Natural Teething Relief

Teething. That horrible time of crying, clingy and cranky babies who are in pain, irritable and sleep deprived parents and a whole myriad of pharmaceuticals, natural remedies and advice being thrown around. It is not a fun time!

Whilst most pharmacies and doctors advocate the use of pharmaceuticals, the truth is they can cause harmful side effects and do contain chemical ingredients that do not belong in our bodies (there have been recent salicylate poisonings from use of a popular teething gel and analgesics such as Panadol and Nurofen can cause serious harm to the liver and kidneys)

So what can we do instead to help our poor little ones and also get some sleep? We've rounded up the top natural remedies to help teething. We have personally used all of these remedies with great success on our little ones and hope they help your family too.

1. Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathy is a very safe and logical system of medicine and one that my family absolutely swears by. There are a few different ways to use the remedies, you can either buy the single remedies or buy a mixture of remedies. 

- Single remedies - Buying single remedies means there are no added preservatives and the little sugar pills are so easy to administer, in fact kids love taking them. It can be a little tricky finding which remedy works best for your chid as we all react differently to them, but the most popular remedies for teething are Chamomilla and Pulsatilla. My daughter responds well to Chamomilla whereas my son is definitely a Pulsatilla child. Single remedies are very affordable and found in many health food shops, from your local homeopath or naturopath or online. Owen's Homeopathy is a popular brand available in health shops and online. 

- Mixed remedies - Mixed remedies mostly come in liquid form and because they contain quite a few different remedies, they are good for covering a broad range of different kids, instead of single remedies working better for each individual. Brauer and Weleda have a great range of teething liquids, powders and tablets available in pharmacies and health food stores.

2. Essential Oils

Some essential oils can offer amazing pain relief especially when mixed together. For babies and toddlers, it is highly important to use a carrier oil with the oils to make sure the skin is not irritated. I love to mix up a blend of Lavender and Copaiba oil in a roller with some coconut oil (fractionated) and roll it onto my daughters jawline when teething. I also rub it down the length of her spine so that it hits her central nervous system. Honestly, this mix has been my lifesaver! The important thing to remember with essential oils is to always use only 100% pure oils (so they don't have nasty fillers in them) and to always follow directions and use small amounts. They are very powerful so overuse can also be harmful. Pure Lavender oil is quite easily found at healthstores and Copaiba is a relatively new oil (google its benefits, its amazing!) so is available through doTERRA and Young Living oils online. Lavendar can also be used by itself but I found it wasn't as successful as mixed with the Copaiba.

3. Amber Teething Necklaces

Whilst I hear lot's of flak about these necklaces the truth is I hear far too many stories where they have helped than have hindered. And personally, I love them! I can see a real difference in my children when I take them off compared to when they are wearing them so thats all the 'scientific' evidence I need! These are readily available online, in health food shops and in some pharmacies but make sure to get 100% Amber necklaces, as its the amber that has the pain relieving properties. Also I understand many parents worry about choking hazards, but the necklaces are far more effective than anklets or bracelets as you want the amber to be closer to the pain source. As far as choking hazards, use your common sense. If you are worried about choking, don't let them wear it whilst asleep. Personally my children wear them 24/7 and I've never had an issue but accidents can happen so just do what you feel comfortable with.

4. Wet Washcloths

A super simple solution is to give them a cold, wet, clean washcloth to chew on. the coldness helps numbs the gums and the chewing provides relief.

All in all, I personally use all of these teething aids at the same time and our household copes very well when those dreaded teethies decide to pop up and say hello. Do you have any natural teething remedies that work for you? We would love to hear about them!




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Natural Baby Wipes Comparison

Baby wipes are essential for babies and toddlers, from cleaning bums, faces, hands, the kitchen, the car, they are a parents best friend!

With two children under four of my own, I have used countless amount of wipes and found it so confusing deciding on which brands and types were better. I personally hate the thought of contributing to landfill and also wiping harsh and toxic chemicals onto my baby so have always chosen natural wipes for this reason. Here is my comparison of the top natural wipes available;

Tooshies by Tom

These wipes are easily found in most supermarkets and chemists making them very accessible. They are a smaller wipe however, so I have found that I need to use more when cleaning up a big mess but I like the bubble textures on the wipes as they do help pick up more mess. It has a soft lid which does come off meaning you either have to stick it back on all the time or its gets lost and the wipes dry out. These wipes are regularly on special at most stockists which is great and they are one of the most affordable natural wipes to buy.

