by Shannon Lane

Created on: January 26, 2010   Last Updated: May 23, 2010

Teething pain has got to be one of the saddest things to go through with your baby. You want so badly to take the pain away. Time and wisdom has given us a few good ideas to help your child to find some relief. Doctors will tell you that using Tylenol alternated with Motrin is fine for the worst days and at night but you do not want to completely rely on medications. Some other ways to help your baby are ice products. These types of products are sold in stores for you to freeze for your baby to chew on. I have also heard of parents using a wet washcloth with water and a little salt. Popsicles are fun and messy but very effective. The Orajel products give relief but you should know that they also has a hardening effect on the gum which prolongs the teething process.

Tylenol alternated with Motrin every three hours on the days when your child's mouth hurts so bad they can not even eat or are in so much pain they can't be distracted with toys or play. These days will only happen about two in a row sometimes three. Using the medication on a continual basis is harmful to your babies organs and will help them develop an immunity to the product so future use when needed will not be possible. If you have to send the medications to daycare then always be sure to have definite communication with the teacher as to when they had it last before you take them home for the night and give it to them again to early because you were not aware. It is always easier to keep the pain away rather than making it go away once it has started so when you see your baby reaching his or her threshold then do not hesitate to give them what they need.

Other options when the pain is not so terribly bad are frozen teething rings. They come in so many types and styles. You should always keep five or six in your freezer as they melt quickly and will need to be sanitized before refreezing it. These products have little nobbies and chew surfaces that will scratch your babys gum while they chew and enjoy the cold temperature on their sore little gums. Also on the market now are the niffty little frozen fruit pouches. It is a simple little mesh bag ( you could make at home ) to put chopped frozen fruits or other foods that are appealing to your baby. Like the teething rings you will want to have more than one in your freezer and ready at all times. Popsicles are good if you're ready to sit down with your baby and hold it while they enjoy the relief and the taste.

Many parents reach for the Orajel because it is a famous product and their parents probably used it for them when they were little. It does relieve pain as I use it sometimes as an adult. What parents do not know about this very popular is that it hardens the gums. This makes it hard for your babies tooth to break through. Once it has broken through is the time for the occasional treatment of Orajel. Orajel has a new product on the market called the teething swab. It looks much like a Q-tip with the medicine inside a hollow tube. You simply break off one end of the swab and let the medication seep through to the remaining swab and sit with your baby as they chew on the swab. Again you only want to treat with products like this after the tiny tooth has broken through the gum.

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