4 months old

Teething Pain Relief

Seeing your baby in obvious pain can be both heartbreaking and exhausting, and you can’t completely alleviate the discomfort. However, mothers have spent centuries concocting homemade remedies for teething, so we now have a fairly successful list of treatments to choose from – which doesn’t include brandy on the gums.

• A frozen wet washcloth. Although it’s hard to anticipate what your baby will like or refuse, this is a pretty popular option among the teething set. It’s especially useful for younger babies (like four-month-olds) whose hands are too tiny for bigger teething rings and toys. The numbing cold and gentle pressure might provide the relief your baby needs. (As your baby gets older, a frozen bagel or fruit might do the trick.)
• Teething toys. Once upon a time, our parents gave us freezer-chilled, plastic teething rings filled with liquid and floating Mickey Mouse heads. Nowadays there are plenty of safer options, considering an extra-vigorous biter might poke through the plastic and swallow a floater.
  • Sophie the Giraffe from Vulli is internationally acclaimed, made of phthalate- and BPA-free natural rubber and food paint. We also really love Vulli’s similar mushroom-shaped teether, Chan Pie Gnon, for little hands.
  • Try a bumpy teether like these from Razbaby, made from BPA-free, non-toxic, medical-grade silicone.
  • Some babies prefer the extra-hard surface of wooden teethers to gnaw on. We’re big fans of all-natural, handmade teethers on Etsy, like from Little Sapling Toys and Little Alouette.
• Mommy’s finger. Putting pressure on the inflamed area with a clean finger usually provides soothing relief. It might cause discomfort at first, but most babies soon welcome the rubbing.
• Homeopathic Medicine. Many moms swear by Hyland’s Homeopathic Teething Tablets, but unfortunately, these were recalled by the FDA. We’ll watch out to see if they make their way back onto the market, but for now, we have to steer clear.
• Pain Relievers. If your baby isn’t responding to any natural methods, ask your doctor about pain relievers (especially at nighttime) and over-the-counter numbing agents like Baby Orajel. Keep in mind that while topical ointments are generally safe, too much might numb your baby’s gag reflex, possibly leading to choking.