7 Easy Tricks to Soothe a Teething Baby

Easy-Freeze Solution

Nothing soothes your baby’s mouth like something cold and crunchy. It doesn’t even have to be food! Grab a clean washcloth and wet it thoroughly. Place it in a baggie in your freezer and allow it to get stiff. It should take about a half hour. The next time teething pain hits, hand it to your child so they can munch the cold cloth until they get some relief.

Make Fruit-sicles

If your teething child is over six months of age, try this fun solution for gum pain: Pour your baby’s favorite pureed fruit into an empty ice cube tray or mini paper cups and add a stick for easy grabbing. Let your homemade popsicles freeze and offer them as a soothing surprise when teething pain becomes too much.

Don’t Buy That!

Over-the-counter teething gel may seem like a good idea, but most contain a numbing agent called benzocaine that the FDA says can be harmful to babies. In rare cases, it can cause a blood disorder called methemoglobinemia. Do the research or stop buying these products altogether and make you own teething solution at home. Here’s an easy substitute: Mix a few drops of clove essential oil with one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Sample it on your own gums to make sure it’s mild enough for baby. This should ease some of the teething pain without the worries associated with benzocaine. Money saved: $7 a tube.

Catnip and Chamomile

Chamomile is known for its calming effect, but did you know that the same ingredient that intoxicates your cat will actually calm you down? Yes, catnip. Make a nice catnip or chamomile tea for yourself if you are nursing a teething child. This should pass on some relief to the baby. If you’re not nursing, a clean washcloth saturated in the cooled-off tea makes a great teething device.

Cooling Comfort

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best solution. Grab some ice from the freezer and wrap it in a thin cloth. Rub this cooling compress gently against the sore gumline back and forth. Keep the compress moving. The cold and the pressure work together to bring relief.

An Apple a Day

What if you could find a chewy fruit in the shape of a teething ring? You can! Unsulfured dried apple rings are perfectly easy for little baby hands to grab and chewy enough to gnaw and gnaw and gnaw for healing satisfaction.

Go Bananas

Freeze a banana, peel it, and hand it over to your little munchkin. The cold, smooth banana feels fantastic against those red and irritated gums. Plus she’s getting her vitamins so it’s a double win! Be sure to take this treat away before it thaws enough for her to break off pieces.

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