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I’m considering starting a baby consulting business. Consultations will go like this.
My baby is cranky. She’s probably teething.
My baby doesn’t sleep. He’s probably teething.
My baby wants to eat all the time/won’t eat anything. She’s probably teething.
My baby bites me/other kids/the dog/wood chips at the playground. He’s definitely teething.
But after having two kids who have grown lots and lots of teeth, I have tried just about every product and technique to relieve teething pain. Here, then, are my recommendations for the best teething products.
The best teething products & tips
Hyland’s Baby teething tablets. Edited 10/13/16: The FDA has asked parents to stop using homeopathic teething tablets such as Hyland’s as it investigates the link between the teething tablets and baby illness and even death over the last six years. Hyland’s has stopped selling the tablets in the US.- Nuby Silicone Teethe-eez Teether. There’s something about the nubbins on this flexible teether that feels awesome on a baby’s gums, especially on her first teeth—or at least that’s what I presume, after watching Kiwi mow this thing with a vengeance.
- Sophie la Giraffe. There’s a reason why this French import is on just about every darn baby registry you see these days: Babies love it. Maybe it’s the satisfying squeak whenever they bite Sophie. (So that’s what sound a giraffe makes!)
- Munchkin Fresh Food Feeders. Pop a piece of frozen fruit—or an ice cube-sized chunk of frozen breast milk—into these little mesh bags for delicious teething pain relief. Babies can hold onto the handle, which doesn’t get cold.
- Munchkin Orajel Back Teeth Teether. This silicone toy has different textures on each side. Hey, variety is the spice of teething life!
- Freezer French toast sticks or pancakes. For babies who are eating solids, frozen pancakes or French toast sticks are money. They’re cold, solid enough to rub the gums but soft enough to chew, and they count as a snack. As Kiwi works on her molars, these have been a lifesaver.
- Teether bibs. Teething babies drool—a lot. So whoever thought of combining a drool-catching bib with a teether, like this one, is a genius.
- Innobaby EZ Grip Massaging Teether. This teething toy may look like a torture device, but all the bumps and grooves are like a shiatsu massage for your infant’s mouth.
- Razbaby Raz-berry Teether. This pacifier-shaped teether was all the rage when Peeper was a baby. I haven’t seen it around as much lately, but babies who are used to a binky love to chew the ridged raspberry.
- Teething necklaces. All the teething necklace companies out there will try to tell you their products just *may* be mistaken for the hottest runway accessory of the season. This is a lie. But who cares if it’s fashionable if it keeps your baby from leaving teeth marks on your collar bone?
If you and your baby are enduring a cranky teething phase, I hope these best of the best teething products help. And if your kid ends up biting one of mine, don’t sweat it. I know he’s probably just teething.
This list will come in handy for a lot of new moms I’m sure!
I hope so! Teething is no fun.
I don’t think anything has worked for my boys. Both seem to be very early teethers and are just CRANKY no matter what. Heck, even popsicles were annoying to them. They would love how they felt on their teeth but scream at their hands getting cold. :: eyes roll ::
I did just get some cute little jewelry from Target’s baby section that are part jewelry for mom and chew toy for baby. X2 seemed to dig it.
Currently no teeth are coming in. THANK GOODNESS.
Yay for no teeth coming in!!! I didn’t write this in the article, but the best—and one free—tip for teething is distraction. If you can get them focused on something else, the teeth don’t hurt as much.
I wish I knew of more of these when I was going through teething, with TWINS 😉
I think the only things we used were the munchkin ice cube things and orajel (which was a godsend). They had no desire to use those neckless teether things, or the frozen little reusable oval things. But we all survived 🙂
I think the key is finding what works best for your baby and sticking with it!
That is so true. You can never be sure what your kid will like. They all have their own preferences, the little stinkers!
I do not miss having to deal with a teething baby!
My littlest is working on her molars, but I’m looking forward to being past all the new teeth, too!
I was so grateful that teething is such a short, short time and goes quickly. Doesn’t feel like it when you’re in the thick of it, but I wish I had some of these options when mine were little to help! Great list!
Thanks Marlynn! It definitely doesn’t feel like a short time, but in the grand scheme of childhood, I suppose it is. Thanks for the dose of perspective!
Wasn’t a large part of the problem with Hyland’s to do with parents overusing them?
Yes, I believe so. I think some parents thought, “oh, it’s natural, so I can use as much as I want.” Of course that’s not the case. But with recommendations, I want to err on the side of caution and side w/ the FDA. I didn’t throw out my own bottle of Hyland’s, and I have always followed the dosage guidelines. So I guess it’s just one more case of parents having to do whatever they feel is best.