Stick to Tried-and-True Methods for Teething Troubles

Teething can be a tough time for babies and parents. When babies get their first tooth, usually sometime around 6 months of age, they can experience quite a bit of discomfort. To soothe those aching gums – and your aching ears – you may be willing to try anything. But not all methods are effective – and some may even be harmful.

For example, amber teething necklaces have become trendy in recent years with the claim that the stones release a pain-relieving substance that is absorbed into the bloodstream through skin. While we’re all for anything that makes teething easier for babies, there is no scientific evidence to back up those claims – and if children are left alone with the necklaces, the beads pose a choking hazard.[1]
 
It’s best to stick to tried-and-true methods. Soothe sore gums with a clean finger, a teething ring, a cool spoon, a cold washcloth or a pacifier.[2]
 
Though it may seem like a never-ending phase, try to remember that this, too, shall pass. Most children have gotten their second molars – the last teeth to come in – by the time they’re 2 to 3 years old.[3]