How to Soothe Your Teething Baby

I've recently spent many sleepless nights trying to unlock the secrets of how to soothe my teething infant. There are many options available, but every baby is different. I also came to realize that not only is every baby different, but that a baby can have different preferences from one night to the next. Although some children will wake with a new tooth one morning much to the surpirise of their parents, many babies will let you know when it's coming. For those who have experienced colic with a child, they may find that at around five to seven months old, that familiar crying is back. Here are some common methods suggested for use on a teething baby:

BRANDY-Many of our grandmothers and maybe even our mothers will suggest brandy as a means to relieve teething pain. I should hope that everyone reading this knows that any form of alcohol, no matter how small, can be extremely dangerous for a baby. You'll find that mother often doesn't know best when it comes to wives' tales involving children.

BABY ORAJEL- There's a bit of controversy surrounding this one too. Although many people swear by it, most doctors now advise against the use of orajel. In some cases, a baby may swallow the ointment and experience a numbing of the throat, causing a choking hazard. Also, a baby could become more fussy with the use of orajel because of the numbing of the tongue that occurs. I must admit, I have used it in desparation (sparingly, of course) but it hasn't worked very well in my experience. My baby would stop crying for maybe a minute or two while he was trying to figure out what was going on in his mouth, then started back up again.

TEETHING RINGS- Teethers do provide some relief to baby's discomfort and it keeps a mildly teething, fidgety baby busy for a while. Younger infants who have only just mastered their grip may find it difficult to keep a teething ring in their little mouth. In lieu of a teether, baby may substitute his hands or his pacifier for the same effect. For those of us that breastfeed, we know that mommy can inadvertantly become baby's favorite teether as well.

COLD RAG- This is an inexpensive, non-medicated way to help baby's discomfort. Putting a damp wash rag in the fridge for a few minutes will produce a soothing object for baby to suck/chew on. Be careful to put down a plate or paper towel in the fridge to lay the rag on, as the fridge may contain harmful bacteria from food items (even if you do consider your cleaning habits to be great!)

TYLENOL- This seemed to work the best for my child. Infant drops do not have a dosage for children under 24 pounds, so consult your physician about how much to give baby. Tylenol remains the safest form of pain relieving medication for baby. Follow directions closely, though.

MOTRIN- Although Motrin does help with inflammation and pain, it can be harder on baby's tummy than Tylenol. Your doctor may recommend it, but many feel that a child under six months can't metabolize it as well.

Those are the most common suggestions for teething pain. I found that distraction helped quite a bit, too. On the worst nights with my teething baby when comforting, Tylenol, and a teether weren't enough, I'd pop in his favorite Baby Einstein video and it would help to calm him down for a bit. It can compound the situation when baby is hungry but is in too much pain to feed. Just remember to try the safest options, try a variety of methods, and keep in mind: "It won't last forever".