Teething Help: I Tried Out 12 Natural Teething Remedies, and Here’s What Worked
The world of teething products is a bit of a zoo. Between the benzocaine, belladonna and lidocaine warnings, it can feel overwhelming to find something safe—and something that actually provides some much-needed relief to your teething babe.
I totally understand. I’m a new mum too.
So, I did some serious research and then I went ahead and tried 12 different natural teething products. Here’s what I loved (and some good-to-knows) about each of them:
Babyganics Teething Gel Pods
These pods were a fast-favorite for me. The sweetness of the coconut oil seems to help counter-balance the strong, spicy warmth of the clove oil in them. It makes for a teething salve that baby “R” approved of. When you peel the top off the pod, it has the typical coconut oil consistency, but after I use a cotton swab, it quickly melts down to a liquid that I’d rub across her gums.
What I Love About It | These portable pods are super convenient, I just toss the tiny little things in my diaper bag or my purse and feel covered for the day. They also worked incredibly fast on my baby (about the same pace as the BALM! Baby Teething Rub I review later in this post).
Good To Knows | These are bit pricey. Also, the little pods can be hard to find (and peel open) in the middle of the night, in the dark. But, once you get the coconut oil gel on your baby’s gums, it’s a late-night heaven-send.
Price | $7 for 10 doses
Ingredients | Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Clove Oil and Organic Stevia
Ethics | There has been a bit of a hub bub over Babyganics greenwashing their products (see here). The company does mention sustainability and sourcing methods here but it’s not very in depth. I’m hoping they add some more specific info about those topics (as well as their future fair-trade and cruelty-free goals) soon.
Directions | Wash hands thoroughly. Peel back film from the tray and use the cotton applicator or your fingertip to apply a small amount of gel to the gums. Apply up to four times daily or as directed by a dentist or doctor. For infants under 4 months of age, consult with a doctor or dentist prior to use.
Boiron Camilia - Homeopathic Medicine for Teething Relief
I’d read enough teething forums to know that French and Canadian parents swear by these drops. So, it was worth giving a try. Turns out the drops are wonderfully flavorless (they literally tasted like water to me). I see these as my proactive arsenal in my pre-pain-management teething quest. I don’t think they are ideal for immediate pain relief—more like a preemptive solution if you know teething pains will be pending soon. PS I’m a big believer in giving the drops before breastfeeding; they just seem to work better/faster.
What I Love About It | Finding something (anything!) flavorless for teething is rather rare, making these drops ideal for discerning baby taste buds. It’s also nice to know that the drops are in BPA-free packaging. To use the dropper itself, you just snap off the top, twist to open and then squirt the whole single-serving dose in your baby’s mouth. Boiron has a solid history of FDA compliance—in fact, the company has never received a warning letter or recall from the FDA for any product, ever. Also, each year, Boiron’s quality control team (made of 60 staff members) conducts about 30,000 tests during the manufacturing process to test the safety of their products. I thought that was pretty neat.
Good To Knows | When you snap off the dropper’s top, it does end up splitting into two small plastic pieces that could be a bit of chocking hazard. I just make sure to toss them straight in the trash right after I use them. You’ll also want to store these in the fridge. (Which can be a bit of a bummer if your nursery is far away from the kitchen like mine.)
Price | $10 for 30 doses
Ingredients | Chamomilla 9C HPUS, Phytolacca decandra 5C HPUS, Rheum officinale 5C HPUS, 0.001% alcohol and purified water. Oh, and here’s a neat guide to understanding the Camilla’s teething ingredients a bit better.
Ethics | Boiron actively tries to counteract the water pollution (mainly organic and biodegradable) and waste that comes from producing/packaging these teething drops by working with botanist-harvesters to help re-supplement indigenous environments with the plants they need to thrive. Boiron also donates to the Rodale Institute and the Holistic Moms Network (HMN).
Directions | Twist to open. Squeeze entire contents into mouth. Repeat, as needed, every 15 minutes for 2 more doses. If or when symptoms return, repeat these dosage instructions for up to a total of 9 doses per day. Store at 68-77° F (20-25 C).
