Annie + Alex - Natural Beech Wood Cloud Teether Giveaway

Although having Coen makes me experience being a mum to a baby all over again, there are just some things that don't become easier even with prior experience. And one of it is going through this stage called "teething". Every baby goes through this nasty stage, and it can happen as early as 4 months old which "lucky" us and the babies - both Zoe and Coen had their first tooth just slightly after 4 months old. Firstly, they drool excessively, becomes somewhat more cranky, wakes up multiple times at night, tries to bite every single thing in sight and worse still for Coen's case, he bites us occasionally, (his teeth are so sharp that it cut right through my skin!), and lastly it makes breastfeeding problematic and a headache.

So, because teething babies chew anything and everything, we make sure that we have a variety of teethers at home and with us when we are out so that Coen can safely chew on them and ease his itch on his gums. And, today I would like to introduce to you Annie + Alex who carries teethers that are made of natural non-toxic beech wood that is entirely plastic-free!

 A short introduction of Annie + Alex

Annie  + Alex is run by Debbie, a mummy whose kids are none other than "Annie" and "Alex"! She started this business when her son Alex was teething, and was looking for alternatives to Sophie the Giraffe. When her daughter Annie was using it previously, her husband accidentally sat on it one day and it squirted out black mould! (INSERT SHOCKED FACE!) Hence, upon researching about teethers (which I will share below! It's so insightful!), this business idea was born! 

Speaking of which, we also had our bad experience with Sophie the Giraffe. When Zoe was teething, she had Sophie too and was chewing on it daily. But we soon realized that after washing it with water, the rubber smell was really strong and we felt uncomfortable letting her chew on something that does not seem really safe. I can't imagine the horror if I would have seen that mould squirting out from her giraffe!

Annie+Alex's designs are inspired by the Scandinavian minimalistic style, where colours used are pastels and wood, creating a soothing feel for both mama and bub. Through our products, Annie+Alex encourages the exploration of the auditory, visual and tactile senses, supporting the developmental growth of your little ones. Our teether products are made with natural non-toxic beech wood and 100% food grade silicone which is certified by International Standards - FDA and LFGB, and is free from BPA, lead, PVC and Phthalates.

Why Silicone and Beech Wood

Food-grade silicone is a non-toxic polymer and can withstand heating and freezing. It is odor and stain-resistant, hypoallergenic and very easy to clean, making it the perfect material for eco-friendly and non-toxic baby products in particular. Beech wood has a small grain so it's hard to get splinters from them. Additionally, studies have shown that some hardwoods (maple, oak and beech wood) have natural antibacterial properties.

I have always let Zoe and Coen chew on plastic teethers but to my surprise, Debbie shared with me that most teethers bought from stores that are made of plastic may contain BPA, PVC or phthalates. Just because a product is touted as BPA-free doesn’t mean it’s safe. BPA is a plastic chemical that mimics estrogen and disrupts the body’s hormonal systems. Though most regulatory bodies will tell you BPA is safe in the small quantities that appear in plastic products, many companies have chosen to produce and market BPA-free plastics. Except for one small detail: Many companies simply replace BPA with BPS which is just as toxic. 

Did you know?

PVC is the third most common plastic in the world — and also the most toxic. Hence you definitely don’t want it in something your kids will put in their mouths! In addition, Phthalates are chemicals added to plastics to make them soft and supple (something like a squeaky toy would require the addition of phthalates.) Phthalates don’t bond to plastic, so they leach out over time. Babies who suck on teethers containing phthalates will be ingesting a known carcinogen.

Freezable Teether Toys (those with gel or water centers) are very popular as it has been marketed to soothe baby's aching gums when frozen. However, these toys when frozen may crack or may be punctured by baby's teeth - and the leak is usually unnoticeable to the naked eye. The damage in the toys will result in bacterial contamination and is very harmful for babies who put them into their mouth on a daily basis. 

Other than teethers, Annie + Alex also sells teething necklaces in many pretty colors!

I just love all the cute wooden designs!

Giveaway Alert!

Good news! Debbie has kindly sponsored their newly launched wooded cloud teether for this giveaway! Simply follow the steps below to participate!

1. Follow "Annie + Alex" on their instagram"@helloanniealex"
2. Like "Jayme Shing" FB page here
3. Comment in this entry your name, email address and the beads' color of the your choice (click here to view colors)!

(Optional) For additional 3 entries - Follow "@JaymeShing" on Instagram and tag 3 friends in the post with Annie + Alex products!

This giveaway is open to those residing in Singapore only and ends 15 Feburary 2359hrs. You must complete the 1st three steps to be eligible for the giveaway!

CLOSED
Congratulations to Maryann Soh! We will be contacting you shortly!