Safe and Durable TPE Materials for Baby Teethers

A baby's first smile, first step, and first words are milestones to remember. But not all firsts are worth celebrating, such as the first growth of teeth, which brings discomfort to those tender gums. When teething begins, babies chew on anything within reach. Teethers ease pain and irritation by applying gentle pressure that massages the gums, helping to calm fussiness and make teething more manageable. Using advanced materials such as thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) ensure teethers are hygienic, safe, and durable teething aid.

KRAIBURG TPE, a global manufacturer of thermoplastic elastomers and customized material solutions for diverse industries, offers THERMOLAST® K high-performance TPE series that combines flexibility, softness, and durability while remaining safe, making it ideal for teethers and other baby care products.

Standards-compliant for material safety and circularity 
THERMOLAST® K series compounds meet material safety standards, including GB 4806.7-2023, EN 71-3, Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, and US FDA CFR 21, making them suitable for baby care products where safety is a priority. The materials are free from animal-derived ingredients and contain no latex, PVC, phthalates, or heavy metals. They are also recyclable in PP and HDPE streams, contributing to material circularity and sustainability.

Strong adhesion to PP for multi-material design
THERMOLAST® K series compounds offer excellent adhesion to polypropylene (PP), enabling efficient overmolding that combines rigid and soft-touch elements, improving structural stability and ergonomic handling, and producing designs that are easy to use and safe for infants. Their optimized flow properties ensure smooth injection molding, allowing efficient production, precise replication of complex shapes, and consistent part quality in high-volume manufacturing.

Soft touch and processing efficiency
THERMOLAST® K series provides a soft, elastic surface suited for teethers, necessary to protect delicate infant gums while maintaining the durability required for frequent chewing and biting. The multifunctional materials also offer excellent colorability, allowing a wide range of vibrant and visually appealing teether designs that enhance brand differentiation and market competitiveness.

Sustainability from the get-go
At KRAIBURG TPE, sustainability drives our innovation. Our portfolio includes bio-based TPEs and compounds with post-consumer (PCR) and post-industrial (PIR) recycled content. Selected TPEs are certified under GRS and ISCC PLUS. We also provide Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data upon request to support sustainability decisions.
We proudly earned the EcoVadis Gold Medal in 2025 and are committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning our goals with global climate action.
From reducing emissions to increasing circularity, our sustainable TPEs deliver reliable performance and are available worldwide to support your applications while advancing your sustainability goals.
Get in touch today to learn how KRAIBURG TPE can support your sustainability and product development journey.
Discover More with TPE: Enhance everyday life with versatile TPE solutions designed for safety, comfort, and creativity. From pet toys to food containers, our materials help deliver better performance and smarter design in the products you use every day.

Disclaimer: The applications mentioned are illustrative of material capabilities only. Final product suitability and regulatory compliance must be assessed and validated by the customer.