I am writing this blog as I am experiencing the terror of teething with Thomas, he is now almost 7 months and just starting to become uncomfortable with his gums through teething. He has had the usual symptoms of teething for a couple of months now: fingers in mouth, excess saliva, wanting to suck hard on anything that goes anywhere near his mouth! (Including my arm at bathtime). Although last night his teething seemed to get much worse! He screamed with tears of pain as he placed his fingers in his mouth! I felt so helpless it reminded me of his colic days, something I seriously don’t want to return to. I gave him the old favourite Calpol – Which is an infant paracetamol, it seemed to calm him slightly so I put him to bed for the night.
After 4 hours of soundless sleeping he began to get a little restless in his cot, tossing and turning making noises around that time I was ready for bed myself – I like to enjoy a few hours to myself when Thomas goes to bed, just to chill out and collect my thoughts from the day. As I climbed into bed, my head hit the pillow and….Aaaaarrrggghhh Thomas started to cry out, I went into his bedroom and gently rubbed his head and put his dummy back in. I quietly crept back out of his room, pressing play on his cd player on my way out to begin playing his bedtime lullaby music. As soon as I was on the landing he cried out again! The next few hours were spent with me rocking him, soothing him winding him…You get the gist!
It got to 3am Thomas was still very unsettled so I reluctantly wrapped him up warm, put him in his car seat and took him out for a drive. I didn’t want to have to do it but it was my last option, and sure enough he fell asleep – There is something to be said about a car journey sending a baby to sleep. 4am I get back in the house, carry Thomas upstairs in his car seat and place him at the side of me as I crawl into bed. I just knew if I had taken him out of the car seat he would have woken, he was so comfy and asleep! Just 4 hours later he was awake wanting his breakfast, I was a zombie – All I can say is thank you to Nathan for convincing me we needed a coffee perculator fresh ground coffee beans did the trick I was myself again in a matter of minutes!
I just wanted to point out a few other teething remedies I have used incase your reading this blog with a baby who is going through teething! I know how hard to know what to buy there are so many teething pain relief remedies out there. I’ve already mentioned Calpol which is an infant paracetamol I have used a herbal teething granual which is a small pouch with a white powder inside, you put the powder in the baby’s mouth and it helps to relieve the pain from teething – As its herbal it doesn’t contain any medicine unlike Calpol. I have also tried Infacol which is very similar to teething gels, although Infacol is a liquid you rub over the baby’s gums which knumb the pain – Teething gels can come off the gums but a liquid is more inclined to stay on the gum. I have used all these methods up to now, they all appear to work for the moment but then wear off. I have also tried frozen teething rings, Bickiepegs, carrots, hard metal objects such as spoons…Anything really that Thomas can have a good chomp on to help those little peggies come through! No signs of any teeth yet, I will keep you all posted.
Please tell me your teething experiences, I would love to read about what teething pain relief methods you have tried – What works and what doesn’t. 
I feel your pain. I have three kids and have gone through this drama with all of them. We tried everything and sometimes the typical remedies, like the gum medication or teething beads would help.
The best “home remedy” we found for all three was to put some wash cloths in the freezer. When our little ones would get cranky or be in teething pain, we would give them a frozen wash cloth to chomp on. This method really did work with all of our kids.
We would only lightly dampen the cloths and keep them in the freezer for as long as it took till the next teething pain outbreak. Once we realized how well this worked, we kept a steady supply frozen up in the freezer.
We never left them in for longer than a day or two – didn’t want to get freezer burn or anything nasty on them.
Give it a try – this worked for us in a pinch. Obviously we stayed close to the kids when they chewed on the wash cloths, to make sure they didn’t gag on them or anything.
Best of luck to you.
A teething child is indeed a big challenge on us 1st time parents. I have a 9 month old son. I remember those hard nights. All the crying stuffs and almost awake for the rest of the night. As for me It really helps if you have some teething gel. I’m not going to mention the whole name of the gel but it’s called Xyl Gel. You put the gel into the refrigerator but don’t put it on the freezer it will harden and become no use at all. Every time that the child becomes cranky put a moderate amount of the gel into your fingers and spread it evenly on it’s gums. The cooling effect will combat inflammation and it has an anesthetic effect into the gums. Works great to me…
Babies sometimes are lucky and do not face any problems while teething. But some babies have low grade fever, less sleep, awaking several times at night, refusing food are the common problems for teething babies.
As a parent also, I understand how it feels when your child suffer from teething problems. I have experienced it too, and I can say that it’s really hard to accept the fact that your kid is suffering from such great pain. Although, we have to admit that it’s part of their nature as a baby. One thing that one must do is to depend on medical advises given by your pediatricians.
Sheena here.
My friend was talking to me about this very thing today! He swears by bonjella followed by a nice cool (freezer stored) teething ring. The ‘magic mix’ he calls it!
This can cause a great deal of stress and discomfort in a baby which may lead to issues beyond the pain in the gums. Sometimes they experience fever, and calpol, a paracetamol can give help on this matter. Ibuprofen for babies that prescribed by the physician can help relieved pain. Some mother give their baby a cold teething ring that help alleviate the pain.
I too am a first time parent and my little one is 6 months old and going through teething. She has one tooth that has come through so far I am not looking forward to this stage. Its so hard when you can’t help them. I have more teething rings then one person should have so far they have helped. Someone told me to freeze her pacifier.
I don’t have any children yet, but reading about your experiences just makes me want them even more! Thank you for such an honest blog. Motherhood is definitely something I cannot wait to enjoy.
Parenthood was really a tough responsibility yet an enjoyable one. It is really hard for parents especially the mother which they could feel the pain suffered by their child. I really adore those parents who are very attentive with their children just like in teething case with their child and they are really bothered. Thank you for providing this information in which, it really help us especially parents to be.
First time parents here, our daughter is 7 months old, and i can totally relate to what you are writing, I especially recognized myself in the not wanting to take her out of the car seat.
Just came out of her bedroom after one hour of comforting her. She seems extra troubled with her gums at bedtime – has anyone else noticed this?
We use something called dentinox here in Norway that is a liquid smeared on her gums. That and frozen rings sometimes helps, and sometimes not.