A S T I C K Y H O M E I S A H A P P Y H O M E . . .

I would love to say that this past week has been rainbows and butterflies but truth be told, it has not.  My little one is …. Wait for it …. Teething.  For existing mommies, this word never brings a smile to our faces (unless of course you were one of the lucky ones whose child rarely showed any signs of discomfort).  As a new mama to the game, I am trying to acquaint myself with the reality that this uncomfortable stage of life may stick around for a while and therefore, I need to find ways to bring my little ray of sunshine some solace.

Firstly, I must note that there are some tried and true relief mechanisms that are no longer safe for your little one; in particular – Baby Orajel.  This was one of my mother’s first suggestions and upon research…I found it unfortunately is not a wise decision.

I have tried Baby Tylenol but aside from giving him a bit of relief to fall asleep, it doesn't give me more than 5 hours of sound sleep at night.  The other downside of using pain medication is that it's so temporary, and teething can last a LONG time, that you may find yourself reaching for the stuff multiple times a day/week which also may not be good for baby.  While it may cause baby discomfort, teething is just another part of life that will pass.

So what worked for me? Well, here are my very own tried and true teething tricks:

Teething jewellery – works AMAZING on airplanes or anywhere that baby has to be glued to your lap for long periods.  My absolutely favourite teething jewellery has got to be Mama and Little.

Soothers – While my little one didn’t take to a soother initially, he is now starting to come around to it.  The sucking helps to ease his gums and staves off urges to nurse around the clock.  This may not work for everyone however as some babies are 100% against pacifiers from day one.

ZoLi Bunny Teethers – There are many teethers on the market but this one is a household favourite.  It is easy for Calvin to hold onto and the rubbery ridges seem to give him some relief.  Expert tip: Throw it in the fridge for half an hour for additional comfort.

Teething Snacks – If you have never given your baby Mum Mums, these are excellent at keeping baby’s temperament at bay.  My little one can suck on these for fifteen minutes straight and it buys me some time to unload the dishwasher without hearing the dreaded “I’m sore” whine from the living room floor.  While the bits of chewed on pieces that plague my living room floor seem to make everything sticky, the relief they provide makes for a lovely happy home!

While these devices worked for me, I’m sure many of you experienced mamas also have some great tips to deal with teething and I encourage you to share!

Note: None of the brands recommended above are paid advertisements – I just really enjoy the products.