Essential Teething Tips and Natural Remedies for Teething Babies and Toddlers

Top Teething Tips for Babies and Toddlers

Written by: Jessica Diamond, MPH, RDN

Teething is a developmental milestone that starts in babyhood and recurs until all baby teeth have emerged. It’s often a challenging time for both babies and parents. However, with patience and the right preparation, you can ease the teething process for your infant or toddler. Here are our top teething tips for babies and toddlers to alleviate the discomfort of teething:

Trust in Teethers

Believe it or not, the most painful part of teething isn’t the breaking of the gum but the pressure caused by the descending tooth. The sooner the tooth breaks through the gum, the happier your baby will be. Trust in teethers—they apply pressure on the gums, helping the tooth emerge more quickly. For added relief, refrigerate the teethers to make them cool and soothing, but make sure not to give a hard frozen teethers as the ice can stick to their gums. The type of teether is crucial for developing your baby’s mouth muscles and helping them learn to chew. Shop our favorite teethers here.

Expect Loose Stools

Teething often causes an increase in saliva production, leading to your baby swallowing more saliva, which can result in looser stools or diarrhea. This is normal. Ensure frequent diaper changes to prevent diaper rash.

Prepare for Drool

Teething produces a lot of drool. Keep a bib on your baby and have a burp cloth nearby to wipe away drool and prevent rashes on their mouth, neck, or chest. For extra slobbery days, frequently change the bib or their top to keep them dry and comfortable.

Expect Decreased Appetite

Your baby may eat less frequently due to teething discomfort. This is normal. Ensure they stay hydrated with formula or breastmilk for babies, and with milk, milk substitutes, and water for toddlers. Read our full post on feeding and teething here.

All-Natural Teething Tips

1. Cold Washcloth: Wet a washcloth with water or chamomile tea and refrigerate it. Chamomile tea is anti-inflammatory and can reduce pain and inflammation. Let your baby gnaw on the washcloth for comfort.
2. Variety of Teethers: Teethers, teethers, teethers! Always keep a teether or two on hand, preferably cold. Our favorite brands include Como Tomo Silicone Teether, Zoli Bunny Dual Teether, Fluxy Teether, Banana Toothbrush, and NumNum GOOtensils. You can also create a homemade teether by adding breastmilk or formula to a mesh or silicone teether.
3. Gum Oil: Made from a blend of essential oils like olive oil, clove, and spearmint, gum oil can soothe your child’s gums. Clean your hands and massage the oil into their gums.
4. Homeopathic Remedies: Camilia is a great over-the-counter, homeopathic remedy for teething pain.
5. Cold Celery: For older babies or toddlers, cold celery can be soothing. It contains a naturally numbing compound. Cut the celery to the width of your finger and monitor your child while chewing. Always consult your pediatrician before trying this.

If your baby remains in pain despite these efforts, contact your pediatrician. They may recommend Acetaminophen or Motrin depending on your child’s age. We recommend Genexa and Little Remedies brand products for pain relief as they are made without fillers or dyes.

Check out our other article Tackling Feeding While Teething for more tips!

Shop all of our favorite teething essentials here (with part of the proceeds going to Baby2Baby).

By following these teething tips for babies and toddlers, you can help make this challenging phase more manageable for both you and your child.