NATURAL TEETHING SOLUTIONS!

Last week my 7 month old popped out his first tiny tooth, unfortunately reminding me of my first experiences with teething.  The terrible, shrill screams in the middle of the night, the fevers, and the general discomfort babies and toddlers experience is surely one of the most challenging times for any parent.  To watch your little one suffer and feel helpless is the pits. 

I have decided to approach Logan's pain with the same remedies I used for Maddox.  I have added a baltic amber necklace to the mix, with great results!  Here is the list of techniques and medicines I have been using with great success thus far.

1. CHAMOMILE TINCTURE.  I use this very generously and it ALWAYS seems to work at least for 15 minutes (which can seem like a nice, long break from an angry baby).   

Since store bought tinctures can be very pricy, I decided to make a 1/2 gallon batch on my own this time around.  I choose the nicest vodka I could afford and the most beautiful, fresh chamomile blossoms I could find.  I stuffed in the flowers, kept my concoction in a dark closet, shook it up and prayed over it often.  . . and now three months later it is PERFECT!  I suggest making your own medicines if possible, it is usually always much more affordable and you can infuse them with your love and prayers.

2.  HYLAND'S BABY TEETHING TABLETS.  These have been around since 1903 and are completely magical.  They dissolve quickly and contain chamomile and belladonna.

3. FROZEN THINGS.  One can usually find a plethora of frozen baby items in my freezer. . . from BPA free plastic teething rings, to washcloths, to homemade popsicles. The coldness usually can do the trick, especially if nursing is a no go.

4.  NURSING.  If they are willing to nurse through teething pain, I have always found this the easiest way to go.

5.  DRIED MANGO SLICES.  These were an amazing, unexpected help with Maddox.  They are tough enough to not splinter off easily into little pieces to be choked on.  They are also very sweet, absorb tons of saliva, and are pleasing to most babies I have met. Of course, 100% supervision is necessary, since choking is possible.

6. BALTIC AMBER NECKLACE.  I had my doubts about this one AND it seems to have a very positive effect.  I was told the amber against baby's skin causes his body to release succinic acid which has anti-inflammatory and therapeutic properties. Logan has calmed down Every time I have put on his necklace :)

7.  FACE AND GUM MASSAGE. Give your baby some sweet love with your gentle touch.


Here is an explanation of the teething process from howthingswork.com

What is teething, exactly?

Babies actually have tooth buds in place, resting right under the gums, before they're born. The primary teeth, which form before the baby is born, usually begin surfacing around six or seven months of age with a single lower central incisor. But, like many things in nature, there is a wide range of "normal" when it comes to the timing of tooth eruption. Don't be surprised, then, if a baby starts sprouting choppers at 2 months or doesn't begin teething until he or she is 12 months old.
In general, teeth begin to appear on the following schedule: the central incisors, the teeth right in the middle of the jaw on the top and bottom, come in at 6 to 12 months; lateral incisors at 9 to 13 months; canine (cuspids) at 16 to 22 months; the first molars at 13 to 19 months; and the second molars at 25 to 33 months. Most children have all of their primary teeth by age three.
The process of teething, or "cutting" all of these baby teeth, can be painful for both the baby and the caregivers. When a tooth pushes through the sensitive gum mucosa, it hurts, and the baby is likely to become cranky and fussy.
The process of getting primary teeth continues until close to the third birthday. Your sweet pea will probably get her bottom front teeth first, followed by her top front teeth. Don't fret if she has huge gaps between teeth or if the teeth grow in a little crooked. Things will straighten out over time.
By the time your little one is finished getting that first set of teeth, she'll have 20 munching, crunching teeth. These will stay in place until she's ready for permanent teeth, sometime around her sixth birthday.
Teething symptoms often include crankiness, drooling, chewing, crying, gum redness, decreased appetite, and difficulty sleeping. In addition, some babies spit up and have mild diarrhea due to gastrointestinal reactions to changes in the character and amount of their own saliva. Other babies develop a red and slightly swollen rash on the cheeks, chin, neck, and chest from the saliva's contact with the skin. Sometimes, teething causes babies to develop a mild fever, congestion, and ear pulling that often mimics middle ear infection. All of these symptoms are normal.