For anyone that hasn’t had to go through the dreaded teething phase, you’re lucky. For those of you about to experience this, I promise there is an end, even when it doesn’t feel like it. If you’re looking for some natural teething home remedies you’ve come to the right place.
Between chewing on absolutely every item that fits in their mouth to waking up all through the night, teething can take a toll on everyone in the home. Below, I’ve gathered the remedies that we’ve had the best luck with.
When does teething usually start?
For most babies, you can expect to see that first tooth pop around 6 months but some may start as early as 2. Traditionally the first teeth that come up are the two bottom front. Luckily for breastfeeding moms, the tongue does a great job of covering them while nursing.
Once you see this first tooth cut through, it’s time to make that first dentist appointment. Getting them established and keeping regular visits will set them up for good oral health later in life.
I recommend looking into which office works best for you and your insurance plan. If at some point you feel like you’re no longer a good match, find another one that better suits your needs.
Remember that you are your child’s biggest advocate and it is your responsibility to do what’s best for them. Ask all the questions and speak up if you’re unsure about or uncomfortable with something.
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Common teething symptoms
Our dentist friend explained to us that this is hands down the MOST painful thing that they go through. In her words “you would not be able to handle this level of pain as an adult. You would pass out.” And you know what? I believe it. They seem absolutely miserable.
There’s nothing worse than watching your child go through this much pain and feeling helpless. But I’m here to tell you that you’re not helpless. There’s a few things you can do to help them through this time.
There have been quite a few days where I couldn’t figure out why my guy was soo upset. Then it dawned on me… his mouth probably hurts. It’s hard to tell with him because a lot of the time he doesn’t present the normal teething symptoms, except for Interrupted sleep and irritability. So of course my first thought is that he’s just grumpy from lack of sleep. But once I start treating him with these teething home remedies his whole demeanor changed.
Every child is different and every tooth is different. Sometimes they’ll experience all of these symptoms and sometimes they won’t. Below are some good indicators to watch for when you’re close to the teething age.
- Excessive chewing
- Excessive drooling
- Red, swollen gums
- Irritability and crying
- Interrupted sleep and shorter naps
- Pulling at ears
- Rubbing their jaws
- Red, chapped skin around mouth
- Low grade fever
- Diarrhea
My favorite teething home remedies
Massage their gums
I can’t count how many times I’ve been able to get my toddler to fall asleep just by massaging his gums. Sleeping when you’re in that much pain is next to impossible and this has been a huge help to us every time. Not only is this tip super helpful it’s also one of the easiest teething home remedies.
Make sure you’re using clean hands for this. When your little one is teething their immune system is weakened, leaving them more susceptible to illnesses. The last thing you want is a teething baby that’s also sick.
If you’re tired of getting bit while you have your finger in your kid’s mouth, try giving them an electric toothbrush. I made the switch around Christmas time for his dental health (plus it sounded like a fun gift that he’ll actually use) but it seems to be very effective for teething pains. He’ll sit there and chew on it for an hour if I let him. Be warned, there will be more drool than you ever thought possible.
Provide plenty of teether toys
Steer clear of the gel filled teething toys because once those teeth cut through, they’ll be able to chew through just about anything. They might seem like a great option because you can pop them in the freezer before you give them to your child, but these will not last long.
Some great, safe teether toys that have worked well for us are :
These are great tools to introduce dental health to your little one. I used to brush my baby’s gums with these before his teeth came in and I think it made a big difference on our current routine. Now he’s somewhat tolerant of getting his teeth brushed (for some reason he prefers to floss?) and will even remind me if I forget.
These are more of a fun toy that I’ve also noticed help a lot with teething pains. Not only do they have something safe to chew on, but they get to play while they’re at it. If you ask me, adding that distraction is double the treatment for teething.
When choosing teething toys, look for materials that are non-toxic food grade and BPA free.
cool them down
What do we do when we sprain an ankle or break a bone? We ice it to help with the pain. The same goes for a teething baby. Using cold and frozen things to numn their little mouths is one of the effective teething home remedies. Some great options to try are:
Offer them a frozen carrot to gnaw on. Not only will the cold help their gums but they’ll get all the nutrients from eating the carrot after it starts to thaw. Make sure you keep a close eye on them to reduce the risk of choking.
Give them a frozen wet washcloth to chew on. I used to do this for my dogs when they were puppies and it worked great for them! Unfortunately for us, my toddler doesn’t seem to like this one very much. But I know other moms that have had great luck with this.
