WHEN it comes to teething, there are few prices parents wouldn’t pay to give their babies some relief from the pain.
So when teething aids are reduced, it’s a welcome bonus.
One mum took to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook to share her epic find, after spotting an award-winning teething toy on offer in Aldi.
“£4.99 in Aldi!” she wrote, alongside a picture of the stand of Matchstick Monkey teethers.
On the stand, there were the original monkeys, in red or turquoise, as well as a blue elephant version, a brown fox one and a purple shark one.
There were also straps and wooden toys, although the price of those wasn’t clear.
The original Matchstick Monkeys are £10.99 in most stores, while special editions like the shark retail for around £13.99.
“I need to get myself to Aldi!” one person commented on the Facebook post.
“The elephant one looks cute,” another said.
“These are supposed to be good,” a third wrote, tagging a friend.
“If you haven’t gone one already deffo grab one next time you go shopping!” someone else wrote, again drawing a pal’s attention to the deal with a tag.
The teether has handles perfect for little hands to clutch, as well as textured bumps on the back of the monkey’s head.
As well as acting as relief for sore gums, the bumps can also be used to distribute teething gel for struggling tots.
And impressed parents were quick to share their positive reviews of the Matchstick Monkey on the website.
“My boy started teething at nearly 3 months and we have really struggled to find him some relief for him other than Calpol,” one wrote.
“Monkey means he can munch himself and get it to the right places in his mouth to ease his pain.
“Other toys he didn’t have the dexterity just yet to hold – we even tried mitts, but he pulls them off.
“Monkey has been a lifesaver – highly recommend so your baby can self soothe.”
WHEN it comes to shopping at Aldi, the best time to do so depends on what you want to buy.
For reduced items – when shops open
Red sticker items are rare at Aldi’s 830 UK stores, but the supermarket says that none of its food goes to waste so there are some to be found – if you’re quick.
A spokesman for the supermarket said: “All items are reduced to 50 per cent of the recommend sales price before stores open on their best before or use by dates.”
That means you have the best chance of finding reduced food items if you go into stores as soon as it opens.
Opening times vary by shop but a majority open from 7am or 8am. You can find your nearest store’s times by using the supermarket’s online shop finder tool.
For Specialbuys – Thursdays and Sundays
Specialbuys are Aldi’s weekly collection of items that it doesn’t normally sell, which can range from pizza ovens to power tools.
New stock comes into stores every Thursday and Sunday, so naturally, these are the best days to visit for the best one-off special deals.
For an even better chance of bagging the best items, head there for your local store’s opening time.
You don’t have to head into stores to bag a Specialbuy, though.
They also go on sale online, usually at midnight on Thursday and Sunday, and you can pre-order them up to a week in advance.
As long as you spend at least £25, you’ll get the items delivered for free.
Remember: once they’re gone, they’re gone, so if there’s something you really want, visit as early as possible
“We bought the Matchstick Monkey teething toy when Lucas started to show signs of his teeth moving about and it’s been brilliant,” another agreed.
“He loves chewing on it and it stops him chewing his hands which is great because I know the monkey has been sterilised which is more than I can say for his fingers!
“He really likes the toy and I’d definitely recommend it.
“Cleans easily, easy to sterilise, easy to grip and soft enough on their gums to be comfortable but hard enough to give them something to chew on.”
