16 Home remedies for teething that will soothe your baby

My mom gave us a set of these mesh feeders when my firstborn started trying solid foods. My baby loved them. They prevent babies from getting pieces that are too big and could be choking hazards. They are also great to soothe teething gums because you can fill them with frozen peas, berries, avocado, or even ice cubes made of breast milk to help numb gums and reduce swelling.

Put some bananas in the freezer, and when they are frozen let your baby chomp on them. The cold helps numb the pain. If you are worried about your baby choking on the fruit, you can put pieces of the frozen banana inside the mesh feeders mentioned above, just to be safe.

Wrap some ice inside a clean hand towel, and let baby chew and suck on it. Again, the cold is great for soothing pain. You don't just want to give them a big piece of ice without the towel because it could be a choking hazard.

If you fill a baby bottle about halfway with liquid and freeze it upside down, when you take it out of the freezer, the frozen liquid will be inside the nipple, and baby can then get some cold relief.

Take a clean washcloth and dip it in water or even breast milk, then freeze it. When it comes out of the freezer, let baby gnaw on it. The texture of the washcloth and the coolness will help with discomfort.

The American Dental Association suggests rubbing baby's teething gums with a cold spoon. You want to put the spoon in the refrigerator and not the freezer because skin can stick to cold metal, and that won't do anything but cause more distress for baby.

Your baby loves you, and when they're teething they are going to try to get your finger in their mouth anyway, so use your clean finger to massage their gums. Wash your hands well, then use one finger to gently massage baby's gums.

Some people swear by teething biscuits. I don't like them because twice my kid almost choked when a big piece broke off. I think bagels make for great edible teethers, but be sure to still keep an eye on your child to make sure they are safe.

Cold foods like yogurt and applesauce work their cooling, soothing magic on gums. They also help distract a fussy baby by giving them something yummy to eat. You want to avoid foods that are too sugary, though. Stick with unsweetened, chilled applesauce or yogurt that doesn't have a ton of added sugar.

Kids want to chew when they are teething. Let them; it helps them deal with the discomfort and get those teeth out. Let them chew on teethers, on food, on a cuchara de palo as long as it doesn't give them splinters. You can also ask your pediatrician or pediatric dentist for recommendations on chew toys.

Keep them busy. Take their mind off the pain. If they have nothing else to focus on except the pain, they are much fussier than if they have something else to focus on. Play with them, sing to them, rock them, tickle them, read to them. You know what your baby likes. Bust out all your best moves to keep them distracted.

Some babies don't do the whole pacifier thing, but if yours does, take advantage. Put a pacifier in the fridge to cool it down, then hand it over to baby. The coolness will help soothe gums. If you have more than one pacifier, always keep at least one in the fridge so you can easily swap a no-longer-cool one for a cool one.

Some babies go into drool overdrive when they are teething. Make sure you regularly wipe drool away from baby's face with a soft cloth. Otherwise, your baby can develop what is called drool rash from constantly having saliva on their face. The last thing your baby needs is the discomfort of a rash on top of the discomfort of teething.

Have you seen these things? They're kind of brilliant. Teething mitts go on your baby's hands and work as teethers. Teething babies already like to stick their hands in their mouths to give themselves some relief, and mitts like these give them a little something extra to chew on that also gently massages.

Anyone who has ever taken a bath knows that it can have a very calming effect. Putting your baby in a nice bath can help calm their nerves and reduce the stress they are feeling by distracting them from their pain. They can even bring a teething toy into the bath with them for added comfort.

Babies tend to love being held, cuddled, and doted on. Give them what they want. Does it mean that you probably will get much less done? Yup. But you know what? It's OK. If you absolutely need to have your hands free, consider wearing your baby in a baby carrier even when you are at home. Feeling your warmth might be just what calms baby down.

Disclaimer: The advice on MamasLatinas.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health care provider with questions and concerns.