Mouthing is a major developmental milestone, not just a symptom of teething. The mouth has more nerve endings than any other part of the body at this age, so it's how babies 'read' an object. Clutching toys strengthen the palmar grasp—that initial whole-hand hold that eventually refines into finger control.

Safety is paramount, but so is 'graspability.' We select items with thin loops or handles that tiny, uncoordinated fingers can actually hook onto. We also look for varied textures—bumps, ridges, and different materials—because a uniform texture becomes boring quickly to a sensory-seeking baby.