Baby Teething Remedies – How To Survive The Dreaded Season of Teething
Oh, the dreaded time of teething.
Maybe your little one is like our first child and handles teething like a champ! Brady had one episode of teething at four months old that let me know something was “off” – and honestly the tooth did not erupt for another 3 months, so I cannot be 100% sure that he was teething then. But other than that, when we would find a new tooth in Brady’s mouth we were surprised. He rocked the season of teething out of the park.
Or, maybe your little one is like our second child and those pesky teeth are the boss. In all honestly, the Tooth Fairy has an evil twin and her name is the Teething Fairy – that is how it has felt every time Isaiah showed signs of teething. We are working on the last fang, I mean canine tooth and then we will be done until the unforgiving two-year molars make their appearance. But the time before this, Isaiah popped 5 teeth at once, yes I said it – 5!
Between Brady and Isaiah is a 4.5-year age difference. Originally we wanted our children to be 3 – 3.5 years apart, but life does not always go according to plan and unforeseen circumstances gave us an Angel Baby while we were trying to conceive. But that is another topic for another post.
Back to those teething babies. A lot changed between the teething timeline for Brady and the teething timeline for Isaiah. We live in a time where now more than ever we have access to information, we are more knowledgeable and demand companies to care and trust about our little ones even half as much as we do.
Now, I was a first-time mom when Brady was born, so I would love to say that ignorance is bliss. I am thankful Brady is a happy and healthy 6 year old, because when he was teething I used products that have since been recalled. But 4.5 – 5 years ago, I didn’t know different. Although I will say that I was smart enough never to use whisky on his gums, although my mother-in-law tells me that is what she used to do with my husband.
I will never forget the night when Brady was four months old and he was fussy as could be. We tried the warm bath, the rocking back and forth, the laying on mom’s chest – but nothing was working. I felt in his mouth, and although no teeth were through the gums, I remember thinking that his gums felt hard and were a bit white.
So, I turned to the Hyland’s Teething Tablets and Baby Orajel for relief. I think I even made a Facebook post about it. This was in late 2012. A lot has changed since then. Both in the industry, but also personally. In the 6 years, I have been a mom, I have become a lot more conscious about what I put in and on our bodies, for both me and my children.
Isaiah showed signs of teething at 2 months old, and in early 2017 I knew that there had to be something different, if not better to help Isaiah through the pain and discomfort associated with teething.
Now, I am not a medical professional. These are just my tips, tricks, and remedies that we used to help our family keep some sanity while we waited for Isaiah’s teeth to erupt through the gums. I am a mom, just like you, with an interest in helping others to impact and strengthen families.
Be Aware: Baby Teething Remedies Recalls
The two products I used for Brady: the Hyland’s Teething Tablets and Baby Orajel have both been recalled as of April 2017 and May 2018. You can read more about the recalls here:
Hyland’s Teething Tablet Recall – April 2017 due to the inconsistent amounts of belladonna alkaloids. The FDA believes that belladonna represents a serious health hazard in children and that the effects of belladonna are unpredictable (fda.gov).
Baby Orajel Recall – May 2018 due to the product containing benzocaine, used for the temporary relief of sore gums due to teething in infants or children. There are risks associated with benzocaine products for methemoglobinemia, which is a dangerous condition that is the result of elevated levels of methemoglobin in the blood and can lead to death due to the decreased amount of oxygen carried through the blood.
I will say that for any parent concerned about your little one’s discomfort with teething, trust your gut – you know your child best. But it is always a good idea to refer to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) recommendations.
Again, I want to point out that I am not a medical professional in any way, but I have discussed our teething remedies with my children’s pediatrician and I am confident in my decisions for my children.
How to Survive the Dreaded Teething Season – The Second Time Around
*This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you link on a click and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. This is at no added cost to you.
Once I got over the #momguilt of giving products to Brady that have now been known to be dangerous, I continued to provide a safe and healthy life for my family. I have tried to incorporate a more natural life for us, but I will be honest, I am not 100%. No one is. We are not perfect. I have a lot of stuff in our home because of the convenience, factor, but one thing I was diligent about was providing as many natural remedies as possible during Isaiah’s season with teething.
