Our top teething tips and tricks

A few weeks ago I mentioned that Miss Isabelle had started teething. Well, we still don't have any teeth through, although I can now see those little dots under her gum. We are definitely still suffering - as no doubt are our neighbours' ears  - and I feel so terribly sorry for my little mite when she has a bad day.

I mentioned before that Simon and I prefer not to give painkillers to Isabelle and, in fact, we rarely take any ourselves. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but we just prefer to save the 'big guns' for when things are REALLY bad, and we don't like the idea of putting too much of the 'hard stuff' (Calpol!) into Isabelle when she is so tiny. So, instead, we are finding other bits and bobs to help our little woman through this pretty horrible time, and I thought I'd share them with you.

1. Her Chicco crab
When the lovely people at Chicco heard about Isabelle's teething (and they probably actually heard her screams) they very kindly sent us one of their new line of Baby Senses Teethers. The teether has soft, water filled parts for chomping on, which can be cooled in the fridge as well. It also has a little rattle inside to keep Isabelle interested, and best of all it is totally paint free. Since it is made for little mouths, that is an absolute must in my book! I wasn't convinced about this, as so far, Isabelle has not been fussed on any of the other teethers I gave her. However, when our cute crab character arrived, it was promptly ripped open as she was having a bad day. I handed it to Isabelle...and it went straight into her mouth! She chomped on it all during dinner, and it has been at our side ever since. Isabelle has really taken to it, and I think a lot of that is due to it's great design - it's very easy for her to hold as it's chunky and has a gap in the centre. It has two 'chewy' bits so even with her hand-eye coordination still developing she is likely to get part of it in her mouth. I did try cooling it for her, but she prefers it at room temperature - a personal preference. She still has no interest in her other teethers, so this one is a must have for us. Keep an eye out for these coming soon!

Nom nom nom!

2. Nelson's Teetha Granules
I mentioned in my previous post that I had bought some teething granules. I bought the Nelson's Teetha Granules which came highly recommended, and have since found that this is with good reason! The first time these got an outing was at my parents' house, when poor Isabelle was inconsolable from the pain. She had one promptly emptied into her mouth, then sat with her granny as quiet as a mouse, looking totally pain free (and a tad spaced out if truth be told!). The almost instant relief these brought her was unbelievable, and it has been the same every time we have used them. What I love most about these is that they are a homeopathic remedy, which rely on natural chamomilla as a pain reliever, rather than any other "drugs". The granules come in tiny pouches which are handy to keep anywhere, ready to use at a moment's notice. My sister-in-law advised the best way to get these into Izzy's mouth is on a teaspoon, and that is definitely a top tip for using them. I also like to give them just before a feed, because it's always nice to have a drink to wash powder down with! The teething granules can be bought from Nelson's for £5.30 for 24 sachets, and they really are super - so easy to use without worrying about pumping Izzy full of horrible things.

Source

3. Sophie La Giraffe
I think everyone with a child aged 3 months to 3 years has one of these, as I see them EVERYWHERE! They are simply a different type of teether, but one which is classed as a sensory toy too. I think the reason that these are so successful, and that Isabelle loves hers so much, is that they are really easy to hold, and there are plenty of 'sticky out bits' to ensure that a baby always gets something into their mouth (Izzy prefers Sophie's face to gnaw on). Sophie is also made from natural rubber, and is therefore phthalate free, which again is important to me considering how long it spends in her mouth. I think that being made of rubber rather the traditional plastic is also nicer for babies to chew on, as it is soft against their sore gums. Sophie now also accompanies us everywhere, and has led to many issues with my mother (who insists she should be called Geraldine) and my nephew (who insists she can't be called Sophie as he knows someone with that name already!).

4. Love and cuddles
Isabelle does not suffer in silence - I guess she gets that from my side of the family. The poor little lady is quite often totally miserable with this teething, and I'm so glad she doesn't know just how far we yet have to go. Some days, the best thing I can do to help her is cuddle up on the sofa, give her unlimited boob access, and cuddle her while she sleeps next to me. And, to be honest, after listening to some of her more horrific screaming sessions because she is in so much pain, a little cuddle for me from her doesn't go amiss.

If your little one has been through this horrendous process, I'd love to hear any of your tips and tricks to help us through!