Natural Teething Remedies Your Baby Will Love

When I had my first baby, I had no idea what to expect when it came to teething. I had heard teething horror stories from my coworkers while I was pregnant, and honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to it!

Sure enough, I quickly found that teething isn’t the most fun time. But, when you equip yourself with the knowledge and tools you need to help soothe your baby, the initial teething phase will go by in a flash. And soon, you’ll have an adorable baby with a big ol’ toothy grin looking up at you.

So today, I’m sharing the best tried and true natural teething remedies. These safe and easy teething remedies will surely relieve your baby without introducing harmful chemicals.

Let’s get started!

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To find out more, you can read my disclaimer here. Also, I am not a doctor; I’m just a mama sharing what I’ve learned through my experiences. This information is not to be used as medical advice or diagnosis, and as always, consult your doctor with any of your concerns.

When Does Teething Start and End? 

Because all babies are different, the ages at which teething starts can differ. The most common age for a baby to get their first tooth is around six months old, but some babies might not get their first tooth until they’re 12 months old!

The first teeth to look out for is one of the two front teeth on the bottom. Next are the two front teeth on top. Following the top front teeth are the teeth on each side, and then the teeth on the sides of the bottom front teeth.

Surprisingly, the next teeth to come will be the first molars. After the first molars will be the canine teeth. And lastly, the second molars will come in.

The second molars typically come in between 2-3 years old. This means you can expect teething to last approximately two years.

What are the signs and symptoms of teething?

1. Drooling and/or Coughing

When your baby is teething, you’ll find that they will drool a lot more. The increase in drool may lead to your baby swallowing wrong and coughing.

2. Swollen Gums

Once a tooth starts to erupt through the gums, you will see that your baby’s gums are red and swollen.

3. Rash On Chin

Due to the excess drool, your baby might get dry and chaffed skin on their chin. The best way I’ve found to help this teething symptom is to use this lotion. It’s gentle, fragrance-free, and it works so well!

We live in a very dry climate, and this is the only baby lotion for the face/body that actually keeps my baby’s skin hydrated.

4. Crying and Fussing

Crying and added fussiness are obvious teething symptoms. Teething hurts! Your baby will be fussier during this time, so extra cuddles and attention will certainly help.

5. Ear Pulling

If you notice your baby pulling on or rubbing their ears, this is because they might be feeling some discomfort in that area. This is because teething pain in the gums can travel through nerves and be felt in the cheeks and ears.

Ear pulling can also mean your baby might have an ear infection, so be sure to rule that it is only teething.

6. More Frequent Night Waking/Shorter Naps

As I mentioned before, teething hurts! Your baby will likely have more disrupted sleep during teething times.

If your baby struggles to stay asleep, try to squeeze in an extra nap to ensure they aren’t becoming overtired.

7. Biting

When your baby starts to get another tooth, biting will help relieve some of their pain. Biting helps with pain because as the tooth is coming through the gums, there is a lot of pressure. 

When your baby bites, it creates counterpressure which is what provides relief.

8. Difficulty Eating

When your baby feels upset from teething, they will seek comfort from you. Quite often, comfort is in the form of a breast or bottle.

Even though your baby will want to eat, the sucking motion might hurt. If your baby is nursing and continuously unlatches from your breast, it might be because of teething.

When my son started having difficulty nursing, he would unlatch every 30 seconds to 1 minute, and I was so confused! But then I realized he was beginning to get another tooth, and it all clicked.

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The Best Natural Teething Remedies:

1. Baby Banana

This banana was my son’s absolute favorite teething relief product. I remember the first time I gave it to him; he was so upset from his teething pain. 

After a few minutes of playing with the banana teether, he chewed on it for a good 20 minutes! He was so happy afterward!

He loved to chew on that banana teether until he was about a year old, so it got its fair share of use.

2. Cold Teethers

Cold teethers are another one of our favorite natural teething remedies. The cold and different textures these teethers have are perfect when your baby gets teeth closer to the front of their mouth.

The thing to remember with cold teethers is to keep them cold and not frozen. When you freeze teethers, you can risk hurting your baby’s gums because the teether becomes so hard.

What I found worked best was keeping a medium-sized bowl in the back of my fridge to toss the teethers in. Also, if you have more than one teether in the refrigerator, you never have to worry about not having one ready for your baby.

We used these ones, and they worked great! They come in different shapes and have various textures on them, so your baby can explore with them. 

Plus, they come with handles you can attach to the teether so your baby can hold onto it easier and their hands won’t get cold.

3. Teething Mitten

Teething mittens come in handy when your baby needs a teether, but you don’t want them to be able to throw it on the ground easily. For example, some perfect times to use teething mittens are in the stroller, car, or grocery store! 

A teething mitten is essentially a baby mitten with a textured rubber covering the fingers. You can put it on your baby’s hand, secure it with the velcro strap around their wrist, and watch them be content while chewing away their pain.

4. Teething Necklace For Mom

Teething necklaces for moms to wear are a somewhat newer item, and they’re a great idea!

These necklaces for moms are pretty long, and they are typically made with wood or silicone beads for babies to chew on. 

