Bridget Levine didn’t want to hand her teething baby a plastic toy — so she tried something far more unexpected: a boiled steak.
The creator and mom of two has been documenting her motherhood journey on Instagram, @bridgetmlevine, where she shares the routines and tools she uses to help her baby daughter through teething. When she decided against a store-bought plastic teether, Levine turned to a food-based alternative.
“I try to be intentional about what my baby puts in her mouth, especially during teething when items stay there for long periods of time,” Levine says. “Many plastic teethers can contain additives or break down with heat and wear.”
She also says she prefers options that do more than simply distract.
“I like to think about whether something serves a purpose beyond just distraction,” she explains. “For us, food-based options felt more natural and supportive of both development and nutrition when used safely and under close supervision.”
Levine says steak stood out because of its nutritional value — especially iron.
“The idea came from learning more about early infant nutrition and oral development,” she says. “Babies have high iron needs early on, and steak is naturally rich in heme iron, which is the form of iron the body absorbs most easily.”
Beyond nutrition, she says the texture offers a different kind of sensory practice.
“It also allows babies to work their jaw and explore texture,” Levine adds. “Compared to plastic, it felt like something that could support both development and nutrition at the same time — even if very little is actually consumed.”
And according to Levine, her daughter was a fan.
“She was curious, engaged and excited to explore it with her hands and mouth,” she says. “There was no pressure to eat it. It was simply about exposure and experience.”
Her food-first approach, she says, doesn’t stop at teething. Levine has also shared other home-based comfort ideas, including frozen bone marrow “lollipops” as an alternative to cough syrup when her child has mild symptoms.
“When possible, I prefer food-based support before reaching for medication, especially for mild symptoms,” Levine says.
“Bone marrow contains fats and nutrients that can be soothing, and offering it frozen can also help during teething or general discomfort,” she explains. “Of course, I also use common sense and consult our pediatrician if something feels outside the scope of home support.”
Levine says the viral reaction to her videos has been surprising — but also motivating.
“The response showed me how many parents are curious about early nutrition, but feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start,” she says. That feedback, she adds, inspired her to create a Baby’s First Foods e-book, aiming to give parents clear, practical guidance and simple recipes in one place.
