Tooth #1 arrived on September 22nd, just after turning 5 months old. The nanny discovered it and brought her in to ask if I knew it was there. I had been occasionally checking for breaks in the gums, but had not noticed it and was happy to realize it came in without much fuss or discomfort. Tooth #2 on the other hand gave us a few days of  inconsistent sleep and increased clinginess as well as bottom rash. I was eager to provide her with comfort; here are some things we tried:

Generic teethers: The teething options compliments of Wal-Mart (sorry, Tod); rubber/plastic (BPA free) water filled shapes. We have the clear ring made up of circles and a pink ‘foot.’ We experimented with these, frozen and unfrozen. She likes the item from a toy perspective, but doesn’t seem to identify it as a teething option as she does with some of the other items. They also don’t fit in her mouth very well and at 5 months old, she struggled to hold them securely. I would not buy these again.

Frozen wash cloths: This one is easy. Dampen the cloth and throw it in the freezer. We have small organic cloths we received at our baby shower and this is what I use for her. I feel like she has control of this and can get it into her mouth more easily. I believe the texture is more inviting as well. Highly recommend trying this. Very affordable and effective. This is our go-to soothing option.

Amber necklace: This is the description posted on Amazon.com for this product: “Our Amber Teething Necklace is the perfect alternative medicine for babies & toddlers on the teething process. All this is thanks for the Baltic Amber Natural immune system boost, anti-inflammatory & analgesic capabilities. By the time the baby or toddler start using the necklace you will start noticing the differences on their behavior & mood, thanks to the effectiveness of the succinic acid contained naturally on the amber and without suffering the secondary effects behind synthetic medicine like teething tablets or scrapings left by the teething toys on their mouth.” So we tried this for a few days but to be honest, I can’t say if it provided relief at all. I was nervous to have it on her neck unless completely supervised (this meant not napping with it) and it was too big to stay on her wrist or ankle, so it was taken off many times. I will try again. We’ll see. I question whether or not it is amber or effective, but need more time to see if it has an impact.

Mommy necklace: Here’s a link to the item. Silicone Teething Necklace for Mom to Wear by RubyRoo Baby – Baby safe BPA-Free Faceted Beads. She likes this. Of course anything hanging on me while she is being held is of interest to her. She pulls on it, plays with it and chews on it. She likes having something to reach for and hold when she nurses also. It’s soft, easy to put on and adjustable. So this is a good buy and teething aid in my book. Word of caution: I would not allow her to play with it when it’s not being worn. The string could be ingested/inhaled or she could get tangled in it. We do allow her to play with it as a toy (not around my neck) but only while we are watching her closely. She does enjoy it and not only chews on the beads, but also on the string and seems to find comfort from that alone.

Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder: Again, the product description: “This award-winning product allows your baby to enjoy lots of delicious foods without the choking risk. Simply put a piece of fruit, vegetables or meat into the mesh bag and snap shut. Your baby can chew, suck and enjoy all the whole food goodness and taste, with only the tiniest, digestible pieces coming through.” She likes this. She can hold it and gnaw on it pulling small food particles in while getting a massage on her gums. It’s also a good way to introduce foods without the worry of choking and it helps to get her involved. You can also put ice chips in it and provide a numbing/cool option.

Tooth #2 finally poked through and provided relief on October 10th, just  before turning 6 months old. Now we are waiting on the rest. #3 seems to be close to arriving, but I don’t see where it might be entering.  She is not in major discomfort but does have moments when I can tell it’s bothering her and during those moments, the index finger is her go-to soother.

No rush. I love her gummy smile. But the pediatrician did say he could tell the top ones were working their way through. This is the very early record of our teething adventure. We have only just begun and have only two teeth through. I know we have some rougher days ahead, especially as the molars work their way in.

If you have the time, holding and comforting is always the best and preferred by the babe. Miss Connie really just wants mamma during achy times and I love her snuggles. I let her chew on my fingers and clothing while I smothered her with kisses. We also nurse frequently when she is not feeling her best.