Teething Remedies

Parentberries
1

Give me your best! [name_f]My[/name_f] almost 3 month old is absolutely miserable. Has been for 3 weeks straight! Took him to the dr three times, just to find out that he is absolutely fine- just teething! No one checked until I told them that most of the babies in my family cut teeth by 3 months. He checked and said he felt pressure by both the top and bottom canines- the first teeth that I got in!

So not only is my little guy teething early, he is getting teeth out of order- sharp pointy ones first! I have tried the following-

Teething rings, washcloth soaked in chamomile tea and frozen, Tylenol (twice, don’t work much), and teething tablets. Not the highlands ones- the dr said to get one without belladonna, so our only option was orajel naturals. Same ingredients, minus the belladonna. He is too little and thanks to the tongue thrust reflex, he spits them out.

[name_f]My[/name_f] next two options in exploring are breast milk Popsicles and amber teething necklace. I’m a little hesitant on the necklace. Of course he would only wear it when I was right next to him- never in bed or in a car seat. But still- not too sure.

Anything you swear by?

2

The amber teething necklaces are ineffective (when studied compared to placebo), choking hazards, and only work when the baby is old enough to pick it up and put it in his mouth by himself.

Have you tried just rubbing your cold finger on his gums? It anesthetizes them nicely and helps reduce the inflammation.

3

I worked in a daycare facility for quite some time, and 4 of our toddlers (16 months-2 years) had the amber teething necklaces. Not only did myself, and all employees at the daycare loathe necklaces because of safety concerns (if it were to ever break, the beads are so small, and toddlers aren’t exactly gentle, yet we weren’t allowed to tell parents that they weren’t allowed), but also, I never witnessed any of the children actually using them - they seem more like a pretty object to wear rather than anything medicinal.

Looking at this list (Home Remedy Treatments for Teething - 17 Home Remedies for Teething | HowStuffWorks )there are loads of better ways :slight_smile: Not all of them are likely appropriate for a 3 month old, but I’m sure some of them might work. :slight_smile: [name_f]My[/name_f] mum used to use a teething gel on my sister when she was teething (she started at 4 months).

4

Seriously, for all reading, the teething necklaces are quite hazardous. The amber breaks off and has been linked to at least two choking deaths. They have absolutely no efficacy above and beyond mechanical chewing (the marketing line about the amber releasing natural endorphins or whatever isn’t true). They’ve been taken up as an emblem by the crunchy parenting crowd as a beautiful example of “natural medicine,” etc, going along with the anti-vax, organic, baby wearing, back-to-the-land type philosophy. So when people speak up against them parents feel their whole philosophy and worldview are under attack. But seriously, stay away.

5

We used the orajel natural teething gel. It wasn’t tablets, just a tube of goo. It is made out of chamomile, I think. You can get it at the drug store, just Rite Aid or someplace similar. Anyhow, I would just rub that on his gums. It doesn’t have to dissolve like the tablets, so it might work better for such a young baby. I think just rubbing it on the gums helped, but the gel seemed to feel better for my son than just my fingers.

I agree completely on the amber teething necklaces! If it was just a placebo, I wouldn’t worry about it, but they are a choking and strangulation hazard and if even one kid chokes on a bead, that is one too many. One of my neighbors told me to put a cup of water under the crib when the baby fusses- this is obviously a placebo, but it’s not dangerous, so feel free to try it!

You might try though a teething necklace that YOU wear, though. Have you seen those? They are made of big, maybe rubber? beads. The mom wears them and the baby can gnaw on the beads while the baby is toted around in the carrier or wrap. I am just thinking this might be help since he is so little. It is sort of gross, b.c you are going to end up covered in baby slobber, but hey, you probably already are, right?

I hope you are getting enough rest and help! I just read your other post as well, I am sorry things are so rough right now, and I hope they get better very soon.

6

[name_m]Just[/name_m] a bit more amber teething necklace info, the child isn’t supposed to chew on it. Someone above said they never actually saw a child “using” one, that isn’t how they work. Here’s info from an amber necklace site, just fyi:

"Baltic amber necklaces and bracelets are beautifully made, comfortable, lightweight, and radiate energies of peace and calm as well as natural pain relief for the wearer. Wearing the teething necklace will help boost your child’s immune system, reduce inflammation and accelerate healing as teething progresses. [name_f]Amber[/name_f] teething necklaces have been a source of traditional healing passed on for many generations and are widely used and treasured throughout Europe and the Far [name_f]East[/name_f] as unparalleled alternative medicine with proven health benefits.

[name_f]Amber[/name_f] teething jewelry is made for wearing not for chewing. Children should be supervised at all times when wearing jewelry, and it should be removed when child is sleeping or unattended…

[name_f]Amber[/name_f] is not a “stone” but a natural resin. So as it warms with the body’s natural temperature, amber releases its healing oils (these oils contain succinic acid )which are easily absorbed into the skin and then into the bloodstream. Baltic [name_f]Amber[/name_f] has some of the highest concentrations of Succinic Acid found in nature, and this is what makes it so special. Succinic Acid is a natural component of plant and animal tissues, and it’s presence in the human body is beneficial in many ways.

[name_f]Amber[/name_f] is also known to reduce inflammation of the throat, ear and stomach and to fight irritation, infections and respiratory disease as it dramatically improves the body’s immunity. Natural amber beaded necklaces are a completely non-invasive remedy for side effects associated with teething, such as lack of appetite, upset tummies, ear ache, fevers and colds. Baltic amber is also a natural analgesic that will calm your child and is recognized by allopathic medicine specialists as antispasmodic and anti-fever. Many adults report improvement of arthritis discomfort in their hands when wearing amber on the wrists."

[name_m]Just[/name_m] passing along the info for anyone who’s interested, I have zero interest in debating any of it and I don’t care whose child wears one and whose doesn’t! :slight_smile:

As for us, I find the gel on the gums useless. It just comes right off from all the drool. [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] likes gumming on [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] the Giraffe and 2 other teethers we have that are stored in the freezer (she loves those). Hylands tablets work great, we dissolve them in her bottle. Tylenol helps at night so we can all get some sleep.

7

Hyland’s Teething Tablets work like a charm.

8

The above is a link to an article dissecting the ‘science’ behind the amber teething necklaces.

They are very pretty. I might wear one myself, honestly. But I wouldn’t put one on a baby.