Natural Teething Remedies

Teething in babies is usually experienced when a baby is a couple of months old. In babies it can occur as early as the second month and as late as upon completion of a year. During teething, teeth start coming out of the baby's gums, although their formation starts in the fetus itself.

Baby teething can be a very troublesome time for both the mother and the child. As the baby experiences pain and swelling around his gums, he feels more and more agitated. Babies often refuse to be fed when baby teething occurs as they feel very restless. High fever, rashes on the lips and chin, indigestion are some other side effects of baby teething. As the baby is going through all this, his sleeping pattern gets disturbed and so does the mother's. That's why, all mothers should start with natural teething remedies as soon as possible, to lessen and do away with all the baby's troubles.

Effective Teething Remedies for Babies

Distractions
Many a time, the baby is not so much in pain due to teething, instead he is simply afraid of the "new things" happening to him. If this is the case, distracting the child with something, for instance a toy, will help in stopping his cries. Covering him with a soothing blanket is another way to make him feel cozy and comfortable. If a child is given something which takes away all his attention, it will certainly lessen his "teething troubles" as he will have something else to focus his energies on.

Massages
Give the child a gum massage. Wash your hands with a medicated soap and when they are absolutely clean, with a finger, gently massage the baby's gums. The baby may cry initially when you give him a gum massage, however, once he feels a soothing effect, he will become calm.

Tablets
There are many natural teething tablets which dissolve immediately when a baby takes them in his mouth. This makes them safe for baby usage. Such tablets for infants reduce the redness, inflammation and irritability, which are some of the common baby teething symptoms experienced by a child.

Teething Rings
If a baby is given something to chew on, it helps in bringing relief to the soreness and pain that is experienced in the mouth. This is where teething rings come in. There are various kinds of teething rings available in the market such as frozen teething rings, rubber rings, silicone based rings, etc. Out of these, silicon rings are considered to be the best as frozen rings, which come with liquid inside are prone to breakage.

Washcloths
For babies who have very sensitive gums, instead of teething rings, damp washcloths which have been refrigerated for a while, can be given to chew on. When babies suck and chew on these washcloths, the cold numbs their gums, thus providing them relief from the pain associated with teething.

Clove Oil
Add a few drops of clove oil to some basic, pure, edible oil and apply it on the baby's gums. The clove oil is known to ease and soothe tooth ache in adults too and is equally effective for kids. Remember to dilute the oil though, before rubbing, otherwise it can upset the baby's digestion.

Drops
These days there are homeopathic natural teething drops available, which promise to relieve the pain associated with teething. Homeopathic remedies such as these can be effective for some and totally ineffective for others. Nevertheless, they being non-toxic, are completely safe. So, try giving these drops to the baby and if he feels relieved by them, continue with it.

Cold Fruits and Vegetables
Another remedy is to give the child some cold vegetable or fruit to suck. For this, refrigerate a banana and keep it in the baby's mouth. The cold will numb the gums of the baby, thus relieving him from pain. One caution here - give only such fruits and vegetables which can dissolve in the mouth and not choke the baby.

These are some of the useful teething remedies. If, after following these measures regularly, the pain does not get eased, it is advised that you consult a pediatrician.