Having a teething baby can be a difficult time! I started looking into baby teething remedies at home years ago with my first baby searching for “teething relief 3 month old.” So, after experiencing it and now being a maternal and child health expert, I have some great options for teething natural remedies, information on baby teething symptoms like teething with fever, and teething diaper rash. In this post, I go over teething remedies like teething toys, a frozen washcloth for teething, and even the amber teething necklace! I even tried a teething herbal remedy, including a teething soothing gel, and made my own baby teething essential oil roller blend!
Baby Teething Symptoms
The average age for babies to begin teething is around 6 months old. However, this can range significantly as some babies can be born with their first set of teeth, and others might not get any until about 1 year old!
Teething happens when your baby’s first teeth begin breaking through their gums and this can cause:
- Drooling
- Irritability/fussiness
- Pain
- Disrupted sleep
- Inflammation of the gums
- Loss of appetite
- Rash around the mouth
- A mild rise in temperature
- Increased biting
- Rubbing gums
- Ear pulling
Symptoms that do not occur because of baby teething include:
- Congestion
- Diarrhea
- Increased number of bowel movements
- Coughing
- Rashes other than facial rashes
- A fever over 102°F
- Vomiting
Teething with a Fever
A fever in babies is generally defined as a temperature above 102°F. As mentioned above, teething can cause a mild increase in temperature, but it won’t be enough to cause a fever.
If your baby has a fever, this may be caused by:
- A virus
- Bacterial infection
- Heat exhaustion
- Certain medical conditions affecting the immune system
- Immunizations
- Some types of cancers
Always contact your baby’s pediatric practitioner if needed for your baby’s fever. It’s their job to work for you by helping and communicating their knowledge to you!
Teething Diaper Rash
Again, a rash on your baby’s face, especially around their mouth, can be a symptom of teething. However, teething has not been shown to cause a diaper rash.
Common causes of diaper rash include:
- Diarrhea
- Irritation from urine, stool, or new products
- Infrequent diaper changes
- Yeast infection
- Changes in diet
Urine and feces have chemicals. So, when your baby pees or poops in their diaper, their skin can be directly exposed to these chemicals, which can irritate their skin, causing a diaper rash. In addition to regular diaper changes, using an oil-based diaper balm like Maty’s All Natural Multipurpose Baby Ointment creates an oil barrier protecting your baby’s skin that is fairly difficult for your baby’s pee and poop to wear through very quickly.
11 Baby Teething Remedies At Home
11 teething natural remedies you can use for your baby at home include:
1. Baby Teething Remedies: Teething Toys
Baby teething toys are often made of silicone and have parts that are smooth and other parts of the toy that are textured. Having one or two of these toys can be a good tool when your baby needs something safe to chew on.
For extra relief, set the teething toy in the fridge to make it cold, which can help reduce your baby’s pain and gum inflammation. And if you have two teething toys, you can rotate them from the fridge to your baby as needed!
A couple of my favorite teething toys include this Silicone Textured Turtle and this Pear-Shaped Silicone Teether.
2. Baby Teething Remedies: Teething Necklace
Like a teething toy, a teething necklace has a silicone toy or beads on the necklace for your baby to gnaw on while you are wearing the necklace and holding or babywearing them.
My teething necklaces were gifted to me at my first daughter’s baby shower, and they are like this Feather Silicone Teething Necklace.
3. Baby Teething Remedies: Amber Teething Necklace
Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces have been popularized as a safe and natural alternative to conventional medications to manage teething pain. The claim most closely resembling science is the assertion that succinic acid will leach out of the beads and through the skin of the wearer and carry out anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
So, one study scientifically assessed this claim in 2019 and found, “While amber teething necklaces are genuine Baltic amber, we have found no evidence to suggest that the purported active ingredient succinic acid could be released from the beads into human skin. Additionally, we found no evidence to suggest that succinic acid has anti-inflammatory properties” [1].
Still, a Baltic Amber Teething Necklace can be a cute accessory! If you have one or are purchasing one for your baby, just be sure to take it off when your baby sleeps.
Plus, another good placement for the necklace aside from putting it on your baby’s neck is to double it around their ankle and keep it in place with a sock over the necklace/anklet. This can minimize the Amber Teething Necklace becoming a hazard to your baby or the necklace getting caught on something around your baby.
4. Baby Teething Remedies: Chamomile Tea for Babies
There are two different plant species with similar effects that are known as chamomile: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).
Chamomile is used orally as a sedative and for gastrointestinal conditions; it is used topically for wound healing. It is also commonly used as an anti-inflammatory agent which could help soothe your baby’s swollen and sore gums for some time [7].
