Teething Hell: We need your help!

We only used generic motrin for the pain once or twice, but it worked better on her pain than tylenol.
We LOVE Humphrey's fast melt teething strips. They don't contain lactose (our DD is intolerant) and they work! We get them at walgreen's, they're awesome. She even sticks her tongue out for them. She just got her fifth tooth in this weekend. We were working those strips a lot last week.
We also put ice chips, bananas, and sweet berries in those mesh bags and that helps tons, too!

Hi there!
U know, Baby Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol: this may be the best way to help your baby get some rest if teething pain is keeping her up...

Def do the mesh! I swear by it. I find that frozen bananas are hard to clean out of the mesh. Instead, I made little baby food popsicles by freezing in old breastmilk storage units.

I avoid acidic foods like peaches and others because I find that they irritate the ulcerated gum. Banana baby food seems to work best. If you must use acidic fruits, mix in his milk so it can help neutralize the acid content.

My 7 month-old is getting his bottom tooth, and his top 2 front ones all at the same time and I find that the mesh food thing works best. Hang in there!

PICKLES!!! I gave him pickles (the big dill ones) from the time he began teething (at FOUR months!) and they work wonders! I have heard that the vinegar and coldness helps! Good luck!

We are having the same issue-he cut his two bottom teeth a month or so ago (that was hell) and then started on a lovely sleep through the night faze which has since ended and now he won't sleep unless he is held, the minute you put him down he wakes up crying. He won't nap during the day at the sitter for more than 20-30 minutes. No ear infections or other health problems according to the Doctor. He really likes shredded cheese and frozen bagels.

Try letting him chew on frozen waffles.

You've probably tried this but what my parents did with me was the frozen teething rings which seemed to work, also frozen carrots and sometimes even your finger (Not too often though, then it really sucks) work, or so I've heard.

we put watermelon in our mesh feeder. just make sure it's before bath time or they have a large bib on, because the juice can be a bit much.

Hi. I just stumbled across your blog today as I was researching "pregnancy and concerts". Strange, I know. I just wanted to let you know that I deeply DEEPLY appreciate the honesty of your blog. I'm 26 weeks pregnant with my son, who was an accident blessing to me and my husband although completely unexpected. I can relate to a lot of the things you've posted here, so now I don't feel quite as much of a stressed out drama queen about being a new mom, especially since I'm planning to become an SAHM too. I just wanted to thank you for that. I look forward to reading more from you and your husband.

Our child was teething bad for a whole month before we saw teeth- He'd have a great day in the middle of awful days. We used Infant medications- 1 mL, and eventually I did cave and let him use Infant Anbesol or Orajel- We use just enough that you see it on our finger, and we are very careful abotu his tongue. I've never had a problem and I think the choking thing would only happen if you put it al over his tongue and ignored him afterwards?! We tried the teethers you put in the freezer but all he wanted to do with those was pass them back and forth. Believe it or not the best relief for us came from cold water in a bottle. Sometimes it had been previously boiled by us and other times it was just bottled water. He loved to drink it, even though if it was a touch too cold he gasped, but after it we noticed an incredible change in his attitude. He would smile at us! He'd stop putting absolutely everythingi n his mouth! It didnt' work for hours or anything but it provided relief from the tears for a little while- enough that we could maintain our sanity!

I don't even have kids, so take this for what it's worth, but I've heard frozen/slightly thawed waffles are good for teething babies to chew on (?). Geez, sounds rough, though! Hopefully he (and you!) will get some relief soon! -L

Teething is hell all around. If you could've seen the line up of meds I had to give my guy you'd probably be appaulled. Motrin, Tylenol, Highlands teething tablets, Highlands teething gel, Orajel... Borion camilla works great it's homeopathic. (not all at once mind you) Did you hear about the McNeil product recall they make baby motrin and Tylenol http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/# your motrin may not have the active ingredients to keep your baby pain free. If it's been that long, i'd take him to the doctor to make sure it is just teething.

