Thread: Another OT "natural" question...

I'm sorry for posting so many off topic questions here...but it doesn't seem like any of the other naturally-inclined boards get much action...

So my question is about teething. My little one has been miserable for a couple days now, and I can only assume it's her teeth bothering her. She's just 4 mos, and has been incredibly drooly, sucking/chewing on her fingers (or anything else) constantly, etc. No sign of teeth yet, but it seems like she's in pain because of them. When she nurses she keeps popping off crying and sticking her fingers in her mouth.

We already have an amber necklace which she wears every day. Is there anything else that we could use? I don't have access to much here in Angola- but, I keep thinking of cloves. I know when I had my wisdom teeth out, I was told to use cloves...but I don't remember how.

Anybody have any ideas?

My naturopath said to do clove oil on the gums?

We also did teething tablets as well.

Clove oil on the gums is a good one and if you have access to teething tablets those are awesome! I don't go with out teething tablets. I haven't tried the clove oil but I've heard great things about it.

When babies are teething, they tend to put any new item directly into the mouth. Partly curiosity and partly an attempt at pain management, infants feel the urge to bite and chew. As the teeth are growing, the cells in the gum tissue above the teeth begin to break down, which helps the teeth slide through. The urge to bite or chew is a good thing, because the added pressure helps break down the gum tissue. Give your child something to chew on! You can find homeopathic ice pops, teething cookies, tablets and gels to help relieve your baby's teething pain. Some remedies sound exotic, using strange ingredients like whole honeybees or infinitesimally small doses of belladonna; others include the use of chamomile or pulsatilla (pasqueflower). They are all quite safe.
Other natural remedies include herbs and oils, which can alleviate pain or help your baby calm down and get to sleep. One common remedy for the pain of toothache and teething is clove oil. Cloves contain oils that have warming, numbing properties, so that even holding a whole clove against a sore tooth with your tongue can ease the pain long enough to get to your dentist. Clove oil can be rubbed on sore gums to relieve pain, but only use a tiny amount: too much can upset your baby's stomach. Other homemade remedies include letting your infant chew on a natural licorice stick (the herb, not candy!) You can find natural licorice in health food stores: real licorice feels cool and also numbs the gums when your baby chews on it. Wild fennel, a relative of licorice, grows in disturbed areas in Northern California and other parts of the country: you may be able to harvest it yourself along the bike paths. The feathery, fern-like leaves and hollow stalks can be chewed or sucked for a cooling, licorice-tasting treat.
Some parents find that rubbing a little pure vanilla extract on the baby's gums can soothe the crying child: this home remedy may work in three ways. First, merely rubbing baby's gums can ease the pain by creating opposite pressure; second, the alcohol in vanilla extract will create a warm sensation that is temporarily comforting. The third way this remedy may work is in the calming properties of vanilla itself. Vanilla is known as a soothing yet energizing agent that reduces anxiety and promotes feelings of well-being. Besides that, vanilla has long been used to cure stomach distress: a baby whose stomach is mildly upset from crying or swallowing large amounts of drool may find vanilla soothing to the tummy as well as the nerves.

I just printed the above post so I can have all that lovely information on hand when this LO is here and going through teething. Thank you so much for all the great information.

I have had really good luck wetting a washcloth and then putting it in the freezer for a little while and letting DS suck/chew on that when he was teething. I've never done any of the natural remedies, but I'm probably going to try some of those this time around.

Make sure you buy real vanilla (expensive!), not the artificial, to get the benefits. If you are lucky, simple teething biscuits might be enough. Is there any sort of health food store where you are located?

May I also suggest Sophie the giraffe? Oddly enough, this is often a very useful favorite with the teething crowd: http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index....ductId=2854311
Both of Sarahsunshines babies loved her.
(There may be better buys on other sites. Check it out!)

Originally Posted by gardenbug

Make sure you buy real vanilla (expensive!), not the artificial, to get the benefits. If you are lucky, simple teething biscuits might be enough. Is there any sort of health food store where you are located?

May I also suggest Sophie the giraffe? Oddly enough, this is often a very useful favorite with the teething crowd: http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index....ductId=2854311
Both of Sarahsunshines babies loved her.
(There may be better buys on other sites. Check it out!)

Ditto on the Vanilla. DD got some comfort after I rubbed vanilla extract on her gums. I also had success with those little natural teething tablets... they were the bomb!! Here's the link: http://www.hylands.com/products/teething.php

I can't say enough about Hyland's teething tabs, all natural and work like a charm. unfortunately DH had issues with DS wearing an amber necklace, he thought it was a choking hazard, even though he wasn't wearing it to sleep and it was made specifically to break if it became to tight but that's a whole different rant lol

Another rave review for Hyland's teething tablets here! I call them baby crack, and if I say "baby crack" or ask "do your teeth hurt?", he gets a huge ridiculous smile on his face and starts to fuss if I don't get them to him fast enough. He LOVES them.

My doctor recommends tissue salts… they seem to help too, and very quickly. I think they are combination “R” for teething. However, I doubt you’d find them in Angola!