It happens almost instantly! That sweet, precious little baby becomes a drooling, fussy little monster. Your baby is still a cutie pie, but one that now requires bibs with every outfit and wants to chew on fingers, hair and anything within those little arms’ reach. This stage can last a while so it’s important to arm yourself with everything from Tylenol to teething rings. And if those don’t work, here are a few other remedies worth chewing on.
Frozen Fruit - Blueberries in a mesh feeding bag are so worth the mess for the relief and sweet taste they offer! I also like frozen fruit because it gives the opportunity to introduce new textures, tastes and gives baby a variety of chilly choices to sink their teeth (uh, gums) into.
Freeze Your Veggies too! – I like the frozen carrot stick. Pick one that is a bit floppy, peel it and place in a freezer bag so it is ready to grab and chew when needed.
Popsicles – Avoid the sugar and make your own. Fruit juices will allow you to serve up a variety of delicious and healthy pops; even a ‘plain’ flavor offers the same cold relief on gums.
Teethers – We’re all familiar with those teething rings you put in the freezer and fridge, but did you know a frozen wash rag can work great too! Or even an ice cube wrapped in a wash cloth (the cube sticks to the rag so it stays in place). You may find baby likes the relief of these chilly objects, but doesn’t want to hold them. Try a teether with a plastic handle or a teething pacifier; these deliver the cold to the gums and not the tiny fingers and hands.
Amber Beads
On the more mystical side of things many babies now done the Amber bead necklaces. Many moms swear by it. Having had a child in the ER due to bead swallowing I am not a huge fan of anything beads. If it was up to me girls would first experience beads on their wedding day and boys would simply skip bead wearing all along.
Magnets
Described as having healing powers by aligning the energy paths of your baby and correcting the disruption caused by teething magnets are an interesting option. When given a choice I would rather use a frozen rag.
While the chilly suggestions above can work wonders for those sore gums, we are not always near a freezer. Or sometime a slight fever will accompany the teething. This is why I always keep over-the-counter medicine options in the diaper bag. Just be sure you speak to your pediatrician about which medicines and dosages are age/ weight appropriate.
Always take your experience with your baby into consideration. It is for this reason, that sometimes a mother’s hand is the most effective thermometer. It is why you may skip gels in favor of teething tablets, or discover that homeopathic methods worked great for one child but were completely ineffective for another.
There is no true remedy for teething – aside from a full mouth of teeth, of course. But in the meantime, there are fingers, teethers, gels and the list goes on. This stage will pass and in the meantime, I hope you find the magical remedy (or combination of remedies) that works for your baby!
Image: CC Flickr.com/Indiewench
