Thursday, July 3, 2014

Dealing with teething pain naturally

Poor baby! Some children are relatively calm while teething, but others can be practically inconsolable.  It can break a parent's heart to watch you child scream for hours and not know what to do to help them.  Here are a few teething remedies that may just put that smile back on your child's face again.

Cold Things to Chew

Chewing on cold items can help to relieve teething pain naturally.  Think of it as an ice pack for baby's mouth.  Remember to always supervise your baby when they are handling anything small enough to choke on.

-- Dip a washcloth in breast milk, water, or chamomile tea and freeze
-- Offer chilled baby food at meal time if baby is ready for solids
-- Baby may chew on a large (not baby-sized!) carrot chilled in the refrigerator

Chewing Toys

There are a variety of chewing toys designed to ease teething pain on the market.  Materials such as hardwood, fabric, and leather are all good candidates.  Remember to buy teething toys from a reputable source.  Avoid anything that might contain dangerous chemicals or that may break or fall apart when subject to vigorous chewing and pulling.  Always inspect teething toys before handing them to your child to be sure that they are in good condition and do not pose a risk.

Amber Jewelry

Amber is a traditional, all-natural solution to pain relief that has been in use in some areas of the world for a long time.  It is said that the salacylic acid contained in baltic amber is activated by the warmth of your body temperature and released into your skin slowly over time.  For this reason, amber teething jewelry such as necklaces or bracelets should be worn continuously, and not reserved for times when your baby is showing signs of teething pain.  Some parents prefer to place amber jewelry around baby's ankle underneath a footed sleeper at night to eliminate any choking hazard while baby is sleeping.

Homeopathic Teething tablets

There are several brands on the market that make a homeopathic teething tablet whose active ingredient include things such as belladonna, chamomilla, german chamomile, and poke.  When used sparingly, these tablets can be a very effective teething solution.  The tablets are meant to be dissolved beneath the tongue and it takes only ten or so minutes before your baby will begin to feel some relief.  Many parents prefer to reserve these tablets for just before bed or nap time to help baby (and parents!) to get enough sleep.  Be sure to keep these and any other pills out of baby's reach and secured with a child-safe lock.  Even though they are made with only natural ingredients, there is such a thing as too much medicine!

Diluted Clove Oil

Clove oil has long been used for its medicinal properties, particularly when it comes to oral health.  Dip a cotton swab into the diluted solution and rub onto baby's gums for some fast-acting relief.  Never use undiluted clove oil, as this can burn baby's sensitive mouth.


The good news is that teething doesn't last forever.  Before long, your baby will be showing off some new teeth when he smiles.

Have you got a clever teething solution that worked for you?  Share below in the comments!




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