Facebook Pinterest X Email Ease your baby’s discomfort with simple remedies, like cold washcloths, teething toys, gentle gum massages, and soothing herbal remedies. Teething is an exciting milestone, and there’s nothing more adorable than seeing your baby’s first tooth make its debut! However, this phase can be challenging for both babies and their parents. As teeth begin to emerge, many babies experience discomfort, fussiness, and other symptoms that leave parents searching for safe and effective ways to soothe them. This article helps parents understand what’s normal during teething, outlines signs that your little one may require a doctor’s attention, and provides tips on how herbal remedies can provide gentle relief. What Is Normal During Teething? Teething typically begins around 4 to 7 months of age, although some babies may start earlier or later: in fact, some babies are even born with their first tooth already erupted (1)! The first teeth to appear are usually the lower incisors, followed by the upper incisors. By 30 months, most children will have a complete set of baby teeth (2). Symptoms of teething may include the following: Drooling: Increased saliva production is often one of the earliest signs that teething has begun. Chewing & Gnawing: Babies may gnaw on toys, fingers, or anything they can get their hands on. Irritability: Discomfort from erupting teeth can cause fussiness or crying. Swollen Gums: Gums may appear red or swollen around the area where a tooth is about to emerge. Mild Temperature Increase: A slightly elevated temperature (not exceeding 100.4°F/38°C) is normal during teething. Mild changes to stools: Lots of saliva can sometimes create changes in stool consistency, but teething generally does not cause severe diarrhea. Flushed cheeks: Some babies may have flushed cheeks or a drool rash while teething. To learn more about common infant skin conditions, read this article: 8 Common Infant Skin Conditions. Teething and colic can sometimes cause overlapping symptoms. To learn more about colic, read this article: Natural Treatment of Infant Colic. What Isn’t Normal During Teething? Teething is often blamed for a range of symptoms, but it’s important to distinguish typical teething signs from those that may indicate an underlying issue or require medical attention. The following symptoms are sometimes mistakenly attributed to teething: High Fevers: A fever above 100.4°F is unlikely to be caused by teething and is more likely a sign of an underlying illness. In babies under 3 months old, a fever of 100.4°F or higher warrants a call to the doctor. Diarrhea: While increased drooling can cause slight changes in stool consistency, prolonged or severe diarrhea should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Severe Irritability: Extreme or inconsolable crying may suggest something more serious than teething and warrants a call to the doctor. Tips To Support Your Teething Baby Teething is tough! Thankfully, there are several ways we can support your little one. Below are some of my favorite tips: Provide a Cold Washcloth: Soak a clean washcloth in chamomile tea or breast milk (optional: add a few drops of your favorite infant friendly herbal remedy), refrigerate or freeze the washcloth until chilled but not rock-hard and then let your baby chew on it. The cold helps numb sore gums, the washcloth’s rough texture provides soothing pressure, and the herbs release slowly as your baby gnaws, delivering their natural properties directly to their gums. Offer Baby a Chilled Organic Carrot: Give your baby a large, chilled organic carrot to gnaw on under close supervision. This tip is best for babies who are just beginning to teethe, as older babies with more teeth may be able to bite off chunks, which can be unsafe. Ensure the carrot is thick and firm enough to prevent breakage. The coolness of the carrot soothes sore gums, while the carrot flavor offers a new and exciting flavor for your little one. Use Teething Toys: Offer your little one non-toxic and BPA-free teething rings or toys specifically designed for safe chewing. Try Gum Massage: Gently massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger. You could also add a drop of your favorite infant safe herbal glycerite to your finger prior to massaging. Consider Homeopathy: There are several homeopathic remedies that can be helpful during teething, including Chamomilla, Calcarea Phosphorica, and Pulsatilla. These remedies help by providing gentle support to ease mild discomfort and occasional emotional distress (3). To learn more about homeopathy, read this article: How To Use Homeopathic Remedies – A Quick-Start Guide For Families. Chamomilla - for irritable, restless, inconsolable babies who may seem angry or overly sensitive. Calcarea Phorphorica - for tired little ones who are growing rapidly. Pulsatilla - for clingy infants who feel better being held and rocked. Consider Herbal Remedies: Consider natural infant safe herbal formulas like Temperature Tamer™, Nature Profen™ Kids, or Col-icky™ for added support.✝︎ See Product See Product See Product How Herbs Can Help Soothe Teething Discomfort Herbs have been used for centuries to gently support babies through colic, teething, and other common sources of mild discomfort during infancy. Let's explore some of the key herbs in Temperature Tamer™, Nature Profen™ Kids, and Col-icky™, to see how they can help.