BALM! Baby: Teething Rub
Out of all the teething gels/ointments, I tested, this one is my current go-to. It’s the brain child of an herbalist, dentist and certified essential oil coach. It tastes a bit spicy and sweet, and does leave a nearly-numbing-sensation that lasted for about an hour or so (at least in my mouth).
What I Love About It | This has all the potency of Babyganic’s pods but at a bulk price. To apply, I usually dip a cotton stick and swab it gently across her gums. It seems to relieve baby “R’s” teething pain equally as fast as Babyganic’s pods.
Good To Knows | This teething rub tastes fairly strong—almost spicy. So, it might be a hit-or-miss for your baby.
Price | $8 for 1 oz
Ethics | BALM! Baby products are never placed in plastic packaging. Plus, the company refuses to even purchase plastic shipping supplies. Instead, they gather their supplies (even their bubble wrap) from stores that have excess amounts. You can also click "Ship Plastic Free" during checkout for a 100% plastic-free shipment if you are currently living a plastic-free lifestyle. The company tries to source the majority of the ingredients in this tincture (and their other products) from an organic, non-GMO and sustainable farm in Hawaii. This product is also Leaping Bunny Certified.
Ingredients | Organic extra virgin olive oil, organic chamomile and organic catnip, organic clove buds, tocopherol (vitamin E), and organic clove bud pure essential oil.
Directions | Shake Well then Rub 1 drop up to 1/4 tsp. directly on gums (amount will depend on each baby-adjust as needed, Use up to several times a day as needed.
BALM! Baby: Bye-Bye Teething Hello SLEEP! Natural Teething Tincture
A herbal tincture is a bit like an herbal teas—but far more potent. This tincture tastes a bit like licorice and made my tongue feel a bit tingly. Some people opt for adding a full dropper directly into their baby's mouth but I’m not a big fan of that since it’s a glass dropper and baby “R” loves to bite. Anyway, this tincture comes in two different base options (one is made from apple cider vinegar and the other is from glycerin) I accidentally ordered the glycerin base (when it arrived, the label had a big “soy” warning on it) which made me a bit hesitant to give to baby. So, this didn’t make it to the baby-testing stage.
What I Like About It | If your baby is especially picky, I found that it tasted ultra-sweet, so the glycerin base might suit their fancy.
Good To Knows | The instructions are a bit vague (it trusts that you are tincture-savy) also, the glycerin in this tincture has traces of not only soy, but also corn and mustard. If you’re trying to avoid any of those ingredients, you’ll want to opt for the "Apple Cider Vinegar" tincture base instead.
Price | $14 for 2 oz
Ingredients | Organic vegetable glycerin, distilled water, catnip, chamomile, tocopherol.
Ethics | See BALM! Baby product review (directly above) for more details.
Directions| Can be added to bottle, cup or spoon, or squirt directly into mouth. If squirting directly into mouth, avoid any contact to prevent contamination. Give up to 2 full droppers to baby. Amount depends on age and child. Adjust as necessary. Use up to several times a day as needed. ***IMO you’ll want to keep that glass dropper far way from baby teeth as possible.
Wink Naturals Cool Gums Teething
If you miss the good-ole Orajel-days, then Wink Naturals might be your favorite alternative. It’s benzocaine-free so it doesn’t numb. Instead, when I tested it on my own gums, it has a cooling-vibe going for it (minty and tingly). I ended up leaving one tube in the fridge, to keep it extra-cold when baby “R’s” teething pains seemed extra strong. After 2-3 days of testing this out, I don’t think this helped with teething pains quite as quickly the some of the clove based oils/gels I tried—but it definitely still works pretty well. If you are hesitant about using anything with clove on your baby’s gums, then this is a solid solution for you.
What I Love About It | It tastes subtly minty and sweet.
Good To Knows | The tube isn’t quite as full as you’d expect. Also, I reached out to the company to confirm that the vegetable glycerin used in the formula isn’t soy-based. I’ll update you when/if I hear back from them.
