Five Ways to Soothe a Teething Toddler (Without Ibuprofen)

Sharing tips and must haves for moms to sooth their baby’s painful teething naturally and safely–without the use of medicine.

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One of the hardest things to go through in motherhood is watching our little 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.

Baby to Toddler Teething Timeline

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.

For more parenting resources:

How to Soothe a Teething Toddler, Naturally

1) Fruit Teethers

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.

2) Soft Toy Soothers

Use a soother or a soft 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.

3) Caffeine-Free Tea

Before bed, give your child chamomile tea which is naturally caffeine-free (be sure to check the label to make sure). 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 warm or cool, in a sippy cup, as I put them to sleep. I try not to use a botte as the sucking motion may cause more pain to their teeth and gums.

4) Baby Teeth Massager

Massage your toddler’s gums by hand or with a teeth massager–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 a few of these gentle teeth massagers below, some are made of soft silicone, which makes the whole experience much more pleasurable for your little one.

5) Hydrate With Water

This may seem like the most simple point of advice to give, but always give water over sugary juices. 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 already soar gums. This rule pertains to juices as well. Try to nourish your little one with plenty of water. You’ll also save money.

You can also use warm water and salt, or warm water and lemon to massage into their gums. Again, warm chamomile tea will be your best bet.

Please remember, if your baby or toddler is running a high fever, it may be more than just teething. Sometimes, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so when in doubt, take your child in to see your family doctor or paediatrician.

I hope this gets you through your day (and night) when it comes to teething babies. Feel free to comment below on what works best for you!