Kaboutjie SA Mommy Blogs by Lynne Huysamen
Teething can be a difficult time for both babies and parents. As teeth begin to emerge, babies may experience discomfort, irritability, and trouble sleeping. While there are many over-the-counter remedies available, some parents prefer to use natural methods to soothe their little ones. Here are six natural teething remedies to try at home.
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Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces
Baltic amber teething products have become increasingly popular in recent years as a natural teething remedy. The theory behind these products is that the warmth of the baby’s skin releases a natural pain reliever called succinic acid from the amber beads. While there is limited scientific evidence to support this claim, many parents swear by the effectiveness of Baltic amber teething necklaces and amber anklets. It’s important to note that these products should always be used under adult supervision and removed during sleep or unsupervised periods to avoid any potential choking hazards.
Teething Rings
Teething rings are a classic and effective natural remedy for teething pain. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, including silicone, rubber, and wood. The pressure of biting down on the ring can help relieve discomfort and also provide a distraction for your baby. Some teething rings can also be chilled in the refrigerator or freezer for added relief. Just be sure to choose a teething ring that is safe and appropriate for your baby’s age and development.
Cold Objects To Chew On
One of the most effective natural remedies for teething pain is to offer your baby something cold to chew on. The cold temperature can help numb the gums and reduce inflammation. You can try freezing a clean washcloth or teething ring, or even offer your baby a chilled piece of fruit or vegetable to gnaw on. Just be sure to supervise your baby closely to prevent choking.
Teething Biltong
Teething biltong is a popular natural remedy for teething pain in South Africa. Biltong is a type of dried meat that is high in protein and low in sugar, making it a healthy snack option for babies. To make teething biltong, simply cut thin strips of beef or game meat and hang them to dry in a cool, dry place. Once the biltong is dry and chewy, it can be given to your baby to gnaw on. The texture of the biltong can help relieve teething pain and also provide a source of nutrition for your little one. Just be sure to supervise your baby while they are chewing on the biltong to prevent choking.
Gum Massage With A Clean Finger Or Cloth
Another natural teething remedy is to massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger or cloth. Gently rub the affected area in a circular motion to help soothe the pain. You can also try applying a small amount of pressure to the gums, but be careful not to press too hard. This can help to stimulate blood flow and reduce inflammation. Make sure to wash your hands or the cloth thoroughly before massaging your baby’s gums to avoid introducing any harmful bacteria.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea has been used as a natural remedy for teething for centuries and is still recommended by many natural parenting sites today. However, it’s important to make sure that any tea given to a teething baby is caffeine-free and not made from plants from a garden, as this can pose a risk of botulism. One way to use chamomile tea for teething is to freeze it into mesh teethers or offer a few cool sips on a spoon. Another option is to dip a finger in chamomile tea and rub it gently on the baby’s gums for relief.
If none of the above teething remedies help to soothe your baby first make sure there is nothing else wrong before medicating. Remember that it is so easy to always blame teething when there could be something else wrong. Don’t be too quick to medicate. There are plenty of things available from the pharmacy to help soothe your teething baby, from teething gels and powders to pain killers such as Panado and Nurofen. Check with your doctor or pharmacist.
I love natural alternatives to solve every day problems like this. I wonder what babies would say to us when they go through this pain. Just like colic, this has to be one of the most gut wrenching stages of development for parents to go through. Thanks for providing a list to help them through. Really well done. Thanks,
Peter
Hi Peter, yes it is a really tough stage. I struggled with both my children and found all these things to be a huge help!
Lynne, I loved some of your alternatives. We struggled a lot with our first daughter and it helped a lot with the tooth ring. Our girl loved to chew on the crust of the end of a bread. Probably because her gums were itchy.
I´ll try some of your tips with our second daughter who is almost 5 months now. 🙂
Hi Jan, yes teething biscuits and toast can also work very nicely. Oh I am so glad both my kids are past the teething stage. There is 22 months between my children. My daughter got her back molars and about a week or two later my son got his first teeth. It has been nearly 4 years of teething, my son just has to get his back molars out and then we are finished. I can’t wait!
I wish you luck to get through the teething journey with your daughter and I hope these tips work well for you.
What a great post for future use.
My baby is only 11weeks now but she’s drooling alot. Can it be teething already?
Oh yes it can, for sure! Teething usually starts around 3 months so you that is bang on target. Check out this post for signs of teething.
When should my baby start wearing the necklace?
Hi Marisca. It is recommended from 3 months old, since that is the usual age that babies start teething.
I had mine on my kids from about 3 months old to 3 years old 🙂
My baby is four months i only started using the teething necklace now een though i had it at three months becouse she could not hold her head up and that caused the beads to rub against her neck line wich left a rash in this heat hope that helps some mommies but if u really want to use it now you can always put it arround babys wrist or ankle
Do your babies sleep with the necklace on?
All the companies advise that you remove the necklace when your baby sleeps and baths but I put the amber teething necklaces on my kids and left them on all the time 🙂
Thanks Samantha. Will do cause she got a rash around her neck now.
Hopefully it will go away soon.
Hello Lynne my child is seven months old now and she has been showing signs of teething because she has been biting my fingers n hands since she was four months. But try the freezing teether in order to soothe her pain it didn’t work then I tried the wet facecloth…wow it was magic now I don’t have to worry about anything because she seems relieved when ever she is bitting it.
Thank you!?
@chosengole I am so glad that you found something that worked. What works for one baby doesn’t always work for the next so it is important to just keep trying different things until you figure out what works for your little one.
Good luck with the teething, it is really a hard phase!
I took my sons dummy suck water up turn around in freezer and once it was frozen i gave it to him sucking on it then bite as its the ice inside rubber cant damage his gums its a way to go give it a try.
I also don’t like the idea of medicating too much, only if necessary, that’s why the idea of a teething necklace appealed to me.
When I read this article, I remember using a few things that actually helped alot. I also bought teething biscuits and ice lollies.
I mainly bought the ice lollies because JD enjoyed them so much but now looking back it was probably because it gave him some much needed relief.
Another great syrup for fever, teething and pain is Calpol.
I found it to work more effectively than Panado syrup and it tastes a whole lot better.
I know it sounds weird, but I do taste the medicine that I give my boy, to see if it tastes horrible or not. You can’t be too hard on your kid for not wanting to drink certain medicines if they taste despicable.
Teething is a tough time for mother and baby – thanks for these teething tips.