Five Ways to Soothe a Teething Toddler (without Ibuprofen)

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One of the hardest things to go through in motherhood is watching our darlings experience pain, especially the suffering that comes along with teething.

If your child is in the toddler phase, you may have other things on your mind like potty training, or getting them to sleep in a toddler bed. The last thing you need is a toddler waking you up with painful screams when you thought your sleep-deprived nights were over. You’re in for a surprise.

Here is the timeline when teeth make their way through our babies’ gums:

Lateral incisors (10-16 months of age)
Canines (17-23 months of age)
First molars (14-18 months of age)
Second molars (23-31 months of age)

Molars are the worst. They are the biggest teeth to break through the gums and they usually come in between ages 1-3. I hate to see my little ones in pain and I’m not the mother who runs to the cabinet for baby tylenol every time my child cries.

When there is a high fever involved, or my child is very sick with a flu, I will provide the medicine. But I believe there are many natural ways to help soothe a teething child without medicine. They deserve to feel better without the drugs, in my opinion.

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Here are 5 ways that are guaranteed to help soothe your teething child and get them sleeping through the night:

Use chilled but not frozen foods and objects. A damp cloth placed in a bag in the fridge is great to give to your child to suck on to relieve swelling. Even better – Sassy teething feeds are great to hold cold fruits and vegetables that will surely do the trick. Always supervise your child when using whole fruits and vegetables (like a large carrot straight from the fridge) due to a possible choking hazard.
Use a soother or a chew toy throughout the night. Both of my girls have never really liked pacifiers and therefore were never dependent on them (hallelujah!) But I use them on occasion, to help them sleep through the nights. I only take the soother away during the day so that it was not an issue later on. My favourite rubber teething toy to use will always be Sophie The Giraffe.
Before bed, give your child caffeine-free chamomile tea. This will help him/her sleep with ease as this tea has been used for thousands of years as a natural sleep aid. You can freeze the tea into the mesh feeders shown above, or what I usually do is simply serve it cool, in a sippy cup as I put them to sleep – the sucking of a bottle may cause more pain.
Massage your toddler’s gums – it’s a great way to get their blood flowing and reduce swelling. You could also rub chilled chamomile tea on their teeth and gums before bedtime. Always wash your hands prior to messaging to prevent the transfer of germs. Look into this great product below that is made of soft silicone, it makes the whole experience much more pleasurable.
Avoid feeding your child sugar. The last thing you need on your plate is a child with tooth decay, later leading to cavities. Sugar will irritate their soar gums. This rule pertains to juices as well. Try to nourish your little one with plenty of water. You’ll also save money. Substitutes for sugar are:

 

**Wait until your toddler is at least one before introducing honey**