Congratulations to Matchstick Monkey Toy for winning Best Baby Toy 2019!!

The Mother & Baby Awards have been running for 25 years and are the most rigorous awards in the industry. Judged by the real experts – mums just like you! - you can be assured that every product is really put through its paces and tested vigorously.

Each year, the Mother & Baby awards put the very best baby, pregnancy and new mum products on the market through their paces.

Mother & Baby army of real mum testers - 1,300 mum apply to be tester - put the products through their paces by living with them for a month before giving us their real, honest opinion. This large team of testers means you can trust the Mother & Baby Awards 100%. This way only the best gear gets awarded and you can rest assured, the products below have the real mum seal of approval.

We all know how important it is to choose products that are reliable, high-quality and good value for money, so rather than trawling the shops, have a look through these winning products here:

Gold award winner: Matchstick Monkey Teething Toy

Silver award winner: Fisher-Price 2-in-1 Sit-to-Stand Activity Centre

Bronze award winner: Tiny Love Dynamic Gymini

Products were put through their paces over a period of six months in three different settings: at home in real-life situations, in a retail environment and online. The products submitted were assessed on quality, value for money, user-friendliness and innovation.

At a glance:

These innovative monkey teethers are ergonomically designed to reach right to the source of the teething pain with bumps on the back of the head. Teething trouble is a thing of the past with this range and these are the perfect companion for your little one to provide comfort.

Would you recommend this to other mums?

April: I would recommend the matchstick monkey - it is fun and colourful, easy to pop in the changing bag yet sturdy enough that my son can have a good chew and I don't have to worry that bits will break off. I love the little nobbly bits on the back of the head as I can pop teething gel on it and my son can chew away. It is easy to wash with warm soapy water and the colour hasn't faded at all.

How did this product make your life easier?

Philipa: This is a great toy for teething babies. Although I was initially put off by the monkey design, it has really grown on me. My baby loves it! It has a teething gel applicator which is a great addition and it can be put in the freezer to provide extra relief for a teething baby. It is easily cleaned in the dishwasher or steriliser.

Would you choose this product to win?

Jennifer: Yes definitely, if this happens to get lost I would buy another in an instant. It should win for its versatility, ease of use and clever design. It is lightweight, small, easy for baby to use and easy for parents to apply the gel to back teeth. It would also make a great gift for something a little different.

What changes would you make to this product?

Margaret: I would not change anything about this product. It is such a great teething toy. It really does give my little girl some much-needed relief. We have had some bad teething weeks and this monkey really helps. There are so many different aspects of the monkey that she can chew. The legs of the monkey are great for reaching the back teeth too. Wouldn't change a thing.

The original Matchstick Monkey Teething Toy, now sold worldwide in over 43 different countries, including Taiwan, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Japan, USA, UK, and so on. Matchstick Monkey is so successful, they not only come with teething solution, also coming with comforting organic cotton muslins and breathable blankets, plush monkey toys and gift sets.

Matchstick Monkey teether are suitable for steam and cold water sterilization, FDA approved food grade silicon, dishwasher safe and fridge friendly, BPA free, environmentally friendly. Matchstick Monkey teether can help develop motor skills from an early age.

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