Teething Remedies à la “Naturelle”

This goes without saying: our little man is a trooper. 

All four of Liam’s canines are poking through and he’s been a slobbering mess over the last few days. On top of that, Daddy’s sick and Mama’s just hoping everyone else manages to stay healthy (we live in a germaphobic household right now, believe me!) But our little man has been doing just fine through all of it, minus a few tantrums that I have a good feeling are teeth-related.

I thought I’d share with you a few of my tips to get through these rough patches… You might not avoid the fever or meltdowns every single time, but at least you’ll offer your little one a bit of comfort when he needs it. Good luck!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, nursing is not just offering food! It’s also comforting your child, soothing, and protecting him. Especially while your baby’s teething, be generous with breastfeeding. There is nowhere else your baby wants to be than against you, so spoil him! A mom’s worse nightmare is feeling powerless when her baby is in pain, but when it comes to teething, we can actually help. Love it!

Camilia teething drops have worked wonders for us (and a few of our friends I’ve recommended them to!) What I love about them is that they’re safe, with no side effects. Homeopathic medicine works naturally with the body and although their efficacy is controversial in the drug world, I think there’s no harm in trying it out before the “hard” stuff. Personally, homeopathy is always my go-to first, especially with Liam but also for myself as a nursing mom.

Gingival gel is always on Liam’s changing table. It works quickly and calms him down when the pain strikes. Its exclusive formula, made of natural ingredients and plants recognized for their soothing, pain-relieving qualities, helps moisturize inflamed mucous membranes. Simply rubbing the gel along the inflamed gum helps stimulate blood flow and provide relief for baby’s discomfort. Unfortunately, this gel is hard to find in the U.S. (online, you can purchase it from France or the UK). They key with teething gels is to look for natural ingredients. Do your research and choose wisely!

I love giving Liam pineapple cores when he’s teething. Bromelain, an enzyme found in the stem and core of a pineapple, actually helps with inflammation and pain! Pineapple also supports digestion and is loaded with vitamin C, fiber, and B vitamins. Talk about a super fruit for teething! Other great options are frozen fruit pieces or chewable veggies like celery sticks. This is also a great time to whip out those mesh teething bags!

Personally, amber has worked for our family. Liam seems a lot more mellow with his teething necklace on during fussy phases. I recommend purchasing one to see if it relaxes your little one. Again, there is absolutely no harm in trying!

While teething, babies need things to chew on. We have a wide array of teething toys, but Liam seems to love my silicone teething necklace above them all. When he’s especially fussy and needs to be comforted, I just clip it on and hold him in my arms so he can play with it. Crisis averted each and every time!