Surviving Teething

Some babies and toddlers get those new teeth in and don’t even seem to notice it happening. Others seem to teeth for months before the tooth finally breaks through, and you know all about it. I have experienced both with my four children. They have all had their teeth that hurt more than others–for Brayden it was the Canine teeth–oh those were torture. For Kaitlyn, it was the second molars (2 year molars)–that girl has never been more upset in her lifetime. I don’t remember anything significant about McKenna’s teething experience. She had a difficult time with her first, but that is pretty common. Then Brinley has made up for it as her gums have extra collagen in them so her teeth take an extra long time to break through them. Almost every tooth has been notable (though so far, we either haven’t been as bad as the bad ones with Brayden and Kaitlyn or I have learned to roll with it better).

We don’t like to see our kids in pain. And so, we all want to know, how do you help teething pain? How do you survive this, especially when it can be months of pain for one little tooth?

How We Survive Teething

First, here is my process that I currently follow. 

  • Start with the pain killer. Ibuprofen. It seems to me that these kids have a hard time initially when the teeth are coming in. Think of it like when you first start to get a cold. For the first couple of days, you feel totally miserable and probably do a fair amount of complaining if only in your head. But after those initial days, you learn to adapt and essentially “suck it up” and deal with it. I do the pain killer for nap and bedtime for the first 2-3 days.
  • Add in topical pain killer. Any time during awake time that the child is being super grumpy, I will use some Hyland’s Homeopathic Teething Tablets or Orajel Baby Naturals Teething Gel. This helps take the edge off and they are usually happier.
  • Allow chewing. Your child might want to chew on something. If you see her chewing on things, help her to have something that is safe and satisfying to her. Vulli Sophie the Giraffe TeetherSassy Teether, and Soothie Pacifier are some toys we like when teething.
  • Teething Necklace. This really helps take the edge off. With using this, I don’t need to use the teething tablets or orajel at all. 

How You Survive Baby Teething

Here is what you readers said you do. If you have additional ideas, please share them in the comments!

  • Ibuprofen
  • Essential Oils: Dilute if needed. Then rub on jaw on skin (not in the mouth) right where tooth is coming in. Oils mentioned as working are: Clove and Lavender
  • Silicone Baby Toothbrush as a teether–I love this idea!
  • Teething Necklace
  • Hyland’s Homeopathic Teething Tablets
  • Thin baby wash cloth, wet, with ice cube wrapped inside. Hold it while baby sucks.
  • Luckwarm chamomile tea in medicine dropper.
  • Mamacicles (frozen breastmilk as Popsicle).
  • Frozen ice pops homemade–water and a little apple juice.
  • Mesh Feeder with ice inside. Or you can do frozen fruit inside the feeder.
  • Frozen washclothes.
  • Frozen gogurts. 

Related Posts

Surviving Ear Infections
Surviving Colds
Surviving Diaper Rash

5 thoughts on “Surviving Teething”

  1. Thank you for this! My 11 month old is not him self and I am pretty sure it is teething. I have heard clove oil from a friend and she dilutes it with coconut oil and rubs in on the gums – but you suggested not to use in the mouth so I will try rubbing it on his jaw. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Good luck! A few people have said they will do it internally. Just make sure the brand you are using says it is safe to be ingested by an infant.

      Reply
  2. So, if baby is teething and acting clingy and discomforted at naps, how do I continue babywise routine? It seems at these times, she just wants to be held and falls asleep in my arms. I don’t want instill this as habit and disrupt routine, but I also want her to sleep. She takes hours trying to sleep on her on. I gave some Tylenol about an hour in, maybe I should have tried sooner!

    Reply
  3. So, if baby is teething and acting clingy and discomforted at naps, how do I continue babywise routine? It seems at these times, she just wants to be held and falls asleep in my arms. I don’t want instill this as habit and disrupt routine, but I also want her to sleep. She takes hours trying to sleep on her on. I gave some Tylenol about an hour in, maybe I should have tried sooner!

    Reply

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