When he’s in pain, my kid has a uniquely horrendous ability to take is all down with him. When he’s teething, my heart goes out to the poor little dude, it really does—his mouth hurts, he can’t sleep, and half the time he’s got a low grade fever. But, damn…can you give the rest of us a break?
There are all kinds of remedies to ease the pain and suffering that comes when baby starts cutting those little teeth, but of course, when you’re in the thick of it you want to cut the shit and know what works and what doesn’t.
First, what works? (And more importantly, what’s safe?)
The very first thing I’ll tell you as both a fellow mom and as a clinician is that you shouldn’t be afraid to offer pain medication. Ibuprofen (Motrin) is my personal favorite, though Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is also a perfectly good choice. Either can be given as often as every 6 hours with the dose based on weight (check the box for correct dose) to soothe pain and the occasional fever that often accompanies teething. During the day, I will give a full dose when my baby is especially fussy and nothing else can soothe him. I will always give a full dose at bedtime. We’ve been through this enough times that I know empirically that it helps blunt the pain enough to keep him asleep longer (read: keep ALL OF US asleep longer) than we would without it.
There are tons of options when it comes to teething toys…sometimes the best solution for baby in the moment is to just let them gnaw away on something.
– I have had success with freezer-friendly toys with gel compartments (though ironically my son likes them unfrozen-ha!). Just make sure the gel is nontoxic.
– I can also personally vouch for this cult-favorite banana toothbrush toy…it’s a lifesaver and can easily be attached to a tether.
– Soak a plain old washcloth in warm water and ring it out. This works as-is, or you can pop it in the freezer and let it get a little frosty.
– Keep in mind that you don’t need any fancy teething toys to get the job done! Anything non-toxic, non-breakable, and that you don’t care will be utterly destroyed is perfectly fine. Some of our favorites…wooden chopsticks, cardboard page baby books, tea towels, plastic baby feeding utensils, and basically any other random thing they pick up!
Now, what doesn’t work?
Do NOT use over the counter teething creams or gels. It’s easy to assume that these are a “more natural” option, but they often contain topical anesthetics (like benzocaine or lidocaine) and ingredients that can be harmful to small children. Many homeopathic remedies may also contain things that have not been properly tested or approved by the FDA. Sorry, your mom or your friend swearing to you that something is safe DOES NOT mean it’s safe. Topical remedies also tend to wash out of the mouth quickly (especially if baby is drooling) and need to be re-applied frequently, which only increases exposure to harmful ingredients. Again, medications like Ibuprofen or Tylenol dosed correctly are both safer and more effective.
Other items that are popular but dangerous include teething necklaces, bracelets, and beads. Yes, I’ll grant that chewing on them helps ease pain, but with all that gnawing they run the risk of breaking and becoming a choking hazard. Necklaces also pose a strangulation hazard.
Amber beads, in particular, have a huge cult following in the ~wellness community~ but have no proven benefit over safer teething toys. Word on the street is that they release succinic acid, which acts as a natural analgesic…this is true, but only if amber is heated to 400 degrees. And as I mentioned above, any kind of necklace on a baby also poses choking and strangulation risks.
One last thing to keep in mind is that older toys, like all the heirloom baby toys I got handed down from my parents and in-laws, often contain lead and can be extremely harmful. Exercise caution with any hand-me-downs, heirlooms, jewelry, or antiques. If you suspect any signs or symptoms of lead poisoning (unexplained fussiness or new colic, irritability, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, headache, or insomnia) you should see a doctor right away. If left untreated, lead poisoning can cause severe and irreversible developmental delay and disability.
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