This is Day 79 of the Green in 365 series!
By Hilary Bernstein of Accidentally Green
As a new mom, I shocked our family’s pediatrician by mentioning that my newborn son was teething. That’s right – two tiny teeth were poking through the gums of my one-week-old. Because he was so young, there was no remedy I could offer, except for frequent breastfeeding. Oddly enough, his teeth disappeared back into his gums and didn’t reappear for another three months.
Photo by Accidentally Green
That strange experience initiated me into the pain of teething. From then on, I tried plenty of remedies with my two children. Commercial numbing ointments were quickly thrown away once I saw they included parabens and artificial colors. (Here’s a quick medical warning: never give your child a teething gel that includes benzocaine. The ingredient can harm children younger than 2 years old.)
Plastic teethers weren’t so effective – for whatever reason, my babes wouldn’t keep them in their mouths, and since I suspected the soft plastic probably contained phthalates, I didn’t mind.
I tried giving both of my children cold, wet washcloths to chew on. I gave them my clean fingers to gum. I offered frozen bits of food in a mesh bag.
With my firstborn child, I confess that I gave acetaminophen when I suspected he was crying with teething pains. I regret that, because now I realize he was just a fussy baby and I probably unnecessarily medicated him.
What worked?
Finally, I discovered two different safe remedies that worked with my children.
Hyland’s Baby Teething Tablets worked wonders with my son. I gave him the prescribed dosage and enjoyed the silence.
My daughter’s pediatrician recommended another remedy that was highly effective. Simply dilute one drop of essential clove oil in one tablespoon of olive oil. Gently massage it onto your baby’s sore gums. The clove oil has numbing, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. (Don’t use too much clove oil, though – it could cause blistering.)
What works for you?
How have you effectively helped your baby’s teething toils?
Find all the Green in 365 posts.
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