UPDATE: He seems to have solved his own problem by grabbing and biting into a travel-size bar of Lever 2000 soap. He really didn't like it at all at the time, but didn't seem to have any teething pain for the rest of the day. It must be the soap. Soap cures teething pain. You read it here on the Internet, so it must be true!
I'm having a problem of my own (which caused this post to be late), so I thought I'd walk myself through it as if I'd written myself a question*, and then get your suggestions, too.
"My son is 15 months old and is getting his bottom molars. The ones on the left have just poked through, but the right ones are still under the surface. For the past two days all he's wanted to do is complain and nurse. And nurse and nurse. It's just like the 6-week growth spurt, when he nursed around the clock for 72 hours, only this time he yells "Mamaaaaa! Nuhhhhrrrr!" and throws himself on the floor and pounds his fists and wails when I unlatch him. My secret super-mix of Humphrey's #3 and baby ibuprofen, which usually helps him a lot, seems to have no effect. I'm going a little bit nuts."
We all know that it will eventually pass once the molars come in. The trick is surviving until that happens. Keep giving the Humphrey's #3 and baby ibuprofen when he seems really antsy--even if it only gives him a little relief it's worth it.
To get a little relief from the constant nursing, see if you can distract him with fun toys or activities, or get your older child to play with him (this only works, of course, if you have an older child).
Make sure he's getting enough other fluids. Some kids find cold seltzer water (aka "bubble water") to be soothing or at least distracting. I don't think seltzer mixes well with sippy cups (the pressure of the bubbles and the valve can cause fizzy wet explosions), but it's fine out of a straw cup or out of a regular cup that you hold for a toddler that young.
Other suggestions are frozen mini-bagels, popsicles that you make or buy (if you buy them, watch out for articicial colors and flavors, which can make your child hyper and stoned in addition to cranky and in pain), and cold fruits and vegetables like baby carrots, cucumber, and melon pieces.
If all else fails, see if you can either mesmerize him with some TV ("It's a Big Big World" is my favorite new show on PBS Kids), or give in and mesmerize yourself with some TV while you nurse him (the "America's Got Talent" finale is on on Wednesday night with the Hoff).
Anyone else? What got you through the first molar phase?
* Whenever I complain about something one of the kids has done, my husband snickers, "Why don't you write and Ask Moxie what to do?" Dork.
What worked for us was frozen peas and more frozen peas. Nutritious, feel-good frozen and small enough that she could move them to where they felt best. Also not so big that she had to bite them with her other teeth, which seem to be a bit sensitive to cold.
Otherwise, it was grit our own molars and get through it.
Good luck!
Posted by: Melanie | August 15, 2006 at 09:55 AM
So, so timely! My twins have been extra grumpy & waking up multiple times a night wanting to nurse ("nuh! nuh! nuh!") for the past couple days, so yesterday i stuck my fingers in their mouths to investigate & Z has 2 molars on the top breaking through (and she JUST got two new front teeth on the bottom!) and H has a molar on the top and a molar on the bottom coming through. Time to buy stock in ibuprofen again . . .
Posted by: Meira | August 15, 2006 at 09:59 AM
I know kids who have found some relief in frozen food put into something like the Safe Feeder (http://www.babysafefeeder.com/), which allows them to knaw on it for longer (maybe the mesh helps too?). Also easier if they wander the house with it, clean-up wise.
Posted by: parodie | August 15, 2006 at 11:09 AM
My son got 4 molars all at the same time when he was 11 months old. In the same 2 weeks we were moving. It was not fun. We didn't do anything special... just let him suffer through it. We couldn't make special attemtps at finding soothing things - we were moving! It was hell. But they came in, we moved, and we all survived. I think the molars are NOTHING compared to the cuspids or canines... which we have coming in now, at 13 months...
Posted by: Jennifer Barnes | August 15, 2006 at 11:13 AM
Like the frozen pea idea, we used frozen blueberries! The kids still think they are an extra special treat. Like individual blue icecream bites.
Another thing I suggest is the straight chamomilla homeopathic. Humphreys and Hylands both contain chamomilla and usually work well, but the first time I gave my dd the straight chamomilla she went from screaming to singing in 60 seconds flat.
