teething

Teething can be an ordeal no matter how many times you’ve been through it before. Usually teething starts around the 6-month mark—though anywhere from 3-12 months is completely normal.

How do you know if your baby is teething?

Moms who’ve been through it know that symptoms vary, but you can expect irritability, swollen and sensitive gums, and a whole lot of drool. It’s hard seeing your baby in pain (and the fussiness isn’t fun either!), but there are many ways to help ease your baby’s discomfort. While there’s no miracle teething remedy that soothes every child, here’s a break-down of seven common remedies that keep cropping up in Circle of Moms conversations.

1. Rubbing gums. It may be simple, but it works! Teething babies often find it soothing to have their gums rubbed. Just gently rub your baby’s gums with the pad of your finger (clean, of course) for a few minutes at a time.
2. Cold washcloth. Teething babies love gnawing on cold items, and a chilled washcloth is an easy, safe and effective teething toy. Place a clean, wet washcloth in the freezer for 15 minutes, and then let your baby chew it.
3. Teething rings. Firm rubber teething rings and teething toys come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. They may have bumps, or be filled with water—the latter are meant to be chilled in the refrigerator (most of them shouldn’t go in the freezer). For an easy homemade teething toy, squeeze water into your baby’s pacifier and chill it.
4.  Cold food. “We froze sliced cucumbers,” remembers Julie M. in a Circle of Moms teething conversation. “Both kids loved it.” Trisha J.’s son, in contrast, loved chewing on frozen celery sticks. Cold food is perfect for teething babies that are already eating solid foods. Anything from frozen bananas, grapes and bagels to cold applesauce or yogurt can do the trick. Put the food in a mesh feeder, so that your baby can chew on the cold food without breaking off and swallowing large pieces.
5. Teething biscuits. Some babies just don’t like cold items, but food doesn’t have to be cold to provide teething relief. Hard teething biscuits are also great for teething babies who are old enough to chew and eat them and other solid foods. Popular store brands include Earth’s Best, Healthy Times and Gerber. Or you can even make your own sugar-free teething biscuits.
6.  Teething gel. Medicated teething gels like Baby Orajel are sold over the counter, and usually contain benzocaine to numb the gums. While experts disagree over the use of teething gels, (too much can numb the back of a baby’s throat and impair the gag reflex, and in rare cases can cause allergic reactions), many approve it when used sparingly. Check with your pediatrician.
7. Children’s pain medications. Some moms find that a small dose of children's pain reliever—such as infant Tylenol or Motrin—helps when nothing else does. Be sure to talk to your pediatrician before giving your baby acetaminophen or any other pain reliever,

Looking for more baby teething remedies? Got a great tip we missed?

Looking for more baby teething remedies? Got a great teething tip we missed? Check out these popular conversations about teething advice and tips, or visit the Circle of Moms Teething community, where you can ask other moms what’s worked for them and share your own tips and tricks.

Motherhood can be a mind-boggler! Beaner submitted this question in our The Mommy Club group.

My little one is just about 5 1/2 months old and has been really uncomfortable from teething. She claws at her mouth, chews on her fingers and sobs about her pain. I've tried just about every teether you can buy, with Sophie being the only one that helps, but she'll only gum on it for a few minutes before wailing. I also gave her a frozen washcloth but it was too cold for her little mouth. Today I tried a little Baby Orajel, but she had this weird reaction of falling asleep soon after taking it, so I feel nervous using it (plus I've read about the horror stories of babies who stop breathing). Any suggestions?'

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Lots of moms like to think out loud and Melissa-Emily is one of them. In her latest post to her Life Beyond Base blog, she shares her favorite way to fight teething tantrums.

Are you one of those moms who's tired of trying everything to give your baby relief from the teething process? I know I was! I tried everything from Humfrees to Orajel and even those rubber toys filled with liquid inside, but nothing seemed to help until I found these at Babies 'R' Us.

For those moms running out of options for your baby's teething tantrums I highly suggest Earth's Best's Teething Biscuits! They're really amazing. Not only does your little one entertain herself but it really helps soothe their gums.

Best part is they're organic, inexpensive, and you don't have to worry about them choking due to the biscuit breaking into many little pieces. As the baby plays with it, and scratches her gums, it dissolves into her mouth.

Although, choking is unlikely with all baby products make sure to supervise your child!

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Let's get munching! When lil ones are teething, they'll eat anything. While generations of moms have turned to Zwieback biscuits to satiate their wee ones, some moms try to avoid the mess-making crackers. During a recent visit to Whole Foods, I came across Baby Mum-Mums (about $3.50 per box) and decided to give it a try. The lightly sweetened crispy rice rusks are perfectly shaped to fit in lil hands and are designed to quickly dissolve in a wee one's mouth. With a teething tot on my hands, I put the snacks to the test.

Who is this product designed for? Baby Mum-Mums are meant to be given to babies who are just starting solid foods.

Is it practical? Yes. Each box comes with 12 individually wrapped packs of two crackers – perfect for families on the go.

What sets it apart? The organic treats are made from Japonica rice, sugar, skim milk powder, and salt making them preservative, gluten, wheat, egg, and peanut-free. Their quick dissolve formula makes them easy for lil tykes to eat, and less messy than other teething biscuits.

What could be better? I almost wish the crackers wouldn't dissolve as quickly as they do because my son goes through so many!

Would you buy it? Yes! While the biscuits are designed for lil ones, I found the slight trace of sweetness to be a welcome change from traditional toasts. Best of all, I don't have to worry about hard chunks falling off of the treat and becoming a choking hazard.

What did baby think? He can't put them down! My lil one loves the autonomy he has for feeding himself the biscuits, and they appear to be soothing his sore gums as he waits for his first tooth!

This post was submitted by Anonymous in The Mommy Club.

I just read the story on teething and I'm in the same boat! My 15 month old is is so much pain and it's killing me to see him so sad. I've tried to give him frozen toys but they're too cold for his small hands. I'm too scared to try Baby Orajel and the teething toys work for a little bit but he gets sick of them and tosses them on the floor before he can get much relief.

Does anyone have any specific toys or remedies that I should try? Please help me before we both go crazy!

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It's no surprise that children grow teeth at some point. For some lucky parents, the pearly whites break through without any notice or fuss. For others, the lil chompers are preceded by fevers, sleepless nights, and hours of crying. And often, it's not just one tooth that makes baby miserable. Some tots fight all of them, making their parents cringe every time those precious gums flare up in preparation for the impending arrival. Some folks still use Baby Orajel despite the warnings and others use chamomile or teething tablets to reduce the pain. But for most, it is a period of time that simply must be endured.

Did your child have a tough time teething?