Five natural remedies for a teething toddler | Pure Natural Mom

Photo: Jeff Jacobson

Right around the time you and your partner start getting used to sleeping a solid six to eight uninterrupted hours at night, your baby's teeth are likely to start coming in, bringing an end to that relief. Each baby is different, and teething times can vary from baby to baby. Some may already have a tooth or two at birth, while others may not get one until after her first birthday. One thing is very nearly certain: teething is no fun. Some babies seem to tolerate cutting teeth simpler than others, but there's a reason they call it "cutting," as most babies will experience some form of pain or ache. Try these natural relief remedies to help your sweet one through the process.

Homemade teethers soaked in chamomile

There are several different methods by which you can make a homemade teether, but this one worked well for our daughter: cut a clean cloth napkin into strips, about one inch wide down the length of the napkin. Soak the strips in some strong chamomile tea, tie the strips into several knots, then freeze them. (It's best to freeze them separately so they are simple to individually take out later.) The chamomile tea is a soothing relief for a teething baby and can even help with upset stomachs (bonus!), the knots give her something to chew on, and freezing the strips also helps provide an extra level of relief for persons sore gums.

Frozen fruit

Obviously, you'll want to ensure your baby isn't allergic to the fruit first. But just about any fruit can be frozen, and when you wrap it in some cheese cloth or muslin (we like these, too), you can let your baby provide her own relief while still keeping her safe from choking hazards.

Let your baby bite down on your finger

Perhaps not the most elegant solution to the teething problem, and certainly a perilous one once several teeth have already come in, but offering your baby one of your fingers is a time-tested way of providing some instant, comforting relief. Make sure your hands are clean, of course, and don't let this become your baby's fundamental method of relief or you'll soon need to find relief of your own. But for whatever reason, your finger is more often than not just so the thing your baby needs to feel a small better while cutting.

Homeopathic medicines

Our baby has veteran varying levels of success using products like Boiron's Camila Teething Medicine (found here). While homeopathic remedies are not necessarily the most reliable, they are a excellent choice to have around. During the most painful moments during the teething process (especially in the middle of the night), when a well-positioned finger or frozen fruit choice just isn't a excellent choice, this can come in hand. Several homeopathic teething remedies are simple to use and can provide just the right relief your baby needs to get through the night.

Be creative

While teething can be painful for babies, often times it's more uncomfortable than painful. During these times, something as simple as distracting your baby from her ache can provide all the relief she needs. So get creative! Go for a walk, sing her a song, jangle some keys in front of her. My own baby, for whatever reason, can't get enough of me placing her on a bed and dropping a pillow onto her torso and legs. She just likes it! Any ancient thing your baby likes can often be just what the doctor ordered.

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That’s me. I’m an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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