Parenting by fire. One of those litmus tests in your parenting career undoubtedly is teething. You get to between 3-6 months, and you’re feeling good. You might be sleeping more than 2 hours a night. You’ve figured out how to nourish your child, how to diaper change in crazy kamikaze ways at home & afar. You finally feel that maybe you can handle this parenting gig. Then the little angel will start sprouting those pearly whites.

Suddenly your world spins off it’s axis again. Your baby is crying, fussy, inconsolable and you just want things to go back to the way they were. You stand blearily in the aisle at your favourite baby retailer and contemplate all the magical teething cures.  

If you haven’t hit this stage yet, go and stock up on some of the essentials on our list. When your child starts teething you’ll be ready – even if it’s in the middle of the night. I bet well-meaning friends who are already mothers have sprinkled a few of these gems into your baby shower already too.

When you’ve lived to tell about it through the trenches of motherhood, you try to help. Ask any mom, they will tell you their teething woes!

Every kid is different when it comes to teething. My older one liked to get 4 or 6 teeth at a time. This makes for some very awful two-week periods but once those two weeks are over, it’s quite a while until the next run. Kids who pop out one tooth at a time will drive you nutty every couple of weeks. I’m really not sure which is worse.

Everyone has their own way of helping their children deal with the pain. I am a big fan of the natural route. There are so many things available to help your kids (and you) make it through this tough time. As a first-time parent you may not be aware of all the fantastic things available nowadays and I’m here to help you survive this period in your child’s life.

Be Prepared! Pick Up Teething Remedies in Advance

Teething Rings

These are a little bit old-school but they are still popular for a reason. You can go the all natural route with a wooden one, or buy the plastic ones that you can put in the fridge. (A note to the wise: don’t freeze them – it will be too cold and could hurt those sore gums)

 

Cold Washcloth

This one is a snap since you already have everything you need around the house. Take a washcloth and run it under really cold water. Wring it out well and hand it to your child. I typically use the Grovia Cloth Wipes for this (super soft). Truly any washcloth will do!

Frozen Blueberries

This is my specialty! Since they are so tiny, you won’t have to worry about your little one choking on them. They also defrost very quickly which is why they are a great substitute for a frozen teething ring. As an added bonus, they are full of nutritional goodness! And they taste delicious. I dare you to give a couple to your little one and not steal a few for yourself. 

Camilia by Boiron

Sometimes your baby will need more than something to chew on. This is where Boiron steps in with a fantastic homeopathic teething solution. It’s made with sterile water and contains no sugar, no colouring and no preservatives. It’s safe to use from 1-30 months which is great for those kids who get teeth really early. Not only does this stuff work, it comes in handy little pre-measured vials that are easy to administer. They are the perfect size to squirt it right into the mouth of a screaming, teething babe with little fuss. This is one of those items I always include in a gift basket for my new mom friends. Download a FREE $2 Coupon here.

Sophie the Giraffe

Andrea is a big fan of Sophie. No doubt someone bought you one of these at your baby shower. And no doubt it was someone who already has kids. Mothers just know about the wonder that is this chewy little giraffe. There’s a larger, squeaky model but there is also a smaller, non-squeaky version. Bonus: It’s super easy to clean!
Here’s a few of our other blogger friends and their teething survival methods:

Hopefully these things will help you survive the wonderful world of teething. It can be a long, hard road but just know that all moms have been through it and are always around to offer suggestions! Do you have some tried, tested and true tips for helping kids deal with the pain associated with teething? We’d love to hear them!