Teething Troubles? Readers Share Their Favorite At-home Remedies
Watching your baby grow up is a mix of wonder, excitement, and sadness. And when it comes to teething, you can also add headaches and tears — yours and baby’s.
We asked Babble readers how they handled the drooling, screaming pain as baby’s first teeth came in. Their answers, especially the non-medicinal, homespun ones, are easy and effective. Parents, get your freezer ready!
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Born and Bread
Cut up bread into thin, stick-like pieces and freeze. Then let baby chew on it.
— Submitted by Kristin Arnold
Photo credit: iStock
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Old-school Teething
This will make me sound ancient, but whiskey-soaked, old fashioned, clothespins worked great.
— Submitted by Kelly Harris Aulenbach
Photo credit: iStock
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Pucker Up
Slices of lemon — even better if they've been in the freezer.
— Submitted by Pamela Cook
Photo credit: iStock
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Scrub-a-dub-dub
Frozen washcloths were the ticket!
— Submitted by Tiffany Pigtales Stahl
Photo credit: iStock
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Love at First Bite
Popsicles or frozen bananas. The cold feels amazing on the gums.
— Submitted by Maria Zingales
Photo credit: iStock
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Soak Up the Pain
We buy sponges, get them wet, and freeze them.
— Submitted by Caprice Wilson Dean
Photo credit: iStock
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Forbidden Fruit
Unopened frozen fruit snacks. The babes love the crinkling noise when they gnaw on the wrapper with the hard, frozen fruit snacks inside.
— Submitted by Kayla Bauer
Photo credit: iStock
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Everything But the Kitchen Sink
Whiskey — for me, of course! We [also] used teething tablets, frozen fruits and ice in the mesh feeder, Tylenol/Motrin, cold washcloths …
— Submitted by Andrea Hepburn
Photo credit: iStock
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Leggo My Eggo!
Frozen waffles.
— Submitted by Leslie Lawrence
Photo credit: iStock
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Brushing My Tooth
My son loves to chew on his banana-shaped toothbrush
— Submitted by Lucy Oliver Monte
Photo credit: iStock
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Shouldn’t Put a Ring On It
Hyland’s teething tablets and Advil. My daughter hated teething rings.
— Submitted by Ellen Shannon Barber
Photo credit: iStock
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Pacify Her
Frozen binkies work great, even if your baby doesn’t really use them.
— Submitted by Judith Dussault
Photo credit: iStock
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Baby Bling
My baby wore a homeopathic amber teething necklace — made to wear, not chew. It really helped with swelling.
— Submitted by Stephanie Eileen Polson
Photo credit: Amber Artisans
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The All-natural Approach
Lots of hugs, kisses, and patience.
— Submitted by Laura Williams Smith
Photo credit: iStock
What’s your best teething tip? Tell us in the comments!
Amber necklaces are NOT meant to be chewed on! The amber releases an oil when heated by the body. It’s not meant to be ingested, and if your baby can get his necklace to his mouth, it’s too long.
Good points, Elizabeth and Steph. We had the teething necklace advice clarified. Thanks!
The picture for the teething necklace is a poor choice, like the PP said, they are not for chewing!
And whiskey-soaked clothespins??? WTF??? You don’t know how much alcohol actually gets in your babies body this way, just don’t do it.