Stuff frozen berries into a Mesh Teether for safe chewing. They’ll get the benefits of the cold temperature and they’ll get to eat a sweet treat!
I’ve also seen parents give frozen bagels to chew on. I haven’t tried this with mine, but I’ve been told that it works wonders. We never have bagels around long enough for them to end up in the freezer so we’ll probably miss out on this one
Use baby safe herbs
Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s safe and just because it’s safe for us doesn’t mean it’s safe for babies. There are a few widely accepted child safe herbs that can be used to help our little ones with their teething journey.
Chamomile
I use chamomile more than any other herb for my toddler because it has numerous health benefits. It is generally regarded as safe for little one and goes far beyond bedtime tea. From supporting your immune system to reducing inflammation, it seems like the benefits of chamomile are endless.
I’ve found this herb to be a very effective teething remedy for my little one. All you have to do is brew a strong batch of homegrown tea and pop it in the freezer. I freeze mine in a Small Silicon Mold like these and once frozen, I put the cubes into a Mesh Teether for my toddler to chew on. At this point he’ll go into the freezer and tell me that’s what he’s looking for.
This is the remedy that we use the most because it works great!
Lavender
You can use lavender in sooo many different ways. Between tinctures and salves to aroma therapy there isn’t anything this herb cannot help with. There’s a reason its marketed for relaxation.
My mom used to make tinctures out of this powerful herb. She would use it when I got bug bites and sun burns. Absolutely nothing did a better job of relieving the itching and pain.
I use lavender topically as either a salve or an essential oil for teething pains. Because essential oils are so potent, you need a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, so you don’t irritate your child’s skin.
A safe dilution for little ones is 0.25% or about 1 drop of essential oil to 1.5 TBS carrier oil. When diluting oils for yourself you can go higher to about 2% depending on your skin’s sensitivity. This is about 12 drops to 1 fluid oz of carrier oil.
Another option is to brew a strong batch of chamomile and lavender tea to pour into a silicon mold and pop in the freezer. After the cubes are solid I stick them into this mesh teether. The combination of cold and the benefits of the herbs helps them soo much!
Distractions are great teething remedies
When all the other teething home remedies fails, which at some point they will, try distracting them.
You can try to throw them in a warm bath. There’s nothing a nice relaxing bath cannot fix. Go outside and watch the birds. It seems like soo many kids have a bird obsession. Who can blame them? Those creatures are pretty fascinating to watch, especially for a little kid. Take them to play outside. Even if you’re in your own backyard, they always find something to do out there.
Another great distraction is to give them something that’s usually off limits. This one is huge! Letting them play with something that they’re generally not allowed to have can solve all your problems.
Just make sure that it’s safe and not a choking hazard….especially now that they’ll need to put it in their mouth. Bonus points for you if it has moving parts.
This last one works the best for my guy. I try anything and everything that I can find in the garage that is safe for him. His favorites are the tape measure, rubber mallets and wrenches. These will keep him occupied for quite awhile.
Extra things to be mindful of
keep them hydrated
Since many babies and toddlers will experience excessive drooling and diarrhea, it is very important to make sure they stay hydrated. They will loose A LOT of fluids from these symptoms and it is your job to make sure they’re replenished.
If your little one is refusing to drink water you have a few options. You can use the mesh teether I mentioned above to feed them ice throughout the day. Try flavoring it if they’re still not interested.
You can make a point to offer them high water content fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, strawberries, oranges and the like. This way they’ll get to snack and stay hydrated.
Smoothies are another great way to keep your little one’s fluid intake up. I never use juice for smoothies for my toddler because of all the added sugar. Instead, I use water to thin them out. This keeps his sugar intake low and adds extra fluids when he needs them most.
If you’re looking for some smoothie recipes check out my post on Is My Toddler Eating Enough? Add water to any of them for even more hydration.
give them extra snuggles
Your little human will be extra needy during this time. They’re going to need extra love, cuddles and patience. I know how hard that last one can be, but just try to remember what they’re going through. That reminder always helps me be extra patient.
treating teething fevers
This isn’t really something to help with the actual teething pain but it will come in handy during this trying time. A lot of babies will experience a low grade fever associated with teething. A previous post on my All Natural Fever Home-Remedy is perfect for this type of fever.
I hope you were able to find a few natural teething home remedies that work well for your toddler. I know these have been a ge help to us!