Ten years ago when our first baby was teething, the only natural teething alternative to Tylenol and OraGel I knew of was Hyland's Teething Tablets. They worked wonders the first couple of times, then their magic seemed to wear off. Fast forward to a new decade and there are oodles of natural teething remedies to choose from. My friends who know of my crunchiness so well absolutely lavished us at Joseph's baby shower with natural teething options to try out. Here are a few items that have proven their worth with our babe:
Camden Rose Cherry Rattle
Who says the flashy plastic toys are the way to a baby's heart? This simple, non-toxic wooden rattle captivates our little guy and can change the face seen above to this fascinated expression in a matter of seconds (these two pictures were literally snapped less than a minute from each other).
When up against the body, amber is warmed and releases succinic acid, which is known to help immune system function and has calming and anti-inflammatory properties. I wasn't so sure about whether it would be effective or not, but after I put one on him, Joseph went from irritable to noticeably more calm in a matter of minutes. Amazing!
He may only be three months old, but this cotton terry cloth bunny has a calming effect on him every time. Another trick I learned is to soak and freeze a washcloth and allow the teething babe to gnaw on it. The cold, stiff cloth feels good on their little gums. This same concept can be used on the bunny.
This squeaky giraffe teether is made with natural rubber (not plastic) and was given it's color using food grade paint. Her limbs are easy handles for babies and contrasting colors keep them fascinated.
But here's the deal. Sometimes every gadget pushed at the poor teething tot can be met with further cries of exasperation. I don't know about you, but this seems to happen when I have a full day ahead of me with so much to take care of. That's when (after calming my own self down) I take a deep breath, remember this little person will be ten years old before I know it, let go of the day's chores for a bit, and give him a little cuddle. This always proves to be the most effective method in both result and cost. The best things in life are free (and usually inconvenient). He might even doze off in my arms and I find myself all the more peaceful as I lay him down for a nap and pick back up with the demands of the day.
Hey katie..
ReplyDeleteI know your into natural stuff so have you heard of Natures Sunshine liquid calcium? With my third it has done wonders with no tears and teeth come in without pain. My first two were on Tylenol a lot!! Check it out. I put it in my baby's food or bottle and you can give to your older kids too:)
love the last picture! he is getting sooooo big! thanks for sharing your tips. My twins are teething right now too and it's no fun!
ReplyDeleteI need to get Sophie a Sophie :)
ReplyDeleteFrozen bagels are really good teethers, too. The plastic, fluid-filled rings always freaked me out. What IS that stuff, anyway?
ReplyDeleteI thought of you when I saw that!
ReplyDeleteMy four month old is beginning to teeth now as well. I have a sophie too and I put a cold wash cloth in breastmilk for his poor gums. As you noted, I have also found that the best alternative is to hold him close and stroke his cheeks, giving him the snuggles he needs to feel better.
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray your little one starts feeling better soon.
Ditto on the frozen bagels. I opened a teether once, and it was just water inside.
ReplyDeletehttp://goo.gl/a9yfS
ReplyDeleteMy sister just suggested something for Asher (who is now 10 months and teething, so it would be something for when he's a bit older) that has worked wonders. We keep pieces of watermelon rind in the fridge and let him gnaw on it - it's cold, hard and has little tiny bits of watermelon. He loves it! He can't bite through it, and it keeps him happily busy for 30 minutes. Messy, but so fun to watch!
ReplyDeleteCrushed ice was always a winner in our house!
ReplyDeleteFYI - I've heard a lot of negative reactions to Sophia the Giraffe. I was on a pregnancy message board with my oldest, and several people said their child choked on her head. Just watch him with it!
Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletenatural baby toys