Caring for our babies is the hardest and most rewarding task we’ll ever face in our life. From the moment our baby is born we are needed in a way we never were in our life, and that makes the infancy period so special, yet daunting for many of us. We get to witness all the “first times” of this new little human and cherish them for the rest of our lives. As precious as this period of our lives is, it is not all sunshine and rainbows.
Whether you’re a first-time parent or you’ve already gone through all the trials and tribulations of infancy with your other children, every parent knows the worst two periods of infancy: the colic period and the teething period. Today we’ll give you some tips and ideas on how to deal with the latter period with ease.
During the teething period, babies get cranky, can lose their appetite, start biting and chewing on everything they can find, and can even develop a fever if the distress from pain in the gums gets too much for them. Every baby goes through a teething period with different intensities. In some babies, you won’t even notice any symptoms, while others will leave you with many sleepless nights and in worst cases even a visit to the doctor.
There are many commercially available products and medicine for dealing with this baby problem, although sometimes the solution can be very simple and you already have it at home. In this article, we’ve gathered a list of 10 teething remedies ranging from foods to toys, that will help your family through these problematic times with a lot less crying.
Homemade Teething Biscuit In 60 Seconds
As we mentioned, during the meeting period the baby might lose its appetite, so it is a good alternative to have some teething aids that will also provide some nutrition. Depending on the age of the baby once they start teething, biscuits are a good option to try. If you’re doubtfully about getting your baby a store-bought biscuit, you can make one very simple. Some stale whole wheat bread, apple sauce, and a sprinkle of cinnamon are all the ingredients to make this crunchy tasty biscuit.
DIY Teething Cookie
This teething cookie is suitable for slightly older teething babies that can distinguish flavor a bit better and can be picky. This biscuit is sweet, chewy and since baby cereal is one of the ingredients, you can be sure that it has enough nutrients to keep your baby chewing and feeding happily.
Baby Carrier Teething Pad
The teething period can come in unexpected times and can last from a few days to a few weeks. If your baby starts teething while you still carry them in your arms with some baby carriers, you might have to struggle to keep the baby from biting on the straps. There’s nothing wrong with biting, only that it needs to be a softer material as to not damage the gums. Making some pads for the straps is a great solution. You would also consider making pads for other areas your baby might get to chew, like the crib rail.
Wooden Teething Ring
Let’s look at some chewing toys. Yes, that might sound like something you get for your puppy, but just as canine puppies, human babies have an instinct to chew and rub their gums to ease the pain from the growing baby teeth. Silicone, rubber, wood, and fabric are good pliable materials that will offer your baby relief, without posing a chocking hazards. These chewing toys are easy to make as well, like this wooden ring with cloth tied to it. Simple and effective.
Fabric Teething Rings
Your baby’s not a fan of the wooden rings? No problem. We have softer ones made from fabric. Why rings? Because their shape provides the best grip for the baby’s hands and is wide enough so the baby doesn\t put the entire toy in its mouth.
Teething Beads Necklace
Here is a project that will make the mommy fashionable and the teething baby happy and occupied in mommy’s arms. By knotting up separate beads inside a colorful cloth, you will end up with not just a very colorful fashion necklace, but also your by would have something to play with and chew on while you’re both going for a stroll.
Natural Teething Cream
For more severe cases of teething, there are various teething creams and chews to choose from, unless you want to use the more natural approach. This homemade cream will stick to the gums with a layer that is thick and lasts long, it’s tasty and it helps relieve the pain. And the best part is that you’ll only need 3 ingredients to make.
Frozen Washcloth Snails
This is an old teething solution but definitely an effective one. Teething babies crave the relief of something cold on their swollen gums, but you can’t always give them an ice cube to hold in their mouth. These frozen snail washcloths are even better, since they offer the relief of the low temperature, have a texture that helps the babies scratch their gums and the baby can hold it with no problem.
Breastmilk Popsicle
Did your baby get even fussier once they started teething? We know the feeling. People say that when all else fails, you should try letting the baby chew on your finger or try nursing it since it can be more irritated from hunger instead of pain. Babies tend to bite more during this period, and if the mom can’t handle the pain, you can freeze some breast milk into a popsicle and give your baby a double dose of relief both by the cold and the familiar taste of mother’s milk.
All-Spice Teething Necklace
You might have heard about amber necklaces providing relief for teething babies. While most parents swear by their effectiveness, it can be a pricey item to buy and end up being ineffective. There is another natural necklace you can make yourself that can be just as effective, and that’s an all-spice necklace. It is easy to make, and its effectiveness can last up to several months. So before going for an amber necklace, try the all-spice one.
We hope your baby has a painless and easy teething period and that these tips and ideas will be of great help for you as a parent as well. Do you have any effective testing method that worked like a charm? Share with us your ideas and suggestions in the comment section below.