• Free from – alcohol, chemicals, phenols, phthalates, parabens
• 100% biodegradable & compostable
•  Cloth made from FSC certified sustainably harvested plants
• 70 pack with soft sticker lid
• RRP $5.99
• Stockists: Coles, Woolworths, Chemist Warehouse, Pharmacies & Health Food Shops. Subscriptions also available from thetomco.com

Gaia Bamboo Baby Wipes

As with the tooshies, these wipes are also quiet easily found at most chemists. The wipes are made from bamboo which means they are very strong and each wipe is quite large which is great for cleaning up big messes. I love that the top has a hard lid which means the wipes stay moist for longer as the lid doesn't come off and it's easier to access the wipes when one-handed or in a hurry. They smell lovely and fresh, don't irritate the skin and are always very moist which is great. I really love these wipes!

• Made from 100% soft bamboo cloth which is biodegradable and sustainably harvested
• Free from alcohol, petrochemicals, soaps, sulphates and paraben preservatives
• 80 pack with hard lid (also available in 240 packs, 480 packs or travel 20 pack)
• RRP $5.95 for 80 pack 
• Stockists: Chemist Warehouse, Baby Bunting,  Pharmacies & Health Food store

Water Wipes

These wipes are made from 99.9% water and a drop of grapefruit extract meaning not only are the super moist but will not irritate even the most delicate and sensitive of skins so they are excellent for anyone with skin irritations such as dermatitis or eczema. They are a large wipe to use and clean easily as they are very moist. The soft lid can be pulled off however, although they do tend to not dry out as quickly as other wipes when this happens. They are a little more expensive than other wipes but contain absolutely no chemicals and the least of all ingredients out of all the baby wipes available in Australia. However, the cloth is made from a mix of viscose and polyester so the wipes are only 20% biodegradable so they aren't as environmentally friendly as other brands

• Contain zero chemicals and only 3 ingredients
• Perfect for super sensitive and irritated skin
• 60 pack with soft lid 
• RRP $7.49
• Available in Woolworths, Coles, Chemist Warehouse, pharmacies, health stores and baby shops. 

Cloth Wipes

Personally, my favourite baby wipe is absolutely a cloth wipe. They are absolutely the most cost effective wipe, clean up big messes with only one or two wipes and are the most environmentally friendly option. There are so many options with cloth wipes, you can buy ready made bamboo ones, make them yourself, buy handmade ones or use facewashers. They are very affordable and you can either make up a solution of water and essential oils and dip the wipe into before use, store them in a container of water (change every second day to avoid mould) or simply wet with water before use. After use, simply rinse any soils or poop and throw in with the wash. They are not as convenient when out and about as disposable wipes however and do take up more time to prepare and clean. Some great brands include Swipes, Bambooty, Natures Child, Pea Pods and Prince Lionheart (they also make a great cloth wipe warmer which I swore by when my children were newborns). 

• Most cost effective option
• Reusable so they don't contribute to landfill 
• Easily available online or in baby shops 
• Average price is about $2.00 per cloth and you need about 15 wipes to last 2 days
• No chemicals needed so excellent for sensitive skin
  
   

Baby U Bamboo Wipes

These wipes are made 100% bamboo and are very strong and thick. They are quite moist and feature a hard lid which is great as it keeps the wipes from drying out and also makes it easier to access them and keep them tidy. They do contain essential oils however, so may irritate sensitive skin. They are also only alcohol free so may contain sulphates and parabens. They are a cost effective wipe and do a great job of cleaning up quickly. 

