Teething Hacks to Make Your Baby Feel Better

Four budding teeth! My poor baby girl is struggling because four teeth are trying to make their debut and her tender little gums are hurting. As a momma, you never want to see your child in pain or suffering in any way. As she struggles with the pain, I immediately do Google search after Google search to hear what remedies others have used to relieve the pain.

This teething pain is new to me despite having two children prior to Tawny, 13 months old. My two older girls were champs when it came to teething and, quite frankly, I didn’t even know when their teeth were coming in. This time around, my baby girl’s teeth are bulging and look extremely painful. I have done every natural remedy in the books. Here were her symptoms around teething in case you are in the same boat:

• Swollen, tender gums
• Fussiness and crying
• A slightly raised temperature (less than 101 F)
• Gnawing or wanting to chew on hard things
• Lots of drool
• Changes in eating or sleeping patterns

Life was rough for a good 2-3 weeks as she worked her way through the teething process. We were at a loss for what to do. After researching different techniques, we FINALLY found some answers and answers that worked. I thought it would be a good idea to share what techniques worked for us.

• Rub your baby’s gums. Use a clean finger or moistened gauze pad to rub your baby’s gums. The pressure can ease your baby’s discomfort.
• Keep it cool. A cold washcloth, spoon or chilled teething ring can be soothing on a baby’s gums. Don’t give your baby a frozen teething ring, however.
• Try hard foods. If your baby is eating solid foods, you might offer something edible for gnawing — such as a peeled and chilled cucumber or carrot. Keep a close eye on your baby, however. Any pieces that break off might pose a choking hazard.
• Dry the drool. Excessive drooling is part of the teething process. Having a teething ring, fingers or other objects in the mouth produces saliva. To prevent skin irritation, keep a clean cloth handy to dry your baby’s chin. Consider applying a moisturizer such as a water-based cream or lotion.
• Try an over-the-counter remedy. If your baby is especially cranky, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Children’s Motrin, others) might help.

**Avoid homeopathic teething tablets and teething medications that contain the pain reliever benzocaine or lidocaine. They can be harmful — even fatal — to your baby.