Chamomile is “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a spice, seasoning, or flavoring agent [2]. Plus, chamomile tea is generally considered safe for babies 6 months or older.
Keep in mind most chamomile tea sold in your local grocery stores is mixed with other herbs and flavors. For this reason, it is recommended to use pure chamomile tea without any other added flavors or ingredients.
If you’d like to give your baby some chamomile tea to see if it helps relieve their painful gums, see remedy #5 to add it to a chilled washcloth!
5. Frozen Washcloth for Teething
As I mentioned above, chilling your baby’s teething toys, and cooling a washcloth can be a cheap and effective tool for reducing your baby’s pain and gum inflammation.
However, I do not recommend freezing the washcloth solid since this could hurt your baby’s gums. If your baby’s gums become too cold and numb, they won’t feel how hard and rough they are biting on a teething toy or a frozen washcloth which can lead to worsened pain, inflammation, and even bleeding gums for your baby later on.
Instead, stick to your refrigerator for chilling teething toys, teething necklaces, or wet washcloths! (Unless you take it out of the freezer to use before it’s frozen).
How to make the perfect chilled washcloth for your teething baby:
- First, grab a washcloth or a smooth wooden teething ring with some cloth on it
- Dip the cloth into whatever water you drink in your home (We use filtered water, and if you’re interested, I go into the details about why in this post: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Non-Toxic Living) or dip the cloth into some brewed, pure chamomile tea!
- Place the cloth into a plastic or reusable sandwich bag or a clean spot in your fridge and wait 1 or more hours (or for 20-30 minutes if you’re quickly chilling it in your freezer)
- Then use the cloth when needed!
6. Homeopathic Teething Remedies
A fairly popular homeopathic teething remedy is the pre-measured Camilia teething chamomile drops.
These drops are 100% benzocaine-free (a must from my expertise) and instead contain German chamomile, pokeweed (as the homeopathic preparation of Phytolacca decandra 5C), and Chinese rhubarb (as the homeopathic preparation of Rheum 5C).
Camilia says they are for babies 1 month or older; however, that goes against other recommendations to wait until your baby is 6 months old before giving them chamomile. Additionally, herbs are greatly diluted in homeopathy, but it’s still noteworthy that we don’t have any research on how Chinese rhubarb may react in infants under 6 months old. However, regarding pokeweed, we do know that it’s generalized as unsafe for children as the berries are poisonous (even just one!) [3].
7. Teething Soothing Gel
Teething gels with lidocaine or benzocaine should NOT be used on infants and children to soothe teething pain. The effects of lidocaine and benzocaine wear off quickly, meanwhile, the more baby is swallowing it, it is building up high levels of this medication in their bloodstream. The FDA is taking action against the use of these products in oral numbing gels because they have the potential to cause a condition called methemoglobinemia. This potentially deadly condition causes blood to carry less oxygen. Signs of methemoglobinemia may show either minutes or 1-2 hours after the use of lidocaine products. Symptoms include:
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, and nail beds
- Trouble breathing
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Lightheadedness
- Racing heartbeat
Natural baby teething gel:
Nevertheless, if you’re interested in trying a natural, herbal teething gel, Zarbee’s Naturals Baby Gum Massage Gel may be a safe and effective choice for a baby 6 months or older. However, Zarbees says you can begin using it if your baby is 2 months or older.
The Zarbee’s Naturals Baby Gum Massage Gel is drug-free, menthol-free, eugenol (clove) free, benzocaine-free, belladonna-free, and paraben-free. Instead, it contains ingredients such as cane sugar, locust bean gum, betaine, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract (German chamomile), citrus limon (lemon) peel extract, calendula Officinalis flower extract, helianthus Annuus (sunflower) seed oil, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, and sodium hydroxide.
As mentioned, the German chamomile can help provide relaxation, and gastrointestinal, pain, and inflammation relief [7]. Additionally, cane sugar is a good ingredient, as sucrose (sugar) is often used to provide short-term pain relief for babies. Furthermore, animal studies provide moderate evidence to support calendula’s anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects [4].
I’m pleasantly surprised that the Zarbee’s Naturals Baby Gum Massage Gel does not contain clove or belladonna. When my daughter was a baby, we tried a teething gel that had clove in it, and it smelt and tasted way too strong for a baby (or most people) to put on their gums. Additionally, belladonna is another extremely diluted poisonous plant used in homeopathy that I am not using in my family.