• Thick, sturdy wipes made from 100% bamboo
• 100% biodegradable
• 80 pack with hard lid (also available in 240 bulk packs)
• RRP $5.00

Wotnot Baby Wipes

These wipes are 100% biodegradable & compostable and are free from sulphates, petrochemicals, alcohol, parabens, artificial fragrances and preservatives and chlorine. They are an excellent choice for sensitive and easily irritated skin. They feature a soft lid which is surprisingly sturdy compared to other wipes with this feature and the wipes are very large and moist and you only need a few for even the biggest poop explosion! They are probably one of the most expensive wipe on the market but Wotnot also do fabulous compostable nappy bags which are fantastic. 

• Thick sturdy wipes 
• 100% biodegradable and compostable
• Free from all nasties
• 70 pack with soft lid
• RRP $6.99
• Available from selected IGA stores, pharmacies and health food stores

Thankyou Baby Wipes

Although the purchase of these baby wipes helps fund safe births and healthcare for those living in poverty, they are unfortunately not biodegradable and also contain some chemical ingredients including glycerin, lauryl glucoside, polyglyceryl-2-dipolydroxystearate, glyceryl oleate, dicapryylyl carbonate, phenoxyethanol and potassium sorbate. 

They are however fragrance free, manufactured with 100% renewable energy and not tested on animals. They are a thick, moist wipe with a soft lid that is sturdy and not easily pulled off. 

• Not tested on animals
• Are not biodegradable so will sit in landfill
• Profits help disadvantaged women and children living in poverty 
• 80 pk with soft lid
• RRP $6.49
• Available in supermarkets and pharmacies

Which is your favourite natural baby wipe? Do you know any natural baby wipes we need to add? Drop a comment and let us know! 

Brand Review - If You Care

Disclaimer: These products were purchased with our own money and we were not approached by If You Care to do this review. We only review products that are kind to the planet and have not received any compensation for this honest review

If you are looking to green your kitchen, reduce waste or are after healthier, chemical free solutions when cooking, then the brand If You Care is for you.

If You Care's range of household and kitchen products are made from renewable or recyclable materials and they carefully analyse the entire life cycle of the product from manufacturing to use to disposal. The entire range is either fully compostable, biodegradable or recyclable (including the packaging) so you can be sure that your use of these products is not impacting the environment and not contributing to waste. How cool is that?

If You Care have a huge range of products including recycled aluminium foil, compostable garbage bags, recycled rubber washing up gloves, parchment baking paper, coffee filters, baking cups, sandwich bags, basically everything you need in your kitchen!

We reviewed the following products;

Compostable Kitchen Bags

I hate the thought of adding even more plastic to landfill and had been looking for an eco alternative to garbage bags. These bags are very soft but surprisingly strong and fit into our medium sized garbage bin perfectly. They are easy to tie up and so far we haven't had any rips or tears when taking the trash out. The fact they are completely biodegradable makes them an excellent alternative to garbage bags.

Sponge Cloths

I use these sponge cloths to wash our dishes, clean surfaces and pick up any spills. They are a great size, really absorbable and super easy to use. I love that when they become soiled, you can simply throw them in the wash and then reuse. They can be washed hundreds of times and used over and over and both packaging and the cloths are fully compostable. I use these every single day and absolutely love them.

Parchment Baking Paper

Normal baking paper can contain harmful chemicals (such as dioxin and heavy metals) that can transfer to your food and enter your body. A great way to avoid this is to use parchment paper, which is not only non-stick but is also completely compostable meaning you can add it to your compost or it will degrade quickly when in landfill, leaving no waste. I find the parchment paper is used the exact same way as normal baking paper, although you do require scissors to cut as there is no metal cutting edge. They are available in pre-cut pieces however.

Household Gloves

These gloves are made from certified FSC latex (natural rubber) which is not only sourced from sustainable plantations but the workers are also paid fair trade premium wages, helping their local economy. The gloves are great for all cleaning (I use them for washing dishes and cleaning bathrooms) and I found them no different to use then the normal rubber gloves you can buy from the supermarket. They can be composted by cutting into small pieces too! Available in three sizes, small, medium and large.

I absolutely adore the If You Care range and use something from their range everyday. Being passionate about the environment, it's great that I can cook and feed my family but not compromise the environment and add to landfill. You can buy the online at Shop Naturally, Biome and from many other online health stores.