✝︎ Lemon Balm Aerial Parts: The aerial parts of the lemon balm herb are known to help reduce occasional restlessness and promote relaxation (4).✝︎ Chamomile: One of the best-known herbs for soothing teething pain, chamomile’s calming properties and gentle sleep-supporting effect are well known (5).✝︎ Yarrow Leaf & Flower: Yarrow is highly regarded by herbalists for its ability to support the inflammatory response (6), which comes in very useful during teething!✝︎ Fennel Seed: Fennel helps relieve the occasional mild digestive upset that is sometimes associated with teething (7).✝︎ Turmeric Root: Known for its strong support of the inflammatory response, turmeric may be able to help temporarily ease the discomfort associated with teething (8).✝︎ Spilanthes Flowering Herb: Sometimes referred to as the "toothache plant," spilanthes is traditionally used to provide oral comfort (9).✝︎ Ginger Root: Ginger supports both healthy digestion and a healthy inflammatory response (10), making it a helpful herb for overall teething comfort.✝︎ Some Tips on Using Herbal Remedies for Teething When utilizing herbal support for your teething baby, these tips can help: Teas: Herbal teas made with calming herbs such as chamomile, fennel, or lemon balm can be diluted and offered in small amounts for babies aged 6 months and up. Herbal Glycerites: Products like Temperature Tamer™, Nature Profen™ Kids, and Col-icky™ are doctor-formulated remedies that combine thoughtfully chosen herbs to provide comprehensive support for teething babies. Always dose these remedies as indicated on the bottle.✝︎ Topical Application: Infant safe herbal remedies can be applied topically by applying a drop to your clean finger and gently rubbing the remedy into your baby's gums, or by applying the remedy to a wet washcloth as described above. When using drops topically, consider them part of the maximum daily dosage as indicated on the bottle. To learn more about these remedies, read this article: Temperature Tamer™ or Nature Profen™: Choosing The Right Herbal Remedy For Your Child. Temperature Tamer™ or Nature Profen™: Choosing The Right Herbal Remedy For Your Child Read more Summary Teething is a natural developmental milestone that can be challenging for babies and parents! Teething typically starts around 4 to 7 months of age and ends by 30 months when all baby teeth have usually emerged. Common symptoms of teething include drooling, frequently gnawing and mouthing on the hands, increased irritability, and slightly swollen gums. It’s important for parents to be able to recognize when symptoms (like high fever, severe irritability, or prolonged diarrhea) might indicate something other than teething and require medical attention. You can ease your baby’s discomfort with simple remedies like cold washcloths, teething toys, gentle gum massages, and soothing herbal remedies.✝︎ † These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Facebook Pinterest X Email PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE See Product See Product See Product SHOP & EARN REWARDS. JOIN TODAY! RELATED ARTICLES Temperature Tamer™ or Nature Profen™: Choosing The Right Herbal Remedy For Your Child Read more Herbal Immune Support For Kids: When To Use Immunity Boost™ Kids, Elderberry Elixir™ & Nature’s Biotic™ Kids Read more References: NHS. (2020, December 7). Baby teething symptoms. Nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/teething/baby-teething-symptoms/ Mount Sinai Health System. (n.d.). Teething Information. Mount Sinai - New York. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/special-topic/teething National Institutes of Health. (2024). Chamomilla 30C. Nih.gov. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=851978dd-d0dd-208c-e053-2a91aa0a30c5 Mount Sinai Health System. (n.d.). Lemon balm Information. Mount Sinai - New York. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/lemon-balm Srivastava JK, Shankar E, & Gupta S. (2010). Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Mol Med Rep. 2010 Nov 1;3(6):895-901. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2010.377. PMID: 21132119; PMCID: PMC2995283. Mount Sinai Health System. (n.d.). Yarrow Information. Mount Sinai - New York. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/yarrow Alexandrovich I, Rakovitskaya O, Kolmo E, Sidorova T, & Shushunov S. (2003). The effect of fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare) seed oil emulsion in infantile colic: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Altern Ther Health Med. Jul-Aug;9(4):58-61. PMID: 12868253. Umapathy VR, Swamikannu B, Jones S, Kiran M, Lell T, Mayasa V, & Govindaraj J. (2022). Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on oral health. Bioinformation. Jun 30;18(6):538-542. doi: 10.6026/97320630018538. PMID: 37168791; PMCID: PMC10165051. Prachayasittikul V, Prachayasittikul S, Ruchirawat S, & Prachayasittikul V. (2013). High therapeutic potential of Spilanthes acmella: A review. EXCLI J. Apr 4;12:291-312. PMID: 27092032; PMCID: PMC4827075. Ballester P, Cerdá B, Arcusa R, Marhuenda J, Yamedjeu K, & Zafrilla P. (2022). Effect of Ginger on Inflammatory Diseases. Molecules. Oct 25;27(21):7223. doi: 10.3390/molecules27217223. PMID: 36364048; PMCID: PMC9654013.