8. Baby Teething Remedies: Essential Oil Roller Blend
This baby teething essential oil roller blend consists of copaiba, chamomile, lavender, and clove and is to only be used topically.
Why copaiba? Some studies have found that using copaiba essential oil topically decreased pain scores in people with arthritis compared to a massage with only coconut oil [5].
Why chamomile? Again, chamomile can help relieve relaxation, gastrointestinal, pain, and inflammation [7].
Why lavender? The smell of lavender can help calm your baby
Why clove? Clove oil contains the active ingredient eugenol, which is a natural anesthetic (numbing agent). It also has been found to reduce swelling and irritation in the affected area better than some other anesthetics [6].
The Baby Teething Essential Oil Roller Recipe & Supplies:
- 2 drops of copaiba essential oil
- 2 drops of chamomile essential oil
- 1 drop of lavender essential oil
- 1 drop of clove essential oil
- A 10 mL essential oil roller bottle
- Carrier oil such as coconut oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil to top off the bottle with the essential oils
The Toddler Teething Essential Oil Roller Recipe & Supplies:
- 3 drops of copaiba essential oil
- 3 drops of chamomile essential oil
- 2 drops of lavender essential oil
- 2 drops of clove essential oil
- A 10 mL essential oil roller bottle
- Carrier oil such as coconut oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil to top off the bottle with the essential oils
9. Celery for Teething
Like clove, celery also contains eugenol, a natural anesthetic (a numbing agent).
Select some celery sticks the length of your middle finger, put them in a plastic or reusable sandwich bag, and keep them in the fridge to use as needed, or put one in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.
And, of course, always keep your baby supervised while they are gnawing!
10. Milksicles
To make milksicles, you only need 4 ounces of unfrozen breastmilk and the Nuby Popsicle Mold!
How to make your milksicles:
- Pour your breastmilk into a bottle using a breast pump flange (if you have one) as a funnel
- Then, carefully pour your breastmilk into the popsicle mold
- Cover tightly with the lid
- Place in the freezer for a few hours
- Serve to your baby!
11. Pacifier Feeders
Similar to a milksicle, if your baby is 6 months or older, you can use a silicone baby food feeder pacifier to give your baby some frozen fruits and/or vegetables to gnaw on to decrease their gum inflammation and provide some pain relief!
Teething Remedies at Night
With a baby, you need ease and practicality as much as possible, especially at night! I have two life-changing tips for using these teething remedies at night.
First, make a nursing cart and set it up with everything you need for feeding, changing, and providing teething remedies at night to your baby!
Second, use the Ceres Chill Chiller to keep a teething toy nice and cold throughout the night in case your baby needs some relief to fall asleep again.
If you don’t have a chiller yet, check them out at Ceres Chill and save 15% off on your purchase with code: KATELYN15.
Which other teething remedies did I forget?👇🏻
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References:
[1] Nissen, M.D., Lau, E.T.L., Cabot, P.J. et al. Baltic amber teething necklaces: could succinic acid leaching from beads provide anti-inflammatory effects?. BMC Complement Altern Med 19, 162 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2574-9
[2] Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Chamomile. [Updated 2021 Feb 15]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501808/
[3] Poison Control. National Capital Poison Center. Pokeberries: A Grape Look Alike https://www.poison.org/articles/pokeberries-and-grapes-look-alike.
[4] Givol O, Kornhaber R, Visentin D, Cleary M, Haik J, Harats M. A systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing. Wound Repair Regen. 2019 Sep;27(5):548-561. doi: 10.1111/wrr.12737. Epub 2019 Jun 20. PMID: 31145533.
[5] Bahr T, Allred K, Martinez D, Rodriguez D, Winterton P. Effects of a massage-like essential oil application procedure using Copaiba and Deep Blue oils in individuals with hand arthritis. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 Nov;33:170-176. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.10.004. Epub 2018 Oct 10. PMID: 30396617.
[6] Jesudasan JS, Wahab PU, Sekhar MR. Effectiveness of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel and a eugenol-based paste on postoperative alveolar osteitis in patients having third molars extracted: a randomised controlled clinical trial. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015 Nov;53(9):826-30. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.06.022. Epub 2015 Jul 16. PMID: 26188932.
[7] Bhaskaran N, Shukla S, Srivastava JK, Gupta S. Chamomile: an anti-inflammatory agent inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by blocking RelA/p65 activity. Int J Mol Med. 2010 Dec;26(6):935-40. doi: 10.3892/ijmm_00000545. PMID: 21042790; PMCID: PMC2982259.
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