Teething necklaces are great because your baby can chew on them while you are holding them, and your baby can’t drop them. They are also perfect if you are baby-wearing!

One thing to remember when using a teething necklace is to stop using them at the first sign of wear and tear. If you notice the necklace cord is fraying or one of the teether parts is starting to show signs of weakness, it’s better to be safe than sorry and throw it out.

5. Teething Biscuits

Teething biscuits are an excellent natural teething remedy once your baby is around the seven or 8-month-old mark and has been showing interest in solid foods.

Teething biscuits are similar to crackers but are a little easier for your baby to hold and gnaw on. 

These teething biscuits are a great organic option to start with. But there are also a lot of teething biscuit recipes online if you prefer to make your baby’s food!

6. Silicone Feeders

Silicone (or mesh) feeders are so popular for a good reason! If you haven’t heard of them, silicone feeders are little food-safe pouches in which you put fruits and veggies, and then your baby can chew the fresh juices and nutrients out.

Silicone feeders are such excellent natural teething remedies for your babies, especially if the fruits and veggies you put in them are cold. They will love tasting the different flavors and getting teething pain relief from the cold food.

I prefer the silicone feeders over the mesh ones because they are easier to clean. We use these ones and love them because they don’t stain, are lightweight, and are easy for your baby to hold onto!

7. Cold Wash Cloth

Like cold teethers, your baby will love chewing on a cold washcloth! A washcloth is easy for your baby to hold, and they will love feeling the texture of the cloth on their gums.

All you need to do is wet a clean washcloth and place it in a bowl in the freezer for no more than 5 minutes. You’ll want to ensure it is not frozen solid, as this could make it too hard for your baby’s gums. Alternatively, place it in the refrigerator for a bit longer, like 15-20 minutes.

8. Let Your Baby Chew On Your Finger

Remember how I mentioned counterpressure helping with teething pain earlier? Letting your baby chew on your finger is an excellent source of counterpressure, and your baby will love it!

9. Add More Nursing Sessions

If you’re breastfeeding, consider adding more nursing sessions to your baby’s day.

Your baby might refuse to nurse because it could be painful, but if you notice that they are ok with it, extra nursing sessions can provide them with the comfort they need. Also, the sucking motion can help relieve some of the pain from erupting teeth.

10. Breastmilk Popsicles

A common theme in teething relief is that babies will love chewing on cold things. If you are breastfeeding, breastmilk popsicles are a fantastic idea!

You can get these popsicle holders or freeze the milk in ice cube trays and put the cube in a silicone feeder. I prefer placing milk cubes in a silicone feeder because it’s less messy and a little easier for your baby to hold onto.

PRO MAMA TIP: Get Crib Railing Covers!

This last suggestion isn’t one of the natural teething remedies, but I had to include it! Here’s why:

One day, in the midst of a new teething period, I went to get my son from his nap. I walked into his dark room and thought he was resting his chin on the crib’s railing. To my surprise, he was gnawing away on the wood and had started to chip the paint off! 

At the time, I had no idea crib railing covers even existed. But once I found my son chewing on his crib like a little beaver, I had to find something to prevent this from happening again.

I got these ones on Amazon, and they worked great! You tie them on (I double-knotted mine, and my son never untied them), providing a padded cushion for your baby’s chewing.

Things To Avoid:

Amber Necklaces (or Bracelets/Anklets)

Some people will disagree with me on this one, but you should avoid amber teething necklaces.

If you don’t know what amber teething jewelry is, it’s typically tiny necklaces made of amber. 

When a baby wears it, their body heat will trigger the necklace to release a particular acid that is believed to be anti-inflammatory.

While no medical evidence supports the claims that these necklaces help reduce teething pain and swelling, the necklaces also pose a choking hazard.

Numbing Gels

Many teething gels contain benzocaine, which in rare cases, can reduce the amount of oxygen carried in the bloodstream in children under 2.

How To Care For Your Baby’s New Teeth:

Once your baby’s first tooth comes in, you’ll want to begin good oral hygiene habits! Start with cleaning your baby’s tooth (or teeth) at least every night.

You can keep your baby’s new teeth clean in several ways. First, you can use a damp cloth and rub your baby’s teeth and gums. Or, you can use a finger toothbrush instead. 

I used this baby toothbrush with my son, and he loved it. The finger toothbrush has soft rubber bristles on the top and bottom, so it gets the job done without being harsh on your baby’s gums.

You can also ask your pediatrician about starting a training toothpaste. Training toothpaste is fluoride-free and is typically ok from 3 months old. We used this one, and I believe the subtle fruit flavor is why my son liked to get his teeth brushed as a baby.

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As you know, teething is a hard time for your baby. With some extra attention and some of these easy natural teething remedies, your baby will get through it in no time.

Before you go, check out these related articles:

• Fun and Easy Activities for 6-Month-Olds
• The Best Toys for 6-12-Month-Old Babies
• How To Make the Best Bedtime Routine for Babies
• Mess-Free Finger Painting Activity for Babies
• How to Smoothly Transition Your Baby to a Crib

What are some of your favorite natural teething remedies? I would love to know in the comments below!

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