Teething. Just the word strikes fear into the heart of most parents. As much as it varies from baby to baby, teething is generally accompanied by an overwhelming amount of drool and unexplained crankiness. As the mother of a 13 month old who is busy popping out tooth number five and six, here are a few 6 helpful hints for handling a teething baby on the road.
1) Know what’s coming. After attending a conference, I was sent a box of assorted Zone Perfect bars. The cookie dough flavor turned out to be one of the best bar flavors ever but the most valuable part of that shipment? The realization that having my daughter bite down on the Zone bar leaves an impression of her mouth. You can see exactly where teeth are lurking under the gums surface without having to open a locked jaw and explore! Strangest use for a Zone Bar I’ve heard of but incredibly valuable for finding out where to aim the teething gel.
2) Boiron Camilia Teeting Relief Packets. These packets come in little plastic tubes that are single use. You just twist open the end and squirt the liquid around on the gums. Truly magical, my daughter stops crying upon seeing one of these.
3) Baby Orajel Naturals. This new release from Orajel is dye-free, paraben-free, alcohol-free, and benzocaine-free. It is my second choice behind the Boiron Camilia. It seems to help for a short while and it has a strong clove flavor which is enough to distract my daughter from the pain for a bit.
4) Amber Necklace. I wasn’t sure what to think when I first heard of these. Basically, it’s a necklace that your child wears that helps relieve the drooling and pain that come from teething. It is not for them to chew on! Amber has been used as a natural anti-inflammatory for generations in Europe. We ordered one figuring at the worst we were out $20. After she wore it for a few days we noticed an immediate reduction in drool, and let’s face it- it’s adorable. Be sure to order one that is knotted between each bead. This way if it breaks you’re not scrambling to find them all.
5) Bring clean items for baby to chew on. A couple of frozen teethers and a frozen washcloth packed into a lunch pack will help when the urge to chew overwhelms. Another stylish choice is the Oh Plah! teething cuff. I find my jewelry gets co-opted for teething frequently so I try to make sure that it is baby safe.
6) Cold eats. Throw a couple of yogurts and cold juices into the lunch pack. Eating cold food can soothe your babies gums while they snack. If you’re on the road (or at home) popsicles work wonders and can usually be found in any gas station ice cream freezer.
Best of luck to all the moms and dads of teething babies out there! What tricks do you use to travel while teething?
Nasreen Stump is a freelance writer who lives in Vermont, when she isn’t on the road for work. Check her out on Twitter @ramblingstump!
