Tiny Monsters - modular teethers

baby gum modular monster pain plastic teeth teether toddler toy

RESEARCH:

Toddlers can not see as grownups do, and this is a well-known fact. They explore and learn the surrounding with their mouth, tongue and gums. After their eyes are developed enough, their teeth start to grow, and again, they need something to be in their mouth, to calm their swelling gums.

Also, they permanently want to play with new toys, and this is not a secret too.

So, in my project, I have decided to combine these two shreds of evidence and create a solution in a teethers form.

I made this useful toy as a sort of a modular syetem that can be assembled in different ways thus a child can receive every day "a new toy". Multiple features and different textures encourages fine motor skills and calms swelling gums while teething.

This modular teethers system should be a perfect solution for the long period of time.

Of course, I thought how can do it in a fun way, that parents and babies will want to use it.

SKETCHES:

This toy is perfect for outdoor and indoor amusement. Due to its multi-stage concept, these teethers set that can be played also by grownup kids.

One of the primaries parts of my project was developing the best connector between the teethers. It should be durable enough for safety and without small parts that can choke a toddler.

CONNECTOR DEVELOPING:

After sketching I started to make prototypes, firstly using things around me and after that I made 3d model and painted several options on 3d printer.

FINAL CONCEPT:

After a pile of baby products that I have reviewed I came to conclusion that most of them are smiling animals and happy clouds, I took a decision to design imaginary creatures, based on an abstract shapes. This decision gave me the fun I was looking for and the freedom in design.

In addition it makes the user be more creative while combining parts of the teethers into "new" toy and also increasing numbers of possible variations (more "new toys" you have).

The teethers could be everything you want and every combination will be a new creature. There is no "the right way" to use it and this is also a game (also for grownups).

I called them TINY MONSTERS!