Price | $12 for 15ml
Ingredients | Glycerin, Xylitol, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cellulose Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Menthol, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract
Ethics | Wink Naturals does have a program where they donate swaddles to babies in need. I’m hoping the company adds a lot more transparency on their website about their green practices, their manufacturing, sourcing and ethics.
Directions | Apply a pea-sized amount to the gums as needed and gently massage gel evenly across teething area.
Secrets of Tea: Baby Teething Magic Tea
Samah Bensalem, Secrets of Tea’s founder, created this tea based on a blend that had been used for generations by her family. Baby “R” is obsessed with this stuff and I can’t quite figure it out why. The way she happily gulps this down, you’d think it was some sort of drinkable dessert. This tea is certified USDA Organic (certified by Control Union), non-GMO, and comes in unbleached tea bags. It’s tough to describe how well/quickly this tea works, but it definitely seems to have calming influence. So, I keep using it—especially before nap time.
What I Love About It | It’s easy to incorporate this organic tea your daily routine. You can give the cooled tea in a bottle to your babe directly. Oh, and some breastfeeding mama’s also swear by drinking the tea themselves. This tea is free of preservatives, fillers and that oh-so-ambigious “natural flavors”
Good To Knows | This stuff leaves some serious stains. Blush, I ruined two lovely organic onesies before realizing how staining it could actually be. Nowadays, I only give her a bottle of this magic tea when she is down-to-her diaper. Baby “R” loves it though, so it’s worth a dress-down.
Price | $13 for 80 servings
Ingredients | Rose Hips, Catnip, Chamomile Flowers, Lemon Balm, Rooibos, Lavender Flowers and Cloves
Ethics | This company occasionally donates their line of maternal tea’s to underprivileged mothers. (I’m assuming on a local level?) Also, a portion of your tea purchase goes to helping children via the Secrets of Tea Foundation. The cans the tea is packaged in, are BPA-free and can easily be upcycled. Hurray! The tea bags themselves are made from 100% natural fibers and are biodegradable. I’m hoping for a lot more information about the tea’s sourcing and fair trade practices soon.
Directions | Add one bag to 8 ounces of boiling water, steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve chilled in a cup or a bottle or freeze in ice cube trays and let baby suck on the ice cube. This should ONLY be done if the ice cube is inside of something in order to prevent choking.
Mama Natural Amber Teething Necklace
There’s heaps of raw amber teething necklaces in the world, but this one is (uniquely) un-autoclaved. Which means, the amber hasn’t been steamed in an oven—so, the succinic acid in the necklace’s amber beads are higher(almost 8%). The science is still up for debate, but many mums swear by amber’s succinic acid for inflammatory teething relief. It didn’t seem to make too much of a noticeable difference with baby “R” yet, although, I wasn’t able to leave it on her for too long, since the necklace size was too large for her 9-month-old neck and she kept trying to chew on the beads. Yep. I took it off pretty darn fast.
What I Love About It | If you are going to opt for using amber, we love that you get the full succinic acid benefits with this fully-raw amber. The clasp is also fairly easy to take on-and-off (when I tested it) on my wiggly-baby. The quick-release clasp is also a nice touch, in case you need to take if off in an emergency. This necklace also comes with a handy cotton drawstring pouch which was a nice touch.
Good To Knows | The 12.5” necklace is the only sized that is offered, and it is a bit too loose for my 9 month old to wear on the daily (most companies suggest about 2 fingers space between necklace and neck for safer-wear). A handful of reviewers on amazon mentioned that the clasp can break. Not cool!
Price | $19
Ingredients | Raw, unpolished and unadulterated (un-autoclaved) amber and polyester silk.
Ethics | I really enjoy scouring Mama Natural’s blog—Genevieve Howland is truly a legend, goes in depth on all sorts of natural topics and trends. Unfortunately, there’s not a ton of transparency about this specific necklace’s ethics, sourcing and green impact.
Directions | Let your child’s body heat warm the amber to release amber’s succinic acid. Always removed the necklace before nap time, bedtime or during car rides.
