Teething - Lynn,MA

I used motrin when my son was teething...it seemed to work just as well if not better than Tylenol. Be careful not to use it too often tho...it may not be her teeth that are upsetting her all the time, she may just want to be nestled in your arms.

I do want to add that my son, who is 3, didn't sleep through the night until he was about 2 and a half.

He has also slept with me since he was born...and he still didn't sleep through the night...so don't feel bad or listen to people when they seem astonished that your child doesn't sleep through the nite.

I'm not sure where these notions that infants and toddlers "should" sleep through the nite came from anyway. I think it's normal that babies wake up...they're hungry...wet...or uncomfortable. We all get through it as parents...

http://www.daniellebuffardi.com

Hi K.,

My heart goes out to you. I have been where you are! My son, now 22 months, always had a really hard time with teething. He got his first teeth before 4 months and he was pretty much teething from 3 months straight until about 15 months with a one month break somewhere in there. He had the red cheeks, tons of drool, and put EVERYTHING in his mouth until all this first year teeth came in by 16 months. He would chew on this hands and I tried everything under the sun to help him sleep and help the pain. I avoid using tylenol/motrin until absolutely necessary, which was maybe twice when the pain seemed really bad for him at night (when he woke up more than twice). When he woke up at night teething, I usually nursed him to ease the pain and get him back to sleep.

The teething absolutely interrupted his sleep, and along with the winter colds last year combined with the teething, he did not sleep through the night until 20 months. It was hard and tiring. He is a patient, bright, happy boy, and I also did not believe letting him cry it out while clearly teething was the right thing to do. Once all those teeth came in (it could NOT happen fast enough!), he slept SOOO much better. He had to adjust a bit once the teething pain was gone, because I think all the teething made it hard for him to learn how to fall asleep. We slowly and lovingly taught him how to get to sleep on his own. It took lots of time and patience, but it was what felt right to us.

I don't know if you are still nursing, but I have to tell you that nursing was the one thing that actually helped his teething pain tremendously. I am still nursing him and it is the magic elixir with his 2 year molars coming in (which he is handling MUCH easier than all the other ones). So, if you are nursing at all at his age, I highly recommend using that to help him get through his teething.

The end is near, fear not. Until then, continue to be the compassionate, loving Mom that you already are. They need our comfort at this young age when they are learning and growing so much and so fast.

If you have any other questions about my experience, don't hesitate to contact me.

K.,
The homeopathic remedy chamomilla is AWESOME for teething symptoms. I used this for both of my children (now 9 and 6) and it is wonderful. Not sure where you live, but my homeopath is Barbara Coffey in Hanover - ###-###-####. Hope this helps.

J.
www.jillsylvester.com

Motrin lasts longer and you are better off giving that then using orajel our ped says orajel is a big no bc it can cause a life threatening blood condition among other severe side effects. You can try those natural teething products they seemed to help our youngest son they are natural I love our ped bc he would rather take the natural route then then the chemical way. I'm surprised your ped would suggest a product that is harmful over one that is natural and safe and they are drops not tablets they have winnie the pooh on them and I've found them at walgreens and target. Our 2.5 year old didn't start sleeping well until just recently our ped prescribed melatonin to help him sleep although from the sounds of your ped he's probably against that too but he now is only waking once around midnight and sleeping until around 7 am. In my opinion better to try and treat naturally first.

This sounds very similar to my little guy. He had such a horrible time with teething and is coming up now on 19 months and has been sleeping a lot better, but still does not sleep through the night. I think he is now getting his two year molars. I agree with the other woman, homeopathic treatments are fine, they are all natural with no harmful chemicals. I also used the drops, I believe they were Gentle Naturals, and they have calming agents such as chamomile in them. I did also use Motrin or Tylenol if he seemed in a lot of pain. (which I think he was quite a bit) Unfortunately, some babies/toddlers are not good sleepers and I have learned to accept this about my son. He is wonderful in every other way. Good luck, and remember, this too shall pass.