Effective Teething Remedies: Natural, homemade or medical
Author Name: Heidi Holvoet, PhD
Medical fact-check: Dr Leah Alexander, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Effective teething
remedies soothe baby teething pain fast and also have a lasting effect.
That's what you need to keep her sleeping well at night. There are a
couple of home made remedies that are really good. They are not
expensive at all and often more reliable (and lasting) than the
medical
ones. Sometimes a
medical
solution like teething gel/granules or plain Tylenol can be necessary
to complement.
Let's examine how and when to use each category: natural or homemade
ones which
involve no pills or syrup at all, and
then medical remedies.
As a general rule, I always recommend to try natural solutions
first. Do them correctly and consistently for lasting results. Then if
still necessary, complement with a medical solution. Speak to your
doctor
and/or pharmacist before trying a
medical solution.
Natural and homemade teething remedies
Non-medical teething pain relief methods work through massaging the
gums or by cooling - which un-swells and effectively reduces the
uncomfortable sensation.
Home made remedies refers to something you can do with things you
usually have around at home.
Effective teething pain relief methods you can use:
1. Gum massage with a finger toothbrush
Gently massage your baby's gums with a soft fingertip
baby
toothbrush
/gum massager.
They are like plastic little fingers and specifically
designed to massage the gums.
Most
babies really enjoy this massage
, especially
because it
really eases the pain.
Once the first teeth have arrived, the finger toothbrush is also great
to brush.
2. A plain teething ring, or bite ring
A baby with teeth coming up has the urge to chew or bite all the time.
That is
because it
really helps to soothe the pain. It works exactly like the gum massage
- only
it is 'self-service'.
There are endless options of course - the
Sophie
the Giraffe Teether
is a huge classic hit
- can do
but please mind the
following
safety guidelines
:
- A safe chewing toy must not contain any toxic substances that may be released when biting or chewing. No small parts that can be torn or bitten off.
- Carefully read the manufacturer's instructions regarding washing and sterilizing. Do not sterilize the ring if not explicitly mentioned.
- Do not use a ribbon or other to attach the ring to baby's clothes to avoid baby getting entangled.
3. A cold cloth
Use a cold thin washing cloth either inside baby's mouth to massage the
gums or place it on the cheek.
Both of these methods soothe the pain.
To cool the washing cloth, wring it out
in cold running water
or put it in the
refrigerator for a while. Alternatively, tightly (!) wrap an
ice cube in a thin washing cloth.
In all cases, remember to wash the
cloth thoroughly after each use.
4. Cold food
If your baby has the appropriate age, i.e. is on solids, cold foods can be good remedies too.
The
numbing effect helps for the pain, and you can make healthy treats that
baby will love!
You can try cooling any type of fruit or veg that your baby eats and
likes: it can be banana, pear, apple, carrot, etc. or also a chilled
fruit mash.
If your little one can safely lick a Popsicle, you can make a healthy
one
yourself with freshly squeezed juice in small Popsicle moulds. Or put a
little Popsicle stick in her favorite baby yogurt, then freeze.
5. A cold chewing ring
A cold teething ring can be any chewing toy that you cool in the
refrigerator, as long as it's safe to do so (not all materials are suited).
Some are actually a liquid
filled cold-pack type
and remain cold for longer, like the
Nuby
Icybite Teething Keys
.
The cold has a numbing effect which is of course what helps soothe the pain.
The
safety guidelines
are as
above but be extra
careful about the liquid filled part:
-
Unless the manufacturer explicitly mentions freezing, do
not freeze, only refrigerate.
Freezing the ring could cause cracks and make the liquid burst.
Besides even it is allowed, straight from the freezer is often too cold for baby, so refrigerating is usually best anyway. - Frequently check for tiny cracks as you do not want the liquid to spill. No too much worries though, dedicated cold rings are made of very thick plastic.
But don't be put off by these simple precautions, these cooled rings are very efficient!! And fun ..
Medical remedies
Obviously, avoid medical teething remedies if you can. But if none of the above natural remedies sufficiently relieve, consult your doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you what you can safely use for your baby.
1. Gel
A good teething gel has a double action: it combines a local
anesthetic with an antiseptic to both numb and disinfect.
Teething gel is not suited for all babies and not all teething gels are safe - that's why you need to be
careful and
always consult with a doctor before using any gel
.
But if your baby can have it,
and reacts well to it, the gel can be very effective.
Warning.
Some teething gels contain
harmful
ingredients that you have to avoid no matter what. Teething gels containing
Benzocaine
(a local anesthetic) are no longer recommended as it has been associated with infant death. Please review this
FDA
warning against OTC benzocaine teething products
.
Belladona
has been a common ingredient in homeopathic teething gels and tablets until 2018 when some manufacturers began removing it. It can cause anti-cholinergic effects so avoid anything that contains it. More on
Belladonna in teething products
. Also look out for, and avoid, any teething product that contains
Caffeine
as some do - it is then sometimes shown as "Caffea" in the ingredient list.
2. Painkillers
Always consult your doctor for safe use
of painkillers such as calpol or ibuprofen. They can help soothe the
worst of teething pains if used sporadically and in a well-timed manner. Regardless of all other precautions,
Dr Alexander
advises that ibuprofen should not be given under 6 months old.
Please beware of homepoathic tablets and gels, there is an FDA warning against them due a risk of harmful side effects.
Even if one or several of
all these teething remedies may help relieve your child's pain,
there is still a good chance that some discomfort remains. And that her
sleep will be disrupted for a while ...
The golden rule is to relieve the pain maximally and at the same time
keep up the good habits of regularity, bedtime routine, ... which will
keep you on track as closely as possible. More details on
how
to keep sleeping well even when teeth are cutting
.
Article Author: Heidi Holvoet, PhD - Founder, senior sleep consultant
Heidi Holvoet, PhD, is the founder of the Baby Sleep Advice website and movement, an award-winning author, baby & toddler sleep consultant with 15+ years experience as well as a certified lactation counselor.
Over the years, Heidi has received several awards inluding a Mom's Choice Award (MCA) and National Parenting Awards (NAPPA) for her Baby Sleep Advice website, programs and books. Also, Baby Sleep Advice was awarded "Most Trusted Infant's Sleep Solutions Company 2023" in the Benelux Enterprise Awards 2023.
Heidi continually conducts personal research and participates in continued education and in that way stays up to date with current scientific and pyschosocial infant care.
She is also a member of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants of which she was one of the earliest contributors. She obtained her PhD degree in physics at the University of Ghent in Belgium.
Heidi is passionate about helping babies and their parents sleep more and better, with her trademark approach that has been proven and praised time and again by parents worldwide to be effective and truly no-tears. Respect for you as a parent and your baby, is at the heart of Heidi's warm and kind support. Her approach always keeps in mind a baby's needs and abilities at any given age, is based on pediatric science and the most up to date knowledge in infant care and sleep science.
As well as the award-winning baby sleep programs, Heidi offers popular 1:1 consults and easy-access 30-minute SOS Sleep sessions.

Baby waking every hour?
by Heidi Holvoet, PhD

Sleep schedules by age
by Heidi Holvoet, PhD

Separation Anxiety
by Heidi Holvoet, PhD

Crib safety guidelines
by Heidi Holvoet, PhD

Why does my baby wake up every hour?
by Heidi Holvoet, PhD