Is your baby acting fussy, irritable, irrational, and generally not like their loveable self? It could be teething. Sometimes, the hardest part for a parent is to realize that they are actually in pain, and not just having a bad day. Once you know what’s going on, it is easier to help them.

There are all kinds of remedies for teething pain. I personally love the homeopathic Hylands teething tablets, but they don’t work for every child. Sometimes a dose of Tylenol will help, while other children respond better to Motrin (only use after six months of age). There are many different teething gels as well. Sometimes something cold like a frozen juice pop or a teether ring that has been chilled will help to numb the gum tissue. Older infants can chew on teething crackers made of arrowroot or on zwieback toast.

Both my children liked it when I would take a rubber bumpy toy or a pacifier and rub it on the gums. By applying gentle pressure and friction, it seemed to help. There are teething toys that you can get, which will vibrate when the child bites down on it. Just giving them a little extra love and comfort can go a long way, for the teething child. However, a teething child is definitely more work, so take turns with other care giver if you feel yourself losing it.

What teething remedies have worked for you?