Gerber debuts Soothe ‘n’ Chew teething sticks

Gerber’s line of teeth products has a brand-new addition.

New to the Arlington, Va.-based company’s portfolio is Soothe ‘n’ Chew, a line of grain-based teething products that were designed by experts and look to provide long-lasting comfort to little ones by massaging their gums.

“Gerber’s continuous priority is to innovate to meet families’ evolving needs,” Gerber president and CEO Bill Partyka said. “As parents turn to more natural alternatives for their little ones, we saw an opportunity to bring together our expertise in food and nutrition, infant development and natural product development to create something totally new for little ones.”

Specifically designed for infants and toddlers to use beginning at 6 months of age, the product features a taste of real bananas that looks to slowly soften and satisfy a child’s urge to chew when teething, and also contain an air bubble texture to massage and soothe the gums, the company said.

“While traditional methods can certainly be effective, we wanted to reach parents who are looking for alternative teething solutions that don't necessarily include plastic or medicine — that's where Soothe ‘n’ Chew comes in,” senior manager marketing of Gerber Snacks Mansi Kothari said. “Currently, there's no other product like this on the market, and we’re proud to bring this much-needed solution to parents.”

Parents can find Soothe ‘n’ Chew exclusively online at Walmart.com.

“To crack this innovation, our team focused on the experience of babies and how their developing senses guide their behavior,” Sarah Smith-Simpson, principal scientist at Gerber said. “We optimized the shape and length of Soothe ‘n’ Chew for babies starting at 6 months since they typically begin grabbing things with the entire fist at this age. Our goal was to introduce a long-lasting, edible product that can serve as baby's first teething snack, as opposed to a toy or medical treatment.”