Ecopiggy Baltic Amber + Hazel Wood Necklace
If amber alone isn’t strong enough for your babe’s teething inflammation, you can opt for an amber and hazel wood duo. Proponents of hazel wood necklaces share that it helps stabilize the body’s pH balance. I ordered the 11” necklace for baby “R” and it was a perfect fit for her 9-month old and 50th percentile self. If your baby is 11+ months old you’ll probably want to size up to the 12.5” option. Anyways, originally, I was a bit apprehensive about using any necklaces (amber or hazel wood around baby “R”) but I’ve noticed she tends to drool far less when she wears this specific one, and she just seems more comfortable. I’m a tried-and-true Ecopiggy enthusiast. (You can read my review about their ethics on my post about their pacifiers here.)
What I Love About It | I love that these necklaces have been lab-tested for safety and every bead is individually knotted to prevent a chocking hazard. The hazel wood gives the necklace a rustic feel, while the polished maple-toned amber is really rather pretty. It also has a quick-release clasp for emergencies. Ecopiggy’s teething necklaces come in two sizes (11” and 12.5”) and it can be worn as a anklet too if you wrap it around twice. Ecopiggy’s baltic amber is 100% natural and not modified in anyway.
Good To Knows | You’ll want to keep checking the necklace, and replace it when the wood turns a darker color. This clasp is a bit harder to screw on and off than the Mother Natural’s amber-only necklace. On the plus side, I did feel like this clasp felt far more sturdy than the clasp on the Mother Natural necklace.
Price | $23
Ingredients | Wood from Beaked Hazelnut Plant, unmodified Baltic Amber and 100% polyester thread.
Ethics | This necklace was made in Lithuania following fair trade practices (it’s also third party certified). Then, it was loving sent to Oregon where was rigorously reviewed and packaged by hand. Ecopiggy is a close-knit company (made of just four-employees) who emphasize conscious lifestyles on both on a commercial and personal level. This necklace comes in zero-waste, and plastic-free packaging too. Huzzah!
Directions | To open, screw apart clasp. Allow a 2-finger space between neck and necklace for safety and comfort. Remove necklace during baths and sleep. Please keep out of soapy water. Not for Chewing.
Oli & Carol: Kendall The Kale
This brand was started in 2014 by two sisters aged 20 and 15. The sisters, Oli and Carol, were inspired by toys of the 60’s and 70’s and wanted to mimic the minimalist designs, but with an eco-friendly twist. I specifically adore Oli and Carol’s fruit-and-veggie line. Unfortunately, after about a week, I noticed two little holes forming in the rubber (and it looks like a few other Amazon reviewers experienced the same thing). Honestly, I was so sad because a kale-teether is a heck-o-cute. I ended up returning the kale and ordering the company’s stunning H2Origami bath toys instead. That’s ben holding up well (but doesn’t work nearly as well as a teether).
What I Like About It | All Oli & Carol toys are gorgeously handpainted. This kale is oh-so-grippable and chewable for Baby “R”. It’s got plenty of texture for a babe to play with.
Good To Knows | My first kale did get a small tear in it two-weeks in. It was so sad.
Price | $19
Ethics | When you purchase a product from Oli & Carol, you help five kids (Kusum, Lalit, Babram, Amita and Ritu) attend and afford schooling in the Baba Jodh Sachiyar School in northern India. Also, all of Oli & Carol products are certified eco-friendly and non-toxic (by Bureau Veritas). The toys are also biodegradable and made from sustainably sourced natural rubber.
Ingredients | 100% natural rubber from Malaysian Hevea trees + natural food grade dyes . (I’m guessing some sort of chemical softener was used to help make the rubber fit the molds.)
Directions | Use as teether or bath toy.
