Cutting teeth is a right of passage that all little ones must go through, and just like everything else, no two babies will make the transition from sweet toothless smiles to a mouth full of pearly whites in quite the same way. That said, nearly all children experience at least some discomfort while teething. Many parents try to avoid giving their babies conventional medications if at all possible, but no parent likes to see their child suffering. The following article will offer tips for soothing a teething baby without giving them potentially harmful medications.
One of the oldest and safest ways of treating a variety of ailments is through homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies are extremely safe and gentle with no adverse side effects or harmful drug interactions. Very simply, homeopathy works by encouraging the body’s own healing and soothing systems to work better. There are many pre-formulated homeopathic teething remedies available at health food stores. Teething remedies are available in gel form that can be rubbed onto sore gums, as well as in a soft ‘sugar’ pills that dissolve instantly and are safe for use even with very small babies. In both cases the taste is appealing and very few children will throw a fit and reject the remedies!
Another simple trick that often soothes babies both young and old is change the scenery! Weather permitting; take your little one outside for a walk and to enjoy the fresh air. Many times the change will calm a fretful child, get their mind off the discomfort of teething and allow them to settle down enough to take a restorative nap. If the weather isn’t accommodating, you can still change up the scenery and take advantage of yet another tried and true trick… take your little one for a drive to a favorite destination! The soothing rumble of a vehicle soothes most children to sleep. A lack of sleep in one of the number one causes of children becoming extremely fretful during teething. If you can get your little one to relax enough to take a good nap, they’ll often wake up feeling so much better.
If your little one finds comfort in chewing, a great way to keep him entertained and help relieve teething pain is to make your own chilled teethers. The simplest way to do so is to cut an old, thick towel into approximately 6x6 inch squares. Many children prefer to chew on a highly textured cloth than anything else. Dampen the towel (or other textured fabric) squares and place them in the freezer for a bit. You don’t want them to become frozen hard, just well chilled. Then let your child chew away and enjoy the soothing coolness! If your child finds heat more soothing, the cloth squares can be run under hot water and then given to your child. Another great teething treat is to freeze hunks of fruit (banana, apples, and melons work great). Wrap the frozen piece of fruit in a clean piece of fabric and secure inside the fabric with a rubber band (make sure the piece of fruit is well secure so it can’t come loose and become a choking hazard!!). Your little one will then have a soothing, cool teether to chew on that tastes great too! As the fruits melts and gets sucked/chewed through the cloth it will diminish in size, keep an eye out and replace the pieces of fruit as needed.
If you are nursing your child you may find that your baby wants to nurse more often for comfort. Take advantage of this by drinking soothing herbal teas such as chamomile. The herbs will help calm you (and hey, parents are often hurting just as much as the little ones since none one likes to see their baby suffer) and will be passed through your breast milk and will help calm your little one as well. Nursing in and of its self is a great source of comfort, so use that to your advantage and let your baby cuddle and nurse as needed. For older children, popsicles are often a great way to distract them from teething discomfort and provide a soothing cold treat. Popsicle making kits are available at most chain discount stores. By making popsicles as home you can use healthy fruit or vegetable juices so you know that your little one is getting a treat that is healthy as well as soothing!
Last but not least, there are many teethers available at stores that carry baby supplies. It may take some experimenting to figure out which texture(s) your baby prefers, but often times having a good chew toy will bring your baby a great deal of comfort. Most importantly, never underestimate the comfort of your arms and love when your baby is hurting.