I’m talking about the good ol’ cold/wet washcloth. I recommend keeping one-half of the washcloth dry so that your little one’s hand doesn’t get too cold or wet.
Frozen Fruits and Veggies*
- Frozen Peas
- Frozen Blueberries (One of Brady’s favorite snacks as a young toddler was a bowl of frozen peas and blueberries together)
- Frozen banana popsicle
- Carrot Stick
- Celery Stick
- Cucumber wedge
*I recommend keeping baby supervised when giving them raw veggies. While they will feel good on the gums, be careful as they start to disintegrate after lots of gnawing.
SILICONE TEETHING NECKLACE FOR MOM
Since becoming a mom, my fashion has taken a backseat. I wear my watch and charm bracelet that Nick gave me as gifts, however, I said goodbye to earrings and necklaces shortly after Brady was born (5 ½ years ago). I didn’t want to worry about little hands tugging at the pretties in my ears or have to worry about necklaces getting in the way.
But, that changed when Isaiah was born because I found out about TEETHING JEWELRY FOR MOMS. SAY WHAT?! Well, it is not jewelry for moms, it is actually for the baby, but it is worn by moms. A fun fashion statement.
I actually wore a teething necklace for the first date-night Nick and I went on when Isaiah was about 2 weeks old. It was just the two of us, but that is how stinkin’ cute these things are!
The added bonus is that because the teething necklace is worn around mom’s neck, our babies can’t drop them and you can easily wash them #nogermshere.
Both the Chewbeads Perry Teething Necklace and the Goobie Baby Zoe Teething Necklace in Pearl are my favorite silicone teething necklaces. These are both made of food-grade silicone.
Now, sometimes, wearing a necklace is not ideal and we may have to resort to teething toys. I’ve got a few of those too.
(I know I just talked about keeping the germs away, but you have to think of the great hand-eye coordination and the gross/fine motor development that takes place when our babies play with toys.) Remember too, germs are not ALWAYS bad. Sometimes we have to let our babies live and explore.
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE TEETHING TOYS
SOPHIE THE GIRAFFE – Sophie for short
Now, Sophie is a toy that has stood the test of time. Brady loved his Sophie. (And it doesn’t hurt that giraffes are my favorite animal). 🙂
Of course, we got Isaiah a new Sophie.
Sophie The Giraffe is made from 100% natural rubber and by the magic of her creators in 1961, Sophie has been loved by countless babies around the globe.
You may have heard about the warning that Sophie the Giraffe may be filled with mold. Please do your due diligence. Exposure to mold in toys is usually not something to be alarmed about unless your child has an immune disorder (Dr. Lyuba Konopasek in an article on care.com). We all know that mold is generally not dangerous, even though it is never welcomed.
Sophie should not be kept for a long period of time. She should be cleaned regularly with soapy water and a washcloth – DO NOT SUBMERGE SOPHIE IN WATER.
Use your best judgment and your kids will be fine. 🙂
VARIOUS TEXTURE/MATERIAL TEETHING TOYS
3 of our favorite toys are from a local shop in Cedar Spring, Michigan. In early 2017 mompreneur and small business owner opened The Bitten Mitten™. You can learn more about her wonderful shop HERE.
- We have the Go Blue – Michigan Teether
- Personalized Double-Ring Rattle Teether
- Limited Edition USA Wooden Ring Teether
- The beads are made of food-grade silicone
The wooden rings are made of beechwood which is naturally antimicrobial, non-splintering, and left unfinished.
I want to add, that one of the things that I find awesome about The Bitten Mitten™ is that Miranda already has a few other States and she will take requests to make Teethers and Swaddlers for your state!!!
TEETHING REMEDY – LINKING RINGS
Isaiah also loves the little linking rings. They are the perfect size for his little hands to hold onto. The size of the ring itself fits perfectly for Isaiah to chew on both sides of his mouth.
TEETHING REMEDY – dr. Brown’s teether
The little watermelon teether is a Dr. Brown’s Coolees’ teether. It is freezer safe and stays cool for quite some time.
