My eight month old daughter has suffered from teething pain more than her brothers. Someone told us to drill a hole in a real silver dime and pin it her clothing. They swore by it and said they didn't know why it worked - it just did. Since my daughter is so INTO everything and being safety concious, I haven't tried this. Anybody have any natural remedies? We use a homeopathic teething combination which doesn't seem to work as well for her as it did for my sons. We use Tylenol as a last resort. We also have tried an ice cube tied in a hanky but the relief from this doesn't last (i.e. she's not sleeping well and neither am I). I would love to hear some old-timey remedies whether they are proven to work or not. Thanks!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 04, 2001

Answers

chewing on anything seems to help. I used cold rags, keep some in frig, or those teething biscuits. For my kids ibuprofen seems to help pain better thatn tylenol. We don't use it very often though.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), October 04, 2001.

My little one did best with Tylenol or Ibuprofen and a cold damp washcloth to chew on. Just be sure to keep your fingers out of the way! When Katie was hurting from teething, she could sure clamp down and chew on your finger! OUCH!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 04, 2001.

A Freezie not opened is very chilling on those sore gums and if she happens to puncture the plastic theres nothing like a sugar jolt to cheer a gal up! I did the cold damp facecloth thing but nothing worked as well as Ibuprofen. Tylenol just never seemed to cut it with son number 2 here. At least the Ibuprofen worked long enough at night that we got a bit more sleep. Good luck.

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), October 04, 2001.

Hi Bren, I also use homeopathic whenever possible, but had to resort to Anbesol on some occasions, like when she wanted to nurse but her gums were so sore that she wanted to bite at the same time, Yeouch! I'd also use a bit in the night when she'd wake up from the pain, it works instantly so she'd go right back to sleep.

Hope you find something, personally I think the dime thing wouldn't work because there's no basis for it to work. My grandma always said to give the baby a hunk of leather to chew on, or rub whisky on her gums. Hmmmmmm......

-- Julie (julieamc@eagleslair.net), October 04, 2001.

Ambesol, carrots (with close supervision), old-fashioned non-spring clothespin, frozen teethers. A friend of mine even found teeny tiny tooth marks on the legs of her piano!

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 05, 2001.

I had forgotten about carrots! They do work great. I'm using a fake e-mail because if I use mine it goes directly to the top. I've never seen a baby bite a piano leg. WOW!!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), October 05, 2001.

If she takes a bottle, you might try giving her cold water in a bottle to help sooth those gums; also, the chewy toys are sometimes helpful.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), October 05, 2001.

Thanks so much for everyone's suggestions. I have a feeling that this is one of those situations where we'll just have to grin and bear it. Wish I had known the carrot trick earlier. Her 2 bottom teeth are fully out now and I'd be afraid she would work a piece of carrot loose. I've always stayed away from ambesol but will try it the next time she bites while nursing. That tends to upset her as much as me! Thanks!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 05, 2001.

My sons (now 25 and 24) had horrible teething problems. Their poor little gums would actually swell and bleed, and the teeth would appear and disappear. My dad kept showing up with a piece of raw bacon rind, swearing by that, and the sad part was, I think I could remember chewing on one as a child. We had tried everything everyone recommended above, and then one day DH brought home a piece of thick, dry jerky. It worked great! Once they had one end all frayed and wet, I would snip it off with scissors, and they could chew on it until the piece was too small for them to hold. I think it just had enough flavor to keep them chewing, and was tough enough to help the teeth break through. Once I knew it worked, I made my own, so I could control how much salt, etc. was in it. Just make sure it is thick, and really tough. For what it's worth, my pediatrician said that the worse time they had teething, the more apt they were to have "nice" teeth. He was probably just trying to mollify me, but the boys both have picture perfect teeth, and never a single cavity. Good luck. Kathie

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@centurytel.net), October 06, 2001.

Try diluting some lavendar essential oil with lothin or oil and rubbing on the OUTSIDE of the jaw. Some chamomile in the mix as well helps.

-- Swanlady (kwelton@brigham.net), October 06, 2001.

My 7 month old is teething badly, for the past 4 nights I have not been able to sleep, nore is anyone else in the house, he screams like if someone has put his feet in burning water. However, I was trying the cooked and clean chicken bone which was working a little until someone told me to give him a thick and long piece of beef jerky (my son does not eat meat, but this is a sacrifice well woth it) he seems more calm and he LOVES his jerky. And at the end turns into mush and you just cut that piece and give him the rest

-- Eva Underwood (eunderwood@ntouchresearch.com), May 28, 2002.