Natural and Herbal Teething Remedies for Baby

From the age of about 4 months to almost 2 years, babies and infants are teething, and while there can be a wide range of symptoms and ages when the first tooth appears, parents generally agree that teething babies can be miserable. While some parents still turn to traditional pain relief and teething treatments, more and more parents prefer to try natural, herbal, or holistic methods of treating their infants' pain and the other symptoms that accompany teething. Some of these suggestions have been around for hundreds or thousands of years, others are new versions of old ideas, and some may be new to you. And the next time you are at your local health food store, ask what they carry for teething babies - there are new, all-natural products for babies coming on the market all the time.

When baby is irritated by the pain caused by teething, try offering one of the following to help soothe his sore and reddened gums:

• your own clean finger for him to gnaw on
• organic baby crackers, all natural baby teething biscuits
• dry toast or pizza crust (be careful he isn't able to bite off a chunk and choke)
• organic teething ring - chilled but not frozen, solid or gel filled. Wooden teething rings are making a comeback.
• chilled fruit or vegetable slices in a Nuby Nibbler. This is a GREAT product, which is basically a small rubber handle with a cloth net "nest" that can be filled with fruits, vegetables, etc.  The baby can nibble on the food through the net, but can't bite off large chunks to choke on.   Fruits that work well in the Nuby Nibbler are apple, cantaloupe, pear, or peach. For vegetables I find that carrots work best. Remember to wash and peel the skin off first.
• ice cube in Nuby Nibbler.
• chillled washcloth
• chilled rubber-covered baby spoon

There are many herbal and homeopathic options for your teething baby. Some of the most popular are:

• chamomile tea - brew a strongly steeped cup, then dip a washcloth in it and chill in the fridge
• rubbing clove oil on baby's gums
• letting baby chew on a natural licorice stick - it has a cooling sensation on gums
• letting baby chew on fennel bulb or leaves - also aids in digestion
• rub real organic vanilla extract on baby's gums - vanilla has soothing properties
• Teething granules or teething tablets from your health store will likely contain herbs such as chamomila, rosehip, or passionflower. They are either chewed by baby or placed on baby's tongue.
• rosehip tea

Teething necklaces have been used for hundreds of years by parents all over the world as a holistic method of alleviating the pain of infant teething. Teething Necklaces are NOT for the baby to chew on, but are made of some naturally occurring substance, mineral, or wood which is believed to have healing or therapeutic properties. The most popular holistic teething necklaces are made of Hazelwood, Amber, and Magnets.

Hazelwood - the wood of the Hazelwood (Corylus Cornuta)tree is valued for its ability to reduce the body's acidity, thereby helping with digestive issues and skin conditions, and to treat the pain of migraine headaches and teething. Found in North America, Hazelwood was used by Native Americans to help manage their babies pain through teething.

Amber - Amber is the fossilized sap of ancient trees, most commonly found in Scandinavia and the Baltic regions of the globe. A natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory, it's beautiful colour and consistency has made it a popular jewellry item for those looking for a holistic or all-natural alternative to pain relief. As it warms to the wearer's skin, it secretes amber resin (containing succinic acid)which is absorbed into the skin. Amber teething necklaces for babies are enjoying a resurgence in popularity as parents today search for non-pharmaceutical methods of treating their infants' pain.