Infantino Water Teethers vs. Baby Einstein Opus the Octopus

Infantino Water Teethers and Baby Einstein Opus the Octopus both help your baby through the teething gauntlet, but they take genuinely different approaches to getting there.

Infantino Water Teethers are colorful plastic rings filled with purified water. Chill them in the fridge for half an hour, and your baby gets cold, smooth surfaces to gnaw on when their gums are at their angriest. They come in multi-packs, they cost very little, and they are built specifically for cold soothing.

Baby Einstein Opus the Octopus is a silicone teether shaped like a small, friendly octopus. Each tentacle has a different texture — ridges, bumps, smooth stretches — so babies can explore a range of surfaces with their mouths. Opus does not rely on cold. It relies on giving baby something genuinely interesting to chew on.

We compared materials, soothing methods, safety, cleaning, durability, and cost so you can decide which teether belongs in your diaper bag.

For more on what to expect during teething, check out our baby teething chart.

Both teethers are safe. The materials are different, but neither one should give you a reason to worry.

Infantino Water Teethers use a BPA-free plastic shell filled with purified water. The water is sealed inside during manufacturing and stays there. The plastic meets all CPSC safety requirements. There are no harmful chemicals in the mix.

Baby Einstein Opus is made from food-grade silicone — the same type of silicone used in baby bottle nipples and pacifiers. It is soft, flexible, and holds up well to repeated chewing. No BPA, PVC, phthalates, or latex.

The practical difference is that Opus is a single solid material with no sealed chambers, while Infantino has an internal water reservoir. Both are safe. Opus is simply easier to inspect because there is nothing hidden inside.

This is where the choice gets personal, because it depends on what your baby actually responds to.

Infantino Water Teethers soothe through cold. Chill them in the fridge, hand one to baby, and the cool temperature numbs sore gums. For babies in the middle of a rough teething stretch — the ones who are drooling through every bib, fussing at feeds, and waking up at night — cold teethers can feel like a genuine rescue. The relief is immediate and physical.

Baby Einstein Opus soothes through texture. Each tentacle gives baby a different chewing surface — some ridged, some bumpy, some smooth. Babies who are natural explorers tend to gravitate toward Opus because there is always a new tentacle to discover. The octopus shape is also engaging as a toy, which means baby might reach for Opus even when they are not actively teething.

Here is what we have heard from a lot of parents: some babies are cold cravers and some are texture explorers, and you might not know which one you have until you put both options in front of them. It is perfectly reasonable to own both.

This is one area where Opus has a meaningful advantage.

Baby Einstein Opus is made from solid silicone, which means most versions are top-rack dishwasher safe. You can also hand-wash with warm soapy water. Silicone does not absorb odors or harbor bacteria the way some other materials can. There are no internal chambers where water can sneak in and grow mold. You wash it, dry it, and hand it back to baby. Simple.

Infantino Water Teethers need a bit more care. Wipe them down with a damp cloth and mild soap — do not submerge them and do not put them in the dishwasher. Water can work its way into the sealed chamber through tiny gaps, and once it does, mold can follow. You will also want to inspect the water seal regularly for any cracks or cloudiness inside. If something looks off, toss the teether and open a fresh one.

For parents who want the lowest-maintenance teether possible, Opus wins this round without breaking a sweat.

Baby Einstein Opus is built to take a beating. Solid silicone is tough — there are no seams to split, no water seals to crack, and no internal chambers to compromise. Heavy chewers can gnaw on Opus daily for months and it holds its shape. Many parents report Opus lasting through the full teething journey and still being in good enough condition to hand down to a younger sibling.

Infantino Water Teethers are durable for their price, but the water seal is the weak link. Babies who chew aggressively on the same spot can eventually cause small leaks. Most sets hold up for three to six months of regular use before showing wear. The upside is that replacing them barely registers on your budget — a new set costs less than a coffee.

If longevity matters most, Opus has the advantage. If you prefer to rotate through fresh teethers regularly and keep costs low, Infantino makes that easy.