You can alternate Tylenol and Motrin every 2 hours I've been told this bt my dr. and nurses. I go for the generic brand pain meds for my guy they do the same thing and cost less. I stock up at Wal-mart myself. Teething sucks for everyone I hope he cuts something soon.

We used frozen diced mango. You can buy it in the freezer section already diced. My kids LOVED it. In the mesh thing anyway.

Teething is the worst for some kiddo's :( When Boogie was teething we let her chew on some frozen waffles, but if she wasn't in the mood for those we gave her a tooth brush that had the rubber grips on it. That worked so awsome! But keep an eye on your Monkey when he has it just incase he try's to make himself gag. Oh and I'm sure you and Tarzan already know but ALL childrens Tylenol and Motrin were recalled by the FDA, but store brand versions are still okay.

Oh, and I should mention that we use store brands of Tylenol and Motrin. Always have!

Julian just had a seriously bad bout of teething (3 teeth at once, but spaced out just enough to drag on FOREVER). We used Motrin at least once during the day and every night at bedtime. I also broke down and did Orajel despite being worried about choking, like you. My DH tried it out on his own mouth and found that we didn't quite need a whole 'pea' sized dollop, but about half that for it to work just fine...so that's what we did. I also gave him Tylenol during the day some days (for instance, if I had given Motrin in the AM and by noon he was still hurting I'd give Tylenol, then probably nothing until bedtime or Orajel in the evening). We also did the mesh feeders and just used a plain ice cube in there or frozen purees (I make my own baby food, so I would just do a cube of pears or something). Hang in there - this will pass! And then you'll have like 3 or 4 days before the next ones start coming in :)

In the UK one of the things that is recommended is teething granules, they are herbal so popular among parents who don't like to medicate too much. I'm not sure what the equivalent is over there. I haven't tried them yet but we'll see how it goes.

Poor Monkey, and poor you. My little monkey is 4.5 months and at the beginning of it all with the dribbles and sore gums and I am not looking forward to the full onslaught that you are going through. It does seem so unfair. This is why we don't remember being babies, can you imagine the therapy we would all need??!!

We go through teething hell around here every time my daughter (9 months) is cutting a tooth (teeth). She feels so bad and I feel horrible. She pretty much whines 24/7 and is up MANY times during the night. She is normally up 1-2 times during the night but while teething, 3-4 is the norm. I normally give her walgreens tylenol and motrin, I rotate. Give her the teething tablets but have not done the orajel. Just out of curiosity why were you told not to give tylenol and rotate with motrin? I know they were recalled but I always buy the walgreens generic anyways.

We have pretty much every teether on the market, she would rather chew on things she's not supposed too - buttons, zippers, etc. Oh and at our 9 month appt. I mentioned about her being cranky and we thought she was getting 2 teeth on top, nope 4 were coming in....ouch, poor baby!

I was just going to mention the recall on infant Tylenol and Motrin. You can find the details at http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/
My daughter got 2 teeth at 4.5 months and now I think she has another couple coming in. The only symptoms she really had were some extra fussiness and waking up more at night, but she also had an ear infection so I'm not sure which was worse. I do give her Tylenol at night, too, when I think she's uncomfortable. If I had a toothache I would certainly take some meds so it doesn't bother me to give them to my baby. Good luck with getting those chompers!

In the past month my little Peanut has been working on cutting SIX teeth! She got her first pair at 5.5 months, then nothing until 8.5 months. She is nine months now and has 6 teeth through...and two more coming. Luckily, she only fusses for about a day or two...then she is over it. We just use Tylenol for it when it is bad...but check your Tylenol and Motrin, there has been a MASSIVE RECALL just in the past week on all of it!!!

Good luck!

