For all the mothers out there with teething questions this one is for you!
Firstly, the question has been popping up asking at what age does a child begun to 'cut their teeth'. There is no specific place on the growth chart for when a child commences teething as children are born with teeth already formed in their gums. I witnessed this just this week with the birth of my Godson, Sebastian Anthony, in Sydney...you could see them in his mouth as his 4.65kg self yawned while I held him...amazing...
So, how do you know that your child is preparing to teethe is the next question. Teething symptoms vary from child to child. I've heard stories around 'the Mother's Group campfire' about high fevers, flushed cheeks, excessive dribbling, knawing on every object they come in contact with, and general irritability. Constant fingers or items in the mouth is a dead giveaway and you don't have to fret and immediately reach for the medicine cabinet.
Teething is a natural evolutionary function, normal, and not an 'ill state of being'. If a child isn't sick, I began to ask myself if I should be medicating it? That thought encouraged research and when I looked closer into a holisitc approach to teething I found a holistic natural way to ease teething symptoms that is literally millions of years old, long before we had Bonjela and tot's Panadol.
Before I go on, let me give this disclaimer. I am not a tree-hugging flower child that sprinkles fairy dust on my son at bedtime, chants at full moon, or is a member of any colorful sect. I would probably fall into the category of "cynic" if I were to compartmentalize myself, having been married to a doctor (specialist surgeon). For the record I believe in modern medicine, science and Paracetamol.
That said, I recently discovered a centuries old teething remedy and it has really been amazing. It's Amber, a natural element made of petrified pine tree sap and found in the Baltic Sea. It is a gift from old Mother Nature and washes up on the shore. It is yellow, light and dark brown, and seeing the various amber stones together reminds me of a blonde with a great set of highlights!
Now you are wondering what you do with Amber and how it helps...I know, it sounds crazy...
Firstly, Amber is a resin, not a mineral. It is warm, not cold, to the touch. It is lightweight and absorbs heat and can relieve inflammation when next to another energy source i.e the human body. IT ISN'T INGESTED. Amber, to be most effective should be worn by teething tots. The best delivery system is on a necklace with each bead uniquely and individually knotted into place as to prevent swallowing accidents and incase of accidental breakage. The stones should be smooth, not jagged, as to not incite injury to the wearer during play. Necklaces should never be worn during sleep and should not be allowed in the mouth. The amber is hard to touch but can be chewed through.
Amber is studied by scientists around the globe as it has left clues about our past civilizations by capturing life and crystalizing it. I am not a science buff, but I found the story fascinating.
Child development guru and noted philosopher Rudolf Steiner (who formed his first school in 1919 and is responsible for giving us tenants for child rearing and education) is quoted as believing that "amber helps strengthen the life force in a child." Amber is known to mineralogists as succinite, from the Latin succinum. It conducts energy. To test this one for yourself, rub a piece of amber with a cloth and place it nexts to tiny bits of paper...it will conduct electricity and the paper will stick to the stone. The Greek name for Amber is elektron, the origin of our English word electricity.
In my mother's group a French Algerian mother turned us on to amber. It is something that has been passed down in Europe for many generations. Her daughter went through her teething with an amber necklace and very minimal incidents of painful discomfort although she did drool and chew. This was a very different experience to my first-born's very painful and grizzly days...I wished I knew about it sooner. You can find one of the most adorable amber necklaces for teething children on the internet...http://www.comme-les-grands.com.au
The amber necklace I purchased is quality assured for craftmanship and hand-assembled and reasonably priced. The packaging is beautiful (makes a great new mummy gift or shower present) and the website was easy to navigate. I've ordered one for my Godson already, knowing that he is going to be an early teether and I recommend using amber if you are looking for a holistic natural remedy that works well on its own or in tandem with cold relief therapy (like frozen apple puree soothers) and refrigerated teethers. If your child is showing signs of ill-health like high fevers, vomitting, spots, fitting etc. seek professional medical attention as it might be something more serious.
Here's to you and your child's health!
(March 2008) (
