Teeth – Teething (Babies)

There is a number of ways you can help your baby through the stressful and often painful periods of teething (cutting teeth).

Every baby is unique and his teeth will appear in their own time. Anywhere between 4 – 10 months but typically beginning around the six-month mark and culminating around the third birthday.

Here’s a look at the average ages:

3-6 months: Your baby may start to show the earliest symptoms of teething, including swollen, tender gums, and fussiness
6-12 months: This is the average age when baby’s front teeth appear. Because these teeth have a sharp edge and cut through the gums more easily, they tend to appear without much trouble.
12-22 months: This is the average age baby’s first molars and canine teeth appear. Erupting molars are often significantly more painful than front or canine teeth because they have a flat, wide surface as opposed to a sharp edge. Molar eruption can even cause bleeding in some children.
22-33 months: This is the average age when baby’s second molars appear. Like first molars, these can be especially painful.

When your baby is cranky, refusing to feed, and keeping you up all night because of teething discomfort, you may be tempted to reach for the first numbing cream or plastic teething ring you can find which is what the mainstream society recommends and sells but you probably shouldn't because this artificial, man-made products can be harmful.

You should seek out a holistic dentist and do your own research before you put a potential toxin in your beautiful babies hands/mouth.

Here is a list of ‘All- Natural Teething Remedies'.

The best all natural teething remedies

Avoiding potentially dangerous teething remedies doesn’t mean your baby has to suffer while his teeth come in. Here’s a look at natural teething remedies that are completely safe and effective, too.

Massage

One of the best ways to provide relief for teething is to gently massage your baby’s gums with clean hands. Coconut oil is my oil of choice safe, nutritive for the whole family. Coconut oil is rich in medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). This type of fatty acid has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It is also high in the C12 chain of MCFAs which is called lauric acid.

Coconut oil also nourishes the skin used for massaging your baby and helps with nappy rash. Coconut oil is also beneficial to apply to sore, cracked nipples of breastfeeding mothers.

Coconut oil massaged into the scalp helps in eliminating sebum build-up from hair follicles and good for cradle cap.

Make massage a daily routine! Babies like adults adore the healing power of touch. I always encourage mothers & fathers to make the shower/bath routine special and massage always afterwards. Lie down in a dark room to feed your bub and watch the stress dissolve. It becomes a favourite calming ritual that you and your precious babe will crave.

Chamomile

Chamomile is a mild sedative that is safe for children and can ease fussiness and irritability. Some parents have found success with Camilia chewing tablets, which contain chamomile. Or you can simply freeze chamomile tea into popsicle form for baby, or soak a cloth in cold chamomile tea and give it to him to chew on.

Teething gloves

Teething gloves are mitts that go on your baby’s hands and are covered in a durable material, (usually silicone) for baby to chew on. The Munch Mitt and the Nuby are the two most popular brands.

Wooden teether

As mentioned, plastic teethers may be made from or filled with toxic chemicals, but wooden teethers are all-natural and relatively risk-free. They’re also hard enough to provide relief while encouraging proper chewing and oral development, but without the issues that arise with frozen teething rings. [1]

I used these wooden rattles/teethers with my 5 babies and coated them with coconut or olive oil.

FRUIT & VEGETABLE LINEN/MESH WRAPPED TEETHING CHEWS

A favourite with my babes was pieces of fruit or vegetables wrapped in natural material or stocking and tied to the high chair where it not only relieved their sore inflamed gums but they were thoroughly entertained!

You can now buy these commercially made ‘Mesh Feeders'! Place cooled (but not frozen) foods in a mesh feeder can give your baby something to munch on that will also soothe his gums. Filling mesh feeders with apples, pears and fruits and vegetables in season and that you know your baby isn't intolerant too. These are a great alternative to teething biscuits that are processed, high-carb, and full of added sugars. Do not to leave baby unattended while eating.

It is important to understand that when the tooth breaks through the gum (dead tissue) bacteria like to accumulate and can be absorbed into their fragile digestive system. This is why you often notice a change in bowel motions, skin rashes and hot flushed faces.

Every stage of your babies development is special but it isn't nice to ever see your babes in pain.

We use various naturopathic principles to treat the cause and look for the disharmony in your body and mind to bring your body back to balance. Please see below a brief treatment (Rx) protocol and reference guide, with choices to help improve your health and wellbeing. Click on the headings and links within for more treatment information.