My son just cut his first tooth and is cutting his second, and I can't agree with you more. I had no idea how miserable teething would be. I don't like giving him drugs either and the Hylands don't seem to work for us. I don't have any great advice - I just thought I'd sympathize with you! :)

Sleeping pills....yea!

my baby is teething also...I've used the mesh teething thing and its great! I have frozen pureed fruit that I put in it and he loves it!!! Hope it work for you...good luck!

i heard that giving baby one of the old-fashioned wooden clothes-pins (not the ones with the spring, but the ones that are just one whole piece) works to help get the teeth to cut through. my baby recently has been chewing on his "safety 1.st" brand baby hair brushes--the handle has rubber and hard parts

I have 2 crazy-but-I-SWEAR-they-work suggestions.

#1 is camilia, a homeopathic remedy you literally can't overdose on or use too much of. My son actually gets excited when he sees the box now and opens his mouth for it when his teeth are hurting. My local baby store sells it: http://store.shoppapoose.com/catalog/ProductDispla...

#2 is an amber teething necklace. I KNOW IT SOUNDS RIDICULOUS, but I promise it helps. Amber contains a natural analgesic that is released when your skin warms it up. The one I have is individually knotted and has a break-away clasp for safety. You can Google it for more details but here's my 100% true experience: I pinched a nerve in my right hand about 2 months ago and my thumb was all tingly and painful. Since I'd been putting the amber necklace on the baby I thought maybe it would help me too so I bought a bracelet from the same woman. My hand was 100% better in less than 3 days. If you really are at the end of your rope and need some NEW suggestions, give these a try!

p.s. Hylands teething tablets have caffeine in them, so if the baby is having trouble sleeping that might be why. It's supposed to reduce swelling since it's a natural diuretic.

My little ones gums are so inflamed right now but nothing has popped through yet.
I have been using the mesh feeder bag for about a week. He loves an ice cube to suck on. The other night he went through three ice cubes. He LOVES it.
It will entertain him for 45+ minutes.
I highly recommend.

Um...the only thing my family used were frozen waffles. Added bonus: built-in spit trapper!

Buy Hyland's Teething Tabs - they work WONDERS. Trust me, I've used them with all FOUR of my kids. Relieves the pain enough that the baby can sleep.

We are gong through the same thing we have 2 teeth already and another 2 comming in. I am currently interstate at my sisters house. We are here for my mums 50th birthday and the party was on saturday night I did not see my mum the whole night because I had a inconsolable baby I had never heard her scream so loud and for so long about 2 hours in total . I do not think it helped that we arrived by plane that morning so she was extra tired. But we ended up giving her baby panadol and baby neurofen plus coating her top gums with teething gel after 20 mins she settled. I have been giving her neurofen once a day since and she seems to be coping ok but she wakes alot more at night and is way more cranky.... She has refused to be held by any of the family the whole time we have been away and just cries when ever my sister comes near her. my isster is a peadeatric nurse so is really good with kids but not even she could make her happy.
We have also been giving her rusks (basically really hard baby breadsticks) she never really been interested in them but yesterday she ate the whole thing they provide good relief for sore gums

Good Luck I hope monkey cuts his teeth soon

I'm sorry, that sucks. Can you believe our pediatrician says teething does not cause babies discomfort? She truly believes it's all in parents' heads. She's delusional. Of course, some kids (like my 1st) don't seem to have much trouble w/ teeth, though clearly others do.

I bought those mesh things for my 2nd & he LOVED them. yes, ice cubes, bananas, apples, anything cold will work. And the grandmas swear by some rubbing some gin on the gums. ;) Good luck!

Our pediatric dentist told us to use Tylenol not Motrin. She said it helps to promote the cutting of the teeth more than than the anti-inflammatory agents in Motrin. Our oldest son (now 6 and losing those pesky baby teeth - a whole different fiasco if you ask me), was a tough teether. His eye teeth and molars were by far the worst. We would spend hours up with him and most items did not work. The Hylands mellowed him some, but not too much. Things to chew on and distract him were the best things. Our little guy was a pretty good teether - thank goodness. I hope you can find something for Monkey that helps all of you get some much needed relief/sleep.

Hi there,
Sorry you are having a bad time - 15 days of being miserable and in that much pain sounds like more that teething to me. Have they definitely ruled out an ear infection?