TEETHING REMEDY – the strawberry teether
And then there is the Strawberry Teether by Infantino. Isaiah has fun with this one because when he bites down, the teether vibrates.
teething remedy for baby – BALTIC AMBER TEETHING NECKLACE*
Amber is fossilized resin, produced by trees over time due to oxidation and polymerization. Large rivers wash out the resin from the forest ground into the sea where the Amber is collected by people. Depending on the region of origin, the age and type of Amber vary.
There is the younger Amber – Dominican (aged 24- 30 million years), and then the older Amber-Baltic (aged 35- 60 million years). *Also note that Copal is not fully fossilized resin, which is commonly referred to as immature Amber (aged 50 years – 1.5 million years).
Found on the coastline of the Baltic and the North Sea, Baltic Amber is most valuable since it contains Succinic Acid.
Succinic Acid is a known anti-inflammatory said to be absorbed through direct contact with skin when warmed by body temperature.
The longer you wear it, the more beneficial it becomes. Suggested use – daily, with adult supervision.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Now, I will be honest, I was first introduced to Amber Teething Necklaces while working in a licensed child-care center and our Brady was still teething. I was a skeptic and did not care to look into the Amber Teething Necklaces. But after conducting my own research and making my own informed decisions, I figured that we had nothing to lose and I decided to invest in a couple of Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces for Isaiah I purchased ours from Baltic Wonder on Amazon.
BANDANA BIBS – teething in style
All.The.Drool. It is non-stop.
Again, I was not prepared for how much drool was to come with a teething monster.
Brady hardly ever drooled. Isaiah on the other hand, he drools and drools and drools.
My personal opinion, I am not a fan of traditional bibs. Thank goodness Brady didn’t really need bibs when he was younger. I mean, I would have put them on him if we absolutely had to, I know teething is not a fashion show… but I can’t help but want my little boys to still look cute and stylish.
So, you can imagine how happy I was to see how popular the bandana bibs have become!
Good quality bandana bibs are not only stylish, but functional, and absorbent. I call that a win-win-win! I purchased Bandana Bibs for Isaiah from Matimati Baby from Amazon.
the best teething remedy – LOTS OF CUDDLES AND LOVE
Let’s be honest, life with a teething baby can be hard. Isaiah is the classic definition of a teething baby. He is not afraid to let you know that he is uncomfortable.
While it may be easy to become frustrated with the crying, please remember that your baby needs you. Mama, you are the source of comfort for your little one.
Find peace in both your heart and mind and take in the extra cuddles. I know I sure do.
Isaiah certainly is Mr. Independent. He wants to be like his big brother. And most nights he will put himself to sleep after I lay him in his crib.
But on the days when teething is exceptionally rough, Isaiah wants his mama just a little bit more. I know it won’t be like this for long.
Isaiah has a little lovely and plenty of Swaddle Blankets. We sit together and for a moment, we are at peace. A few of my favorite Swaddle Blankets are from: Modern Burlap®, The Bitten Mitten™, and Wink Naturals*.
*#winkimpact from Wink Naturals provides a Swaddle blanket to a baby in need with each Wink Swaddle purchased.
COOL GUMS TEETHING GEL FROM WINK NATURALS*
I happened to find the COOL GUMS Teething Gel by Wink Naturals after I had been Google Searching Natural Remedies for Teething.
With a 100% Happy Guarantee and countless positive reviews, I placed an order for the teething gel.
This stuff is amazing! Immediately I could see that it provided relief for Isaiah. We have used the teething gel since Isaiah was about 3 ½ months old.
Isaiah makes the cutest little happy face, and opens his mouth wide open when he knows the teething gel is coming.
The tube is the perfect size for Isaiah’s little hands and mouth. This has become a favorite toy in our house.
The COOL GUMS Teething Gel is Natural and 100% Drug Free. Ingredients include a safely diluted amount of peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils to cool the gums – no numbing or masking of the teething symptoms*.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
If you are interested in learning more about Wink Naturals or the Wink Naturals Venture Program, click HERE. I am a proud Founding Member of their Venture Program that launched in March of 2017. With a mission to “Impact and Strengthen Families” I joined the Direct Selling Opportunity as a side, side hustle to compliment my blog and vision to help others find and be there best self.
If you are interested in trying the COOL Gums Teething Gel or any other product that may help you or your family, I have a 15% off gift for you.
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