The molars are tough. We arent even done with them yet, my almost 3 year old twins are STILL getting their second set. (they teethe long and slow)
Posted by: joline | August 15, 2006 at 11:34 AM
DS just got all four of his, so you have my sympathies.
He walked around for a week chewing on my toothbrush. Made him happy, freaked me out when he offered to share it with the dog!
Good times. Good times.
Posted by: MotherLawyer | August 15, 2006 at 12:38 PM
My kid got all four in two weeks at thirteen-fourteen months. Frozen mixed veggies (peas and carrots were her favorites), It's A Big Big World (I LOVE that show) Hyland's teething tablets. Oh, and frozen fruit juice ice cubes. She doesn't drink a lot of juice so the cubes were a big treat.
Posted by: Suz | August 15, 2006 at 01:32 PM
Ugh, my sympathies Moxie! My kid got all four in a month at 18 months...I noticed 3 of them had one point through--each--the weekend before she was to start a brand-new daycare. Hour-and-a-half nursing sessions in the middle of the night, ibuprofen or no. (My mouse teethes slow and rough, poor thing. She can be distracted during the day, but night...eh.)
Anyway, what helps? For us, ice. Plain ice cubes in a cup--they're not sticky like popsicles, she can have as many as she wants, and they help with the hydration too. One Step Ahead also sells an indestructible toddler teething ring that I would let her take to bed and then keep a fresh one in the freezer (and a fresh cup of ice in the fridge so it would get nice and crumbly) for wakeups. If she could have some ice and/or teething ring, we could sometimes shorten the nursing session and get back to sleep. :)
Working on second molars now (she's now 2.4 and weaned)...doesn't seem quite as bad so far...knock wood.
Posted by: Charisse | August 15, 2006 at 03:20 PM
My kids liked chewing on a toothbrush. I also froze damp wash clothes that they could stick in there and gum on.
Posted by: Gretchen | August 15, 2006 at 04:46 PM
Just chiming in a few days late. Glad to hear that Lever 2000 is doing the trick.
A general rule of thumb I use when I 'feel like I'm going nuts' is to turn up the helper volume. In other words, I get concrete help to make my life a little easier.
In your example, the few precious hours that he's asleep and not 'latched on', should not be spent vacuuming or doing dishes. Get someone else to do it. Take a yoga class, go shopping, have dinner with a friend. Hire a one-time housecleaner. Put your well-being right up there at the very top of your list. Eat take-out. Use paper plates. Find something, anything, that makes your life easier and more pleasant.
Posted by: Molly | August 16, 2006 at 11:59 AM
Teething is the worst. My son likes all fruit popsicles, a vibrating teether toy, v cold melon and berries, and chewing on toothbrushes.
Posted by: Rayne of Terror | August 16, 2006 at 09:24 PM
Ug. We are currently going through this. Every night I whisper when she falls asleep, "Please, teeth, PLEASE poke through tonight."
It seems that we've rounded a corner and I think the worst has past, but it was ugly. We used round the clock motrin, since my pharmicist told me it is more effective when it's given consistently over a short period of time. Also lots of really cold apples sauce, popsicles, and lots of soft mushy things for dinner since her appetite really dropped off. Also lots of cuddling.
My pediatrician always tells me that if adults went through teething, morphine would be an over the counter drug.
Posted by: Bethanyg | August 17, 2006 at 08:28 PM
We used frozen waffles(round ones)with little blueberries or small bits of strawberries in them.
My son prefers the eggo waffles.
He is on his 2 year molars right now.
He doesn't really get cranky when teething, even when he was cutting 6 to 8 teeth at one time just before he got his 1 year molars.
He likes the frozen waffles, he has used the end of a brand new hair brush cleaned of course.
Posted by: Christina | August 18, 2006 at 01:02 AM
My 18-mo old daughter is getting hers now, too. I've got little to offer since she hates the molar teething dealie we were given, although she loves the ice.
A question: What's the dosage on the chamomilla? She never had much trouble with the other teeth but I think it's going to be different with these... many thanks.
