to look worn or sticky rather than smooth.
Silicone placemats: fewer mealtime cleanups
A silicone feeding mat is one of those products that seems minor until you're actually using it. Unlike a standard plastic placemat, most silicone versions suction directly to a highchair tray or table, which matters a lot once a baby realizes flinging a mat is more fun than eating off it. The raised edges also catch food and spills that would otherwise end up on the floor, and the material wipes clean or goes straight into the dishwasher rather than needing to be scrubbed by hand. It's a small addition to a feeding setup, but it noticeably cuts down on the amount of food that ends up anywhere other than a baby's mouth or the mat itself, which is worth something during the messiest stretch of learning to self-feed.
On the go: snack storage
The Nuby Snack Keeper is a small, spill-resistant container designed to let a toddler grab their own snacks in the car or stroller without dumping the contents everywhere, which matters more than it sounds once you're the one cleaning up crushed crackers from a car seat.
Building a basic teething and feeding kit
Most parents end up assembling a small rotation rather than relying on one product for everything. A reasonable starting kit covers one soft teether for the early stage, a benzocaine-free gel option like the Gum-eez for more intense discomfort, a teething mitten for a baby still too young to grip a standalone teether well, and a nasal aspirator on hand before the first cold shows up rather than after. Feeding-wise, a few soft-tip spoons, a squeeze feeder for purees, and a no-spill cup cover the bottle-to-solids transition without needing much else early on.
Sizing up as your baby grows
What worked at 4 months usually stops being the right fit by 9 or 10 months, and it's worth revisiting the kit rather than sticking with the same items out of habit. A newborn-stage soft teether often gets replaced by something firmer once molars start coming in, a squeeze feeder for purees tends to get set aside once a baby is ready for textured solids and a spoon, and a smaller sippy cup eventually gives way to an open cup or straw cup as fine motor skills improve. Checking product packaging for age and stage recommendations every few months, rather than assuming everything scales indefinitely, keeps the kit actually useful instead of just accumulating.
Caring for Nuby products
Most Nuby silicone and plastic feeding items are top-rack dishwasher safe or hand washable with warm soapy water; check the specific product's care instructions, since some cups with straw mechanisms need to be fully disassembled to clean properly and avoid mold buildup in hidden crevices. Teethers benefit from a regular check for tears or punctures, since a damaged silicone teether can trap bacteria in ways that are hard to fully clean. After using a nasal aspirator, take apart every piece that touched mucus and wash in hot, soapy water, then let it fully air dry before reassembling.
Shop Nuby at MacroBaby
MacroBaby carries Nuby's feeding, teething, and health care essentials. Browse the full Nuby collection online or visit our Orlando showroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is benzocaine teething gel safe for my baby?
No. The FDA has warned against benzocaine-containing teething products for children under 2 due to a rare but serious risk of methemoglobinemia. Look for benzocaine-free alternatives instead.
What age is the Nuby teething mitten for?
It's rated for 3 months and up, designed for babies who can't yet hold a traditional teether on their own.
Is a nasal aspirator better than cold medicine for a congested baby?
Generally yes. Manual nasal aspiration is considered a safer approach for infant congestion than over-the-counter cold medications, which aren't recommended for young children.
What are safer alternatives to numbing teething gels?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a firm, unfrozen teething ring and gently massaging your baby's gums as safer alternatives to topical numbing products.
How do I clean Nuby cups with straws?
Fully disassemble the cup, including the straw and valve pieces, and wash all parts separately to avoid mold buildup in hidden crevices. Check the specific product for dishwasher-safe guidance.
What age does teething usually start?
Teething generally starts anywhere from 3 to 12 months, and the type of teether that works best often changes as more teeth come in and a baby's grip and chewing strength develop.
Should I freeze a teether before giving it to my baby?
Chilling in the refrigerator is generally better than fully freezing. A frozen teether can be hard enough to bruise sensitive gums, while a cold-but-not-frozen one still relieves discomfort safely.
When should I call the pediatrician about my baby's congestion instead of just using an aspirator?
Call your pediatrician for any fever under 3 months old, signs of labored breathing, refusal to eat or drink over several feedings, unusual lethargy, thick or discolored discharge, or congestion lasting more than 2 to 3 weeks.
How do I know if a teether has been damaged and needs replacing?
Check periodically for tears, punctures, or cracks in the silicone. A damaged teether can trap bacteria in ways that are difficult to fully clean, even after washing.