Ecopiggy Calmies EcoTeether Toy
This is as pure, ecofriendly, and as ethical as a teether can get. This teether was developed by a clinical psychologist and mother duo. It’s made from 100% rubber and is uniquely free from chemical softeners or colorants (which are two things you’ll still find in most natural teether products). The rubber is sustainably grown on a plantation in Malaysia. On Ecopiggy’s plantation, the rubber trees share their sap for about 25ish years. When the tree retires, it’s harvested and then lovingly used for furniture, flooring or other toys. Then a replacement tree is planted. Each EcoTeether is wonderfully biodegradable. I love how squishy and flexible it is. Honestly, baby “R” adores chewing on it and chasing the ball when it bounces away from her.
What I Love About It | This teether is also one of the few I could find that will stay inside her crib during play time. (It won’t roll out between the slats.)
Good To Knows | Any teether, toy or pacifier made of natural rubber will have a subtly rubber smell. (For me, it smells almost vanilla-ish.) Also, natural rubber tends to be a bit sticky and can pick up lint/hair. It’s no biggie, I just make sure to wash it under some warm water.
Price | $13
Ingredients | 100% rubber free of dyes, colors, chemical softeners and heavy manufacturing processes
Ethics | This teether toy was sustainably made in Malaysia following fair trade practices. You can read a bit more in depth about EcoPiggy’s ethics, ecofriendly practices, at the bottom of my previous post here. This teether comes in zero-waste, and plastic-free packaging.
Directions | Hand wash with mild soap and hot water. Natural rubber should be inspected regularly and discarded if any signs of wear appear. Never leave a child unattended with this product. To avoid risk of strangulation, do not attach anything to the toy. Inspect before and after each use. Replace when worn or excessive wear. Sanitize the teether by immersing in boiling water for five minutes.
If you have plans to head over to the Ecopiggy website, my friend Antonia hooked me up with a coupon code to get y'all 20% off any purchase. It's “CALMANDCHIC20" Woot! Woot!Olababy Soft-Tip Training Spoon Teether
What I Love About It | These are perfect for minimalist mums because of their dual purpose: spoon and teether. The short handle has lots of ribs in it, making it especially easy to hold onto.
Good To Knows | Check the spoon for any wear and tear, especially the thinner part of the silicone tip.
Price | $15 (for two)
Ingredients | 100% Food Grade Silicone
Ethics | These spoons won the 2017 Green Scene Mom Award and the plastic packaging is recyclable. Olababy’s spoons are manufactured in China, so, I’ve reached out to Olababy to confirm that these spoons were made with fair compensation in safe working conditions. More information is pending.
Directions | Dishwasher (top rack) and sterilizer safe.
Dr. Brown's Fresh First Silicone Feeder
Mesh feeders are the the things of yesteryear. Think: no annoying food stuck in the netting or worries about rogue mold growing in tough-to-reach places. Instead, I love silicon feeders, and Dr. Brown’s has made one of my favorites. It holds about 2 oz of food and it’s hefty enough for your baby to wield on her own.
What I Love About It | These are big enough to help promote some independence for your teething babe. These silicon feeders come apart oh-so-easily, making it especially nice to clean. Plus, it comes in a two-pack so you can freeze one and use one at the same time.
Good To Knows | The single-size silicone bulb is rather large, there’s no way baby “R” could fit the whole thing in her mouth, but she does enjoy chewing on it. ****Update 8/13/19: One of my feeders did turn a bit yellowish after only a handful of uses. I blame a frozen white bean and tomato purree for the stain.
Price | $10 for two
Ingredients | BPA free plastic base (I couldn’t find a plastic-free alternative, but if you know of one, please let me know) and 100% silicone mold
Ethics | Dr. Brown’s has a partnership with Smile Train to help babies overcome feeding difficulties due to cleft lips and palates. Fingers crossed the company adds a bit more souring and transparency online. In the meantime, I’ve reached out to Dr. Brown’s to learn more about if they have any ecofriendly initiatives and if these feeders were made with fair compensation in safe working conditions since they are made overseas.
Directions | Dishwasher (top rack) and sterilizer safe.
Hope this helps you in your own parenting journey with your teething little one. Did I miss any other natural, ecofriendly or ethically-awesome, teething products? Let me know about it on Instagram and share your thoughts on what works for your own baby. Thanks tons for reading.
XOXO,
Lemon