Posted by: bernalgirl | August 20, 2006 at 12:03 AM
MY TODDLERS MOLARS ARE COMING IN, CAN THAT BE THE CAUSE OF HIS FEVERS. HE HAS HAD A FEVER SINCE LAST WEEK, AND I JUST NOTICED HIS MOLARS ARE COMING.
Posted by: CAROL CHIMELIS | May 18, 2007 at 03:04 PM
What are we going to do if they take all the rest baby medicines off the shelves AAAWWWW!! My son did great with his front teeth coming in, they all came in so nice and pretty and he took it like a champ!!! But these molors, OMG, we are having a hard time with these. Its my first week noticing them and it seems like as soon as I noticed them is as soon as he began to have problems!LOL! But I will definately try all the suggestions because right now I'll do anything to ease his pain. He seems so sad and helpless and thats definately not his character! I GOTTA GET MY CHILD BACK!!!
Posted by: Diggys MoM | October 09, 2008 at 01:54 AM
What are we going to do if they take all the rest of the baby medicines off the shelves AAAWWWW!! My son did great with his front teeth coming in, they all came in so nice and pretty and he took it like a champ!!! But these molors, OMG, we are having a hard time with these. Its my first week noticing them and it seems like as soon as I noticed them is as soon as he began to have problems!LOL! But I will definately try all the suggestions because right now I'll do anything to ease his pain. He seems so sad and helpless and thats definately not his character! I GOTTA GET MY CHILD BACK!!!
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Posted by: Uggs Outlet | August 13, 2011 at 06:04 AM
Ah teeth. Lincoln has been pretty crnaky recently and has really started drooling A LOT! So I think that he's got more teeth coming in. He already has 8 so I think his molars may be coming in but I don't feel anything just yet.I hope he gets all four at once like Maggie so that the crank and drool is over quickly!Oh did Maggie have the ulcers on her hands and feet in April? Lincoln had that too but the ulcers were only on his tongue and in his throat ..I think he got it from me!It is definitely an awful feeling when you really can't take the pain away from babies. It's also hard when you can't quite figure out what is wrong because they can't tell you. But, it does get easier ..eventually she will be able to tell you exactly what's wrong and it's much easier to treat!!
Posted by: Mohamedrasheed | July 27, 2012 at 08:18 AM
Vanessa, it sounds like Isaac could be strtaing to teethe. Often infants will chew and drool for months before a tooth comes through. I wouldn't panic, I'm sure he's got lots of work to do before a tooth comes through! Sam started doing similar things around 3 months, but his first tooth didn't come through until around 7 months.A lot of the info listed above is information I came across from other women who had been through it already and these were some of the things that they found helpful. The tip about the semi-frozen wet washcloth came from a public health nurse that we saw almost every week at the breastfeeding group we attended when I was on mat leave. I have found other moms to be the best strtaing point for getting information, and then I read up more about them in books, online or try different things and see what works.
Posted by: Vipan | July 27, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Hey,I think he is teething. He's up a lot more night, dipear rash I can't get rid of and lots of gnawing on his toes. I got the amber necklace and Bug & Pickle in the mail b/c I'm so tired of being up with him the whole night. Don't know yet if the necklace is making a difference, but we'll see! Thanks for your tips, they are so helpful!
Posted by: Bianca | July 27, 2012 at 05:55 PM
Hm..Isaac is slobbering alot and cniewhg my fingers, his blankets and his bib. I sure hope he's not teething quite yet Great pointers though, I'll be sure to try once he actually does start to teeth.P.S. where do you get most of these ideas? A website? Books?
Posted by: Ashley | July 27, 2012 at 06:57 PM
Hi Karen, it's Melissa I would NOT try Orajel, just my personal oonpiin. It doesn't work better than the tablets that I noticed and I don't like what is in it that causes the numbing effect. However, an alternative that you might try is a Tbs. of olive oil mixed with 4 or 5 drops of clove oil. This was my life saver and I didn't have an issue with using it frequently like I did with even the tablets. You just mix it up in a little glass oil bottle and rub it all over the gums when they need it. Maddie loved this so much, it was the only way she could nap during bad teething months. Hope your baby is feeling like himself soon!
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