For moms, dads and older siblings on this board , I need some help.

Caleb is cutting his first tooth (I checked and double-checked, and it's for sure) and the only teething rings that peopel gave us are the ones that you have to freeze. I'm at a loss of what to give him to chew or suck on that won't be harmful to him, or what I might be thinking is harmful isn't.

He's inconsolable right now and I'm about in tears because nothing I do is making him stop. Everything that I put in his mouth he spits out

Kelly

How Do You Live Your Dash?

Check out the Kids' blogs:
The CaleBlog and the Zoe Blog

Poor Caleb.  Poor Kelly! 

You know what's weird, Kelly?  I can't remember.  It must have been a big deal at the time... 

I thought baby raising was a real challenge but my issues were mostly over sleep and the fact that I wasn't getting enough.  I recall a lot of drool but don't remember any home remedies over teething. 

As Livia Soprano (Mother of the Year) used to say, "Children are like dogs..."  Well, in some ways they are -- they pick up on your energy, your anxiety, your uneasiness.  They react accordingly.  So, I suggest a glass of wine and relaxation.  Earplugs?  Once relaxed, a little gentle rubbing of the gums with the babe on your lap, rocking chair, nice soothing music.  

So much of babydom is about DISTRACTION.  A drive.  A walk.  Petting zoos.  Diversion. Ride the wave. 

The other part is about staying cool and calm and knowing this too will pass.  Then, one day you can look back on your baby diary and remember it because I promise you, otherwise it will slip into oblivion like so many diaper changes.

That probably didn't help.  Oh. Then there's this.  I'd stay clear of the Anbesol or other anasthetic drops.  Baby tylenol if absolutely necessary.  Remember too that the decibel of a baby's crying is not necessarily proportionate to a baby's pain.  It's just the only means of communication.  That's got to be frustrating. 

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Sorry to hear you are both having a bad time of it, I did a quick Google for natural teething remedies and hope there's something of some use:

Natural Teething Remedies

The mouth is your baby's most developed sensory organ and a great source of pleasure. This pleasure can be discovered through feeding, sucking on a pacifier or fingers and, even though you hate it, sticking everything he comes across into his mouth. Then, these nasty teeth start breaking through the gums and the pleasure his mouth previously provided has been rudely interrupted.

Try to keep your baby as happy as possible by using the following natural remedies:

1. Cold Teether - Give your baby a cold teether. A teether with texture may provide extra satisfaction. Be careful providing a teether to a child with teeth. He could puncture it.

2. Cold Food - You can try a cold baby carrot for a child that doesn't have teeth yet. If your child has teeth, he might choke on pieces of carrot. You can also give your child a frozen banana. As always, with any food you feed your baby, be sure to supervise closely.

3. Something to Chew on - Use teething biscuits in moderation once teeth appear as they can cause tooth decay.

4. Entertain your Child - Sometimes a simple distraction can help your baby forget his pain temporarily.

5. Rub your very clean finger against the gums - Your baby may object at first, but soon the counter pressure may provide some relief.

6. Cool Bottle of Water - This may help numb the soreness of the gums

A note on teething gels: Experts caution against the excessive use of teething gels as they contain benzocaine. There is a risk of allergic reaction. In addition, benzocaine can cause numbing of the throat and could lead to choking. Consult your doctor if you want to help relieve your child's pain with benzocaine.

To these natural teething remedies I would add the following:

- Try letting baby chew on a cold washcloth (dampen it and put in the freezer for a few minutes).

- My babies always wanted to chew on their toothbrush when teething. This is safe if you let them do it with supervision.

- The homeopathic remedies Chamomilla and Calcarea Carbonica are two of the most helpful for teething, or try a combination remedy. They are safe in low doses. Ask your homeopath for information.

My theory by A. Elk, brackets, Miss, brackets. This theory goes as follows and begins now. All brontosauruses are thin at one end, much much thicker in the middle, and then thin again at the far end. That is my theory, it is mine, and it belongs to me, and I own it, and what it is, too.

Ange's Odyssey

Thanks to those that gave me serious replies. He sucked on a wet washcloth for a little bit, but it didn't last long. The water teethers were a little too cold for him, so he cried on that. I eventually just cooled his pacifier and that helped for the longest time.

We went ahead and got some baby orajel so I'm hoping that will work for him.

Kelly

How Do You Live Your Dash?

Check out the Kids' blogs:
The CaleBlog and the Zoe Blog

Teething rings work well - have a few in the fridge ready to go.  We never froze ours, just chilled them.

The gel is great - especially when you're putting them to sleep.

Another thing to distract them is Vegemite - this miracle food has been known to cure all sorts of baby ailments!

If all of those fail, just tell the kid to toughen up - life's hard, just get used to it...