Adventures in teething
By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com
Keegan’s teething woes have finally hit full throttle. The non-stop screaming is enough to drive anyone insane. Thankfully, my husband was switched back to working days this week, so he was around last night to give me a hand, but we just couldn’t seem to get the screaming to stop. We tried everything — orajel, tylanol, cold washclothes to chew on, the baby swing, the bouncy seat, dancing to soothing music, rocking in the chair — everything! So, at our wits end, we loaded both kids in the car and drove around neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights. (If you saw a blue Escape slowly cruising down your street last night, there is no need to call out the Neighborhood Watch. It was only us……)
Someone once recommended to me to put whiskey on the baby’s gums and I was horrified. What if he accidently swallowed some?! Wouldn’t that make me the worst parent in the world?! My question is always answered with, “Well, it didn’t kill you, now did it?” I hear that alot when getting “helpful” comments from an older generation. My reply is “Well, metal slides on the playground didn’t kill me either, but you don’t see too many of those nowadays, do you?”
December 4th, 2006 at 5:35 am
Yeah, my mom swore by the whiskey thing. I particularly love the photos of my brother holding onto the big, half-empty bottle. She recommended the method of dabbing a little on the gums to him and his wife when the most recent dumpling was teething. They were horrified too - until it worked.
December 4th, 2006 at 9:29 am
Braeden was teething from the moment he was born (he had two teeth by the time he was four months old) .. I seriously considered the whiskey idea but I never convinced myself to try it. Those teething tablets worked for B, though. If nothing else, they distracted him for at least five minutes while they fizzed in his mouth.
December 5th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
We used one of those little feeder things… With the mesh that you put the peice of food into, then snap the handle on to keep it contained, and we put an ice cube in it and let our children suck and chew on the ice cubes. It was a hit! But if you do this, use a bib or two to absorb the melting ice…
We never have tried the whiskey thing. my husband has been telling me we ought to every time we have a teething-induced screaming fit at night, but I still won’t give in. Thankfully the ice trick has worked… but it is no fun at night when you’re trying to stay half asleep and end up getting incredibly cold water dribbled on you!
December 5th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
You know something else I wanted to mention that really helped is an Angel Brush. It’s a rubber “toothbrush” children can hold and put into their mouth. It features rubber teeth that rub the teeth- or gums - and you can put it in the freezer to chill it. I was just reminded of that as my son found his and just started chewing on it. I can get them for you if you want to try them - I haven’t seen them in any local stores.
December 6th, 2006 at 5:15 am
Sarah, I have one of those meshy fruit things, I just would never have thought to put a piece of ice into it! That’s a really “cool” idea! I’m assuming it’s ok then if they swallow a bit of water?
Thanks everyone for your great ideas! I guess I need to go to the store to find an Angel Brush and some teething tabs!
April 12th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
[…] myself think!! But - oh crap, wait a minute. I do have to go home again later, don’t I? lol. Once again, if you see a blue Escape cruising through your neighborhood late tonight, don’t panic. […]