Unlike some teether matchups where there is a big price gap, this one is closer than you might expect. Both products fall firmly in the budget-friendly category.

Infantino Water Teethers run $5–$9 for a set of three or four, which works out to roughly $1.50–$3 per teether. That is hard to beat, especially when you want multiples in the fridge on rotation.

Baby Einstein Opus costs $6–$10 for a single teether. More expensive per piece than Infantino, but still well under $10. And because Opus tends to last longer and does not need replacing as often, the cost-per-month can be comparable.

A few things worth noting:

• Infantino gives you backups — having three or four teethers means one can be in the fridge, one in the diaper bag, and one in baby's hands at all times
• Opus works without a fridge, so you are not stuck at home waiting for a teether to chill
• You could buy both for under $20 total, which is less than a single premium teether from some other brands
• Check for bundle deals on Amazon — both brands occasionally offer multi-packs or gift sets at a discount

This is where your daily routine matters.

If you are mostly at home and have easy fridge access, Infantino Water Teethers fit right into your flow. Chill a few, grab one when baby starts fussing, and rotate them throughout the day. The system works well in a predictable setting.

If you are out and about a lot — errands, daycare drop-offs, trips to the park — Opus is the more practical pick. It soothes through texture, not temperature, so it works exactly the same whether you are sitting on your couch or standing in line at the grocery store. No planning ahead, no insulated bags, no worrying about whether it has warmed up too much.

Many parents use both: Infantino at home where the fridge is steps away, and Opus in the diaper bag for everything else.

The Infantino Water Teethers (~$5–$9 for a set of 3–4) are one of the most affordable teething solutions you will find. Chill them in the fridge, keep a few on rotation, and hand one to baby whenever those gums start acting up. Available at Walmart, Target, Amazon, and most grocery stores.

The Baby Einstein Opus Teether (~$6–$10) is a durable silicone teether with eight textured tentacles that give your baby plenty of surfaces to explore. It works anywhere, cleans easily, and holds up to months of heavy chewing. Grab it on Amazon, Target, or Walmart.

At a combined cost of under $20, owning both is a smart move — Infantino for cold relief at home, Opus for texture soothing on the go.

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Infantino Water Teethers and Baby Einstein Opus the Octopus are both solid teethers at friendly price points, and the choice between them comes down to how your baby likes to be soothed.

Infantino Water Teethers are the pick when your baby needs cold relief and you want the lowest per-teether cost. The multi-pack format means you always have a chilled one ready to go. They are purpose-built for active teething and they deliver on that promise.

Baby Einstein Opus is the pick when you want a durable, multi-textured teether that works anywhere without preparation. The silicone is easy to clean, the tentacles give baby plenty to explore, and there are no water seals to worry about. It is a teether that doubles as a sensory toy.

For most families, the honest answer is: grab both. A set of Infantino Water Teethers for the fridge and an Opus for the diaper bag covers just about every teething scenario you will face, and the total investment is less than $20.

If teething is throwing off your baby's feeding schedule — and it often does — tinylog helps you log feedings and track patterns so you can bring real data to your pediatrician instead of trying to remember which days were rough.

• Infantino. "Water Teethers — Product Details." infantino.com, 2026.
• Baby Einstein. "Opus the Octopus Teether — Product Information." babyeinstein.com, 2026.
• Amazon.com. "Infantino Water Teethers — Customer Reviews." 2025–2026.
• Amazon.com. "Baby Einstein Opus the Octopus Teether — Customer Reviews." 2025–2026.
• American Academy of Pediatrics. "Teething: 4 to 7 Months." healthychildren.org, 2025.
• FDA. "Safely Soothing Teething Pain and Sensory Needs in Babies and Older Children." fda.gov, 2024.
• BabyGearLab. "The Best Baby Teethers, Tested & Ranked." babygearlab.com, 2026.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Teether choice is a personal preference based on your baby's needs and your family's values. Always supervise your baby during teething and inspect teethers regularly for damage. Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby's teething symptoms.