Restless sleep, little to no appetite, fussy, red cheeks, low-grade temperature. It's awful seeing your little one in pain, but once you can identify that it's teething, you have many -natural- ways you can help them.
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How do you know if a baby is teething?
chewing on things more often than usual
more drool
gums are visibly red or inflamed
poor sleep
you can see a tooth (or white) coming in
mild temperature
flushed cheeks
rash on their face
hands in their mouth more often than usual
Here are some tips that I've found helpful for a teething baby:
1. Give them Cold Items
Cold Teether
Freezing a gel toy can be too cold on their gums and not helpful; instead, put it in the fridge for 20 minutes so it's cold but not rock hard. These were our favorite teethers because they didn't make baby's hands so cold!
Frozen Washcloth
I've found that wetting a washcloth and popping it into the freezer for a few minutes makes a great teether for a teething baby. They love sucking on it to get the moisture, and it stays cold for a long time! Here are burp cloths that are made from 100% organic cotton, so safe for babies to chew on! (free of harmful chemicals)
Haaka Feeder
This was hands down the best remedy for Addy while teething (and a normal treat as well).
I hand-expressed (or pumped) breast milk into a bottle or glass and then poured it into these molds to put in the freezer. Here's the mold we use.
Once frozen, you take the milk cube and put it into the silicone feeder so that they can gnaw on it, which feels so good on their gums, and the milk itself is so great at helping ease the pain too!
You can also use other combinations like bone broth, yogurt, fruit, etc!
Frozen Foods
Freezing food is another great way to not only ease the pain but improve jaw strength in your little ones! *You can use the Haaka feeder above or the examples below
Freeze fruit like a whole banana or star fruit slices to allow baby to suck/gnaw on the cold surface and potentially warm it up enough to eat as well!
A non-frozen food that also is fun for baby (and rabbits) is a whole carrot! Peel off the skin (not frozen, of course) and give them the whole big carrot to gnaw on! (important: don't use baby carrots!)
2. Nurse on Demand
If you're breastfeeding, offering to nurse your baby can relieve some pain and provide added comfort. Even if you're not breastfeeding, your baby may want to eat more often and will love some extra cuddles during this time.
3. Try out Teething Toys
Your little one will probably want to chew on everything to relieve some discomfort. Having some teether toys on hand can help prevent them from putting undesirable objects in their mouths. We tried A LOT of different teething toys (a desperate mom will buy anything and everything)
I linked the toys we love here.
I did want to share some toys
that we tried and hated:
Moonjax Silicone Teether: This didn't hold cold at all, and Addy never really liked to use it as a toy.
Itzy Ritzy Teethers: Immediately upon opening, I was overwhelmed with the nastiest, most toxic smell. I have no idea what these are made of, but I didn't want them anywhere near my baby.
Fruit Teethers: Addy just wasn't a fan! They ended up being tossed on the ground and quickly picked up any and all dog hair.. they spent the majority of the time in our dishwasher.
4. Medicine
Homeopathic Medicine
My family always prefers to try natural, homeopathic remedies before ever giving "modern, over-the-counter medication." This goes for my husband and I, our pup, and now our baby! However, teething is a beast, and even with the approaches we took above, Addy still needed some help- which is when I turned to homeopathic medicine.
Young Livings Copaiba Oil: Apply directly to the gums or a wooden teether. (gentle enough that you don't have to dilute!)
Hyland's Naturals Oral Pain Relief: My NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION! I can't believe how well this worked. We gave her a dose about an hour before bedtime and again at bedtime, and she would ACTUALLY SLEEP (Which can be a huge success for a teething baby). Note: In 2017, the FDA required them to remove a plant known as belladonna; it has been removed and is now completely safe (2022)
Modern Medicine
As a general rule, my family and I don't use medication unless absolutely necessary.
Now that being said, after 3 nights of absolutely NO SLEEP, we tried Acetaminophen, and it didn't work- Addy was still totally uncomfortable (until we tried Hyland's Teething Tablets).
But if you do opt for acetaminophen, I recommend looking into the brand Genexa instead of the name-brand Tylenol. Genexa is made without artificial colors, dyes, sweeteners, preservatives, or fillers- just the meds that you're looking for.
We have a bottle of Genexa Acetaminophen on hand for those "just in case" moments.
(Note: It is no longer recommended by pediatricians to use any kind of numbing gel for teething babies as it can lead to breathing issues)
5. Comfort
Your baby is most likely going to lean on you more than usual. You'll spend more hours rocking to sleep, contact napping, and holding baby throughout the day.
With clean hands, you may be able to offer some comfort by massaging their gums and letting them apply pressure to your finger.
Do your best to sympathize and embrace the extra love- it won't be like this forever.
For more information, check out my Teething highlight on Instagram!
Always, Jess
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L E T ' S B E F R I E N D S!
W E B S I T E | T I K T O K | I N S T A G R A M | Y O U T U B E
Hi Friends! I'm Jessica Haizman. I'm 28 years old and married to my best friend. We spend 98% of our time together, and no, we don't spend it all cleaning and organizing. I have a daughter, Adalynn, and an Australian Shepherd, Bali, and they get the majority of my attention.
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The goal is to help, whether it's a quick tip or life hack that I share to Tiktok or a day in the life on my social networks @jessicahaizman, a printable chart that helps me stay organized, or my all-time favorite apps, an intensive course answering all the FAQ's or working 1:1 with clients to create healthy habits- these resources are all available to you!
Some things you will stumble upon are how I use non-toxic natural cleaners and have made the change to no-waste by switching to reusable towels instead of paper or glass storage containers instead of ziplocks. You will also find lots of DIY recipes and how to use common household ingredients like baking soda, white vinegar, and hot water to tackle some of your toughest messes. You'll learn about my favorite cleaning supplies and cleaning products, including all-purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, stain removers, and more.
Having a clean home drastically affects your physical and mental health, so jump on board and learn all the tips I have to share! Take the time to explore my website and interact with me on social media. I'm so excited to see how organization and a new approach to cleaning the home will change your life and leave you full of joy!