Teething Remedies - teething biscuits, teething rings, teething gel and natural teething remedies
Spotting the signs of teething is a little bit of an art form. Many first time mothers attribute certain signs as being symptoms of teething when, in fact, they having nothing at all to do with it. Likewise, it is possible to miss the onset of teething and to attribute your child's crying and crankiness to something else.
Whether teething biscuits should be given to babies is debatable. Chewing on something does help alleviate the pain felt by many babies. From a nutritional aspect, they are unnecessary as babies will already be getting their nutritional needs from breast milk, formula milk or baby solid food. If your child is already eating solids then there is no harm in giving them teething biscuits, especially if she is already able to hold on to something as she eats it. The teething biscuit should not break up in your baby's mouth as this can cause choking. Try out the biscuit yourself; if the biscuit dissolves away, rather than breaks up, then it is probably safe to give to your baby.
There is an advantage from a development point of view, inasmuch as chewing on teething biscuits help your child to learn to feed itself.
Teething rings have been around a long time and are an old time teething remedy. Many mothers prefer to give their child a teething ring above all other remedies to aid teething pain. They offer many advantages over other remedies. For a more detailed review, read our Teething Ring article.
Teething Gel should only be given as a last resort and only after consultation with your doctor. Most baby teething gels contain a mild analgesic that act as a painkiller. Many teething gels also contain mild antiseptics that kill a variety of bacteria and fungi that might infect sore or broken skin in the mouth. Teething gel is applied by gently rubbing the gel directly onto the gums. They can provide quick relief to your baby's discomfort. It is quite safe to breastfeed whilst using teething gel.
A note on teething gels: Experts caution against the excessive use of teething gels as they contain benzocaine. There is a risk of allergic reaction. In addition, benzocaine can cause numbing of the throat and could lead to choking. Consult your doctor if you want to help relieve your child's pain with benzocaine.
Teething tablets dissolve quickly in your child's mouth to provide pain relief. The active ingredients are usually Chamomilla, which helps reduce irritability, and Belladonna, which helps reduce inflammation. As with teething gel, you should speak to your doctor before using, especially if you're breastfeeding.
Natural teething remedies have always been around and are now back in vogue. There is a plethora of natural remedies available. The following is a list, though by no means complete.
- Cool bottle of water - a simple but effective solution. The coldness numbs the gums and eases pain.
- Rub your finger against your child's gums - this mimics the chewing on a teething ring or teething biscuit. Make sure your hands are clean.
- A cool damp cloth - a sort of mixture of cold water bottle and mom's finger.
- Entertain your Child - Sometimes a simple distraction can help your baby forget his pain temporarily.
- Various herbal tinctures - there are now many herbal remedies available to help ease baby teething pains.
- Cold food - let your baby suck on cold pieces of fruit or vegetables. Cold banana is a favourite. It doesn't tend to break up but dissolves in your baby's mouth making it quite safe. Also, another old fashioned approach is to let baby suck on a cold carrot: if your baby has already got teeth be careful that she doesn't bite off a piece - as there is a potential risk of choking.
Giving a child something to chew on rather than using gels or other herbal remedies has the advantage of being free of all possible side effects.