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How To Soothe a Teething Baby Naturally

how to soothe teething baby naturally

Article at a Glance:

  • Parents are beginning to recognize the importance of soothing teething naturally.
  • Most over-the-counter products contain active ingredients that are potentially harmful to a child’s health.
  • Naturally soothing a teething baby has been proven the most effective remedy.

Teething is never fun for your little one. As a parent, you want to do anything you can to help soothe your baby’s teething symptoms.

Although over-the-counter medications may assist as a quick remedy, many of these products contain ingredients that pose serious, even fatal threats to your child’s health. It is recommended that babies under 2 should not be treated with benzocaine products.

Because of this, many parents are switching to natural remedies to soothe their teething babies.

First, Is My Baby Teething, Or Is It Something Else?

When your baby starts teething, they may experience teething symptoms such as irritability, fussiness, excessive drooling, or swollen and sensitive gums [1]. These symptoms can lead to your teething child to chew on anything they can reach, have trouble eating food, or may even have trouble sleeping.

Fever, vomiting, and diarrhea are among the most common ailments attributed to teething however these are not teething symptoms. They are more likely to be caused by a virus or illness. Viruses or illnesses can potentially be carried on objects that your teething baby puts in their mouth to relieve teething discomfort.

If your child has these symptoms along with classic signs of teething, be sure to monitor your child closely and have your doctor rule out a more serious illness.

When your infant starts teething or starts showing teething symptoms, tooth eruption doesn’t happen right away. In some cases, a tooth eruption may not occur for a few months. Do not be alarmed; this tends to be a normal occurrence in most teething babies.

Keeping track of your baby’s teeth order with a teething chart can be very helpful in knowing whether your baby has started the teething process. The teething process can be stressful for both you and your baby, however pinpointing which teeth are erupting and the symptoms your teething baby experiences can put you ahead of the potential headache.

Each baby will have a different reaction when it comes to soothing remedies during teething. It may require a trial and error of different natural teething remedies until you find how to naturally soothe  your teething baby whether they are teething at 3 months old or 12 months old.

Soothe a Teething Baby With Things at Home

Many parents prefer natural ways of soothing a teething baby to over-the-counter medications.

You may already have these items on-hand in your home:

  • A simple gum massage (with clean fingers, of course) works wonders
  • A spoon chilled in the refrigerator – not the freezer! – works if your baby has not yet sprouted any teeth through the surface of their gums. Simply press the rounded part of the chilled spoon to the gums.
  • A clean, cold wet washcloth to munch on. Chill it in the refrigerator or for just a few minutes in the freezer.
  • Chilled applesauce or other pureed foods.

It is important to remember that objects you’re using to soothe your teething baby should always be chilled in the fridge, and never in the freezer.

The Mayo Clinic suggests never to freeze teething rings that are plastic or liquid filled because teethers will become very firm and could possibly bruise your baby’s gums. Your baby can develop frostbite on their gums or lips from the extreme cold.

A chilled silicone teething toy, silicone teething necklace, or teething ring will relieve discomfort and provide teething relief without causing harm.

soothing baby teething symptoms with teething toys

All-Natural Baby Teething Toys

Experts strongly recommend against choosing plastic teething toys, many of which are known to contain hormone-interrupting chemicals [2]. Plastic teething rings are most often made with harmful chemicals, such as phthalates (used to soften plastic), PVC, artificial colors, and BPA.

Studies have shown that exposure to phthalates in the uterus have led to birth defects, and ongoing studies are studying their link to disease and health problems in children.

For babies that love to gnaw on everything, silicone baby teethers might be worth a try. You can even put these in the freezer and give it to your baby chilled. Kute Keiki’s food-grade silicone teethers are also dishwasher safe, making cleaning and sanitizing extra easy for busy parents.

Other Remedies to Soothe a Teething Baby

There are other natural teething remedies besides DIY items and teething toys to soothe a teething baby.

Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces

Amber Teething Necklaces are made of Baltic amber, which contains a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory and is absorbed through the skin from body heat when your baby wears it.

Not only can this help ease teething pain, but can help boost energy levels, assist their immune system, and help reduce anxiety. Baltic amber teething necklaces should not be chewed, only worn. They also have a knot in each bead, in case the necklace breaks, making it baby-proof.

baby wearing amber teething necklace to soothe teething symptoms

Essential Oils

Essential Oils manage your family’s health and wellness naturally. A great essential oil recipe to help soothe your teething baby is one drop lavender, one drop Roman Chamomile, and two tablespoons Carrier Oil. Carrier Oil’s, such as sweet almond oil, olive oil, or fractionated coconut oil, makes the mixture safe for the skin and makes the mixture diluted to be absorbed into the fat.

Take this mixture and massage a small amount on the outside of the cheek along the gum line. You should never use undiluted essential oils with little ones and they should never be ingested by children of any age.

Distraction

Distract your baby to give teething relief. Run them a bath or change the scenery with a nice walk to the park. Your teething baby may just need some one-on-one time to feel comforted while they go through this uncomfortable stage.

Choosing How to Soothe Your Teething Baby

So which teething remedy works best to naturally soothe your teething baby?

Since every baby is different, you will probably need to experiment with different methods until you find something that works for you and your little one. On top of your preferred remedy, a healthy dose of cuddling, rocking, and singing can help soothe and distract your baby.

As parents, we can’t help but want an immediate solution to our baby’s pain and distress. But remember, teething is a normal part of child development, and teething won’t last forever.

Be patient and know that this too shall pass and just continue to soothe your teething baby until the symptoms subside. If pain persists and is seriously disrupting your baby’s sleeping or eating, talk to your pediatrician about other ways you can relieve your baby’s teething pain.