Teething Tips and Tricks

If you've raised children then I'm pretty sure you've dealt with teething. It can be a nightmare at times. But there are some things you can do to alleviate the pain for both the child who is teething and the parents who have to care for the child.

First I'll start off with the symptoms of a typical teething child. I want to warn you that some babies do these things even when they aren't teething (especially the drool and crankiness). My daughter has been drooling since she was 3 months old and still doesn't have a tooth (at 9 months). Every child is different. And always remember to consult your pediatrician when using medicines with your child to insure proper dosage.

Classic signs and symptoms of teething often include:

• Drooling, which may begin about two months before the first tooth appears
• Irritability or crankiness
• Swollen gums
• Chewing on solid objects
• Waking more frequently at night

Now that we've gone over the symptoms, what's the best way to soothe sore gums? If your teething baby seems uncomfortable, consider these simple tips:

Rub your baby's gums.
Use a clean finger, moistened gauze pad or damp washcloth to massage your baby's gums. The pressure can ease your baby's discomfort. My daughter loves when I take a frozen wash cloth and use my finger to rub it all over her gums. The massage helps alleviate her pain an sometimes I catch her grabbing a washcloth and trying to use it herself.

Offer a teething ring.
Try one made of firm rubber. My children both thoroughly enjoyed these Vulli teething rings and Sophie the Giraffe as well. The liquid-filled variety of teething rings may break under the pressure of your baby's chewing. If a bottle seems to do the trick, fill it with water. Prolonged contact with sugar from formula, milk or juice may cause tooth decay.

And if you are on the go, I highly suggest investing in a few pieces of Smart Mom Teething Bling. I own a pendant necklace and a bangle bracelet and love both. My son and daughter use them not only for teething but as entertainment when we're in the store, out to dinner or simply going on a car ride. I'm surprised with how much my kids love these items especially because the jewlery is so cute. 

Keep it cool.
A cold washcloth or chilled teething ring can be soothing. Don't give your baby a frozen teething ring, however. Contact with extreme cold may hurt, doing your baby more harm than good. If your baby's eating solid foods, offer cold items such as applesauce or yogurt.

One of the best things I've found to use for my teething infants is the use of a mesh feeder filled with frozen fruits. My son especially loved frozen melon in his mesh feeder. He would quickly get sick of his cold teething rings and this feeder would save my sanity some nights.

Dry the drool. 
Excessive drooling is part of the teething process. To prevent rashes and possible break outs, keep a clean cloth handy to dry your baby's chin. You might also make sure your baby sleeps on an absorbent sheet.

Try an over-the-counter remedy.
If your baby is especially cranky, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) may help. I've had good luck with Hylands teething tablets and an amber necklace as well if you are looking for more homeopathic routes. I've also heard great reviews for Boiron's Camila product and have some to use once my daughter starts teething (if she ever does!).

Don't give your baby products that contain aspirin, however, and be cautious about teething medications that can be rubbed directly on a baby's gums. The medication may be washed away by your baby's saliva before it has the chance to do any good — and too much of the medication may numb your baby's throat, which may interfere with his or her normal gag reflex.

*** Giveaway Closed ***

Would you like the chance to win a Smart Mom teething necklace for yourself or another mama? Well you're in luck! I have two necklaces (yes, two winners!) to giveaway and it is very simple to enter.

I was given two Smart Mom Teething Bling necklaces during the weekend of BlogHer'11 and instead of keeping these cute necklaces for myself I've decided to give them away to two lucky readers. The first name I draw will get her choice between the Bronze Donut Shaped Pendant (which is currently out of stock on Smart Mom's website... lucky you!) and the Brown Snowflake Pendant.

What do you have to do to win?

1. Simply leave a comment on this post telling me which color you'd like!

Want another entry?

2. Follow me on GFC or Networked Blogs and tell me you follow!

It's that simple! You don't have to like me on facebook or follow me on twitter. Although if you want to, that's cool! I always love meeting new people. And I am going to be doing a few giveaways through the end of the year including a very large one in December so it's always best to stay connected.

Want to buy some Smart Mom Jewelry for yourself? Go check them out on their website. They have an awesome selection at affordable prices and I love their colors! You can even grab a bangle to match your necklace. My daughter cannot stop playing with my bangle. She practically demands that I take it off when I'm with her.

See what my daughter is playing with?

Disclaimer: This giveaway is not sponsored by Smart Mom Jewelry. I was given these teething necklaces during Blogher '11 weekend from a Smart Mom sponsored blogger and in order to spread the love I've decided to give them away to two of my readers instead of keeping them for myself. Smart Mom did not contact me directly to do a giveaway and I will be personally shipping the necklaces to the winners.

Sources: The Mayo Clinic, Kelly Mom, Ask Dr. Sears