Sophie la Girafe vs Matchstick Monkey: cual mordedor merece la pena?

COMPARISON · TEETHING

Two teethers dominate baby registries across the UK, and they could not be more different. Sophie la Girafe has been a nursery staple since 1961, a natural rubber giraffe with a distinctive squeak that babies have loved across three generations. Matchstick Monkey arrived in 2016 with a fundamentally different approach: a flat silicone figure designed around a specific problem, getting teething gel onto sore gums without parents needing to use their fingers.

Both are premium teethers. Both are adored by parents. But they are built from different materials, cleaned in different ways, and solve different problems. If you are trying to decide between the two, this comparison breaks down exactly where each one shines and where it falls short.

We researched parent feedback across multiple independent sources, compared specifications and materials, and scored each teether on comfort, safety, practicality, and value for money.

Lil' Bubba's verdicts

• Best Overall: Matchstick Monkey Original Teething Toy · 8.5/10 – practical design with gel application, easy cleaning, and an antimicrobial finish
• Best for Newborns: Sophie la Girafe Baby Teether · 8.0/10 – multi-sensory stimulation and a trusted natural material loved for over 60 years

	Sophie la Girafe	Matchstick Monkey
Material	100% natural Hevea rubber, food-grade paint	Medical-grade silicone, BioCote antimicrobial
Price	~£12.80	~£9.99
Age	0 months+	3 months+
Cleaning	Damp cloth only; do not submerge	Dishwasher, steriliser, and boil safe
Special feature	Squeaker for sensory play	Gel applicator bumps for teething gel
Weight	~75g	~29g
Rating

What to look for in a baby teether

Material. The two main options are natural rubber and silicone. Natural rubber is softer, more flexible, and has a distinctive feel, but it cannot usually be sterilised at high temperatures. Silicone is firmer, heat-resistant, and typically easier to clean. Both materials are food-safe when sourced from reputable brands.

Cleaning. This is where teethers diverge most. Some can go in the dishwasher, steriliser, and boiling water. Others, particularly those with squeakers or hollow sections, must be surface-wiped only. In a stage of life where everything goes in your baby's mouth, ease of cleaning matters more than you might expect.

Grip. Young babies have limited hand coordination. Look for teethers with thin sections, textured surfaces, or protruding arms that small hands can wrap around. A teether that a six-month-old cannot hold independently is a teether that ends up on the floor.

Size and portability. Teethers go everywhere: changing bags, car seats, pushchairs, grandparents' houses. Something lightweight and compact is more likely to be on hand when your baby actually needs it.

Sophie la Girafe Baby Teether / 10 · Best for Newborns

Sophie la Girafe is one of those baby products that transcends generations. First created in Rumilly, France on Saint Sophie's Day in 1961, this 18cm tall giraffe has been held, chewed, and squeaked by millions of babies worldwide. The appeal is immediate: she is lightweight, easy for tiny hands to grasp, and covered in high-contrast spots that newborns can actually see.

The material is 100% natural rubber from the Hevea tree, painted with food-grade paints. Every part of Sophie is designed to stimulate a different sense: the squeak engages hearing, the textured surface provides tactile feedback, the spots offer visual contrast, and the natural rubber has a distinctive scent. It is a genuine multi-sensory toy, not just a teething aid.

What parents love

• Multi-sensory design. The squeak, textured surface, high-contrast spots, and natural rubber scent engage all five senses. One parent shared: 'My baby has been through a variety of teethers and this one stacked up the best.'
• Natural materials. 100% natural Hevea rubber and food-grade paint mean no silicone, no plastic, no BPA, and no phthalates.
• Easy to hold from birth. The 18cm height and thin neck are designed for very small hands to grip, making it suitable from day one.
• Iconic gift. Sophie is one of the most recognised baby products in the world. Beautifully packaged and a reliably well-received present for new parents.

What to know before you buy

• Cannot be submerged. The squeaker hole means water can enter the interior, and if not dried thoroughly, mould can develop inside. One parent noted: 'The squeak is handy, but it does limit the ability to submerge the product for a thorough clean.'
• Surface cleaning only. You cannot put Sophie in the dishwasher, steriliser, or boiling water. A damp cloth is the recommended cleaning method.
• Higher price point. At around £12.80, Sophie costs more than most silicone teethers for what is, at its core, a squeaky rubber toy.

Best for

• Newborns from 0 months who need multi-sensory stimulation
• Parents who prefer natural rubber over silicone
• Gift-givers looking for a classic, premium baby present
• Families who want a teething toy that doubles as a sensory toy

Matchstick Monkey Original Teething Toy / 10 · Best Overall

Matchstick Monkey was born from a specific frustration: applying teething gel to a wriggling baby's gums using your finger is messy, imprecise, and often ends with bitten fingertips. The Original Teething Toy solves this with small bumps on the back of the monkey's head that hold teething gel and let your baby self-apply it exactly where it is needed.

The design is clever beyond the gel application. The thin arms act as easy-grip handles for small hands, the flat profile fits neatly into changing bags, and the entire toy is made from one solid piece of medical-grade silicone with a BioCote antimicrobial additive built into the material. Because it is solid, with no hollow sections and no squeaker hole, it is completely safe to submerge, sterilise, boil, or put through the dishwasher.

What parents love

• Built-in gel applicator. The textured bumps on the back of the head hold teething gel in place. One parent told us: 'The little nobbly bits on the back of the head mean I can pop teething gel on it and let her chew away.'
• Fully submersible and dishwasher safe. No hollow sections means no mould risk. You can boil it, sterilise it, or run it through the dishwasher with complete confidence.
• Lightweight and portable. At just 29g, it is 'very lightweight and small so you can take it everywhere,' as one parent put it.
• BioCote antimicrobial. The antimicrobial additive is built into the silicone itself, not a surface coating, providing continuous protection between cleans.

What to know before you buy

• Premium price for a teether. At £9.99, it is cheaper than Sophie but still more expensive than basic supermarket alternatives.
• Head may not reach back molars. Some parents report that the flat head does not extend far enough back to apply gel to erupting molars in older babies.
• Not universally accepted. A small minority of babies prefer chewing on other shapes or textures and do not take to the flat profile.

Best for

• Parents who use teething gel and want a mess-free way to apply it
• Younger babies who need an easy-grip teether for small hands
• Hygiene-focused families who want a fully sterilisable, antimicrobial teether
• On-the-go families who need something lightweight and bag-friendly

How to choose

If your baby is a newborn and you want a toy that does more than just soothe sore gums, Sophie la Girafe is the stronger pick. The multi-sensory design, with its squeak, textures, and visual contrast, makes it a toy that engages from day one, well before teething even begins. She is also the better gift: beautifully packaged and universally recognised. The trade-off is cleaning. You will need to be diligent about keeping the squeaker hole dry, and surface wiping is your only option.

If your priority is practical teething relief and easy cleaning, Matchstick Monkey wins on both counts. The gel applicator is genuinely useful once teething starts, and the ability to throw it in the dishwasher or steriliser without a second thought is a significant daily convenience. It is also lighter, cheaper, and more compact for travel. The trade-off is that it is more functional than magical: it does not have Sophie's heritage or sensory range.

Many parents end up with both, and that is not a bad strategy. Sophie for the early months of sensory play and general chewing, Matchstick Monkey for targeted gel application once the first teeth start pushing through.

Add it to your Nest

Found the right teether for your little one? Add it to your free BubsNest registry so friends and family know exactly what to buy. Because nobody wants five Sophie la Girafes and no teething gel applicator.