Dadvice Weekly #28 / Teething SZN

Dadvice Weekly - #28

“The days are long, but the years are short.”
When your baby is teething, you are definitely in the “days are long” category.

I remember becoming a dad and feeling incredibly blessed for paternity leave. The baby was awake at crazy hours, but it was okay because I didn’t have work tomorrow. My whole purpose was to be there for my baby and my wife. Middle of the night wake-ups? No problem. I’d just revert to my college schedule, sleep in, have Brooke take the morning shift, and catch up later.

It was such a gift to adopt that mindset and be there for support of my wife and baby. Everyone said those were the hardest days, but honestly, they became some of the sweetest memories. You and your spouse bond with your newborn, study her quirks, and extrapolate what her personality will be based on the tiniest sample size.

But here’s what I wish someone had told me:
There will come a day when you’re back at work. You’ve had a stressful day of meetings and deadlines. You put your baby down, and she cries instantly. You run through the usual diagnostic checklist (diaper, food, nap) and everything checks out. Something is still wrong.

That’s when a new diagnostic enters the picture: teething.

For us, teething has been one of the hardest seasons of parenting a 14 month old. From talking to friends, some babies breeze through it, while others have a hell of a time. And here’s the toughest part: you’re fully back at work, trying to balance your sanity, your wife’s sanity, and a baby who just wants relief. It’s a challenge that comes without warning.

Quick Google fact: babies get 20 teeth between 6 months and 3 years. As I’m typing this I’m realizing this is a long season and not a quick one.

If you haven’t hit teething yet, let me be the first to tell you that it’s been really hard. If you’re in the thick of it, what are your hacks for surviving those long days?

We’ve tried a lot of tips but the two that have helped the most are Motrin (not Tylenol) and resetting the goals of your day to be to make it to bedtime.

What are the tips you have for a baby who is teething? I would love to know and try them. -SW

Teether Pacifier Clips

We picked up a few of these teether pacifier clips when Bennett started launching his pacifier across the car. The beaded design works as a teether, so he chews on it between pacifier sessions. It attaches to the shirt or car seat, so when baby throws the pacifier (and they will), it just dangles there instead of landing under the couch or rolling under the driver’s seat. No more digging around for a dusty binky. –KC

McDonalds French Fries

When MK is teething we’ve noticed that she eats significantly less, and I am not a doctor but it feels obvious that hungry baby plus teething is entering a major doom cycle. Cranky turns into not eating, which turns into hungrier, which turns into an even longer day. When we hit that spiral, we try everything and hope she goes for something. Weirdly and consistently, McDonald’s french fries have been the winner.

Warm or cold from the fridge later, she will eat them. They are soft but firm enough to chew on, easy to gum, and familiar. Obviously this is not a long term nutrition plan, but when you are in the trenches and just need something in their belly to reset the day, this can be a good move to get you through. -SW

Teether Tubes

Our foster baby also has teeth coming in, and these teething tubes have come in handy. They’re about six inches long, so they’re easy for him to grip and gnaw on. What makes them work is the variety of textures—bumps, ridges, grooves—so he’s not easily bored with it. They’re also hollow, which makes them lighter and easier to clean than solid teethers. They also work well cold, and because they aren’t filled with liquid, they don’t completely freeze. Worth keeping extras on hand. –KC

Camilia Teething Drops

Another tip we received are these teething drops. You get a pack of 30 for about $12. I have to be honest that we are too early to have real data on whether they truly help or not. That said, I like having another option outside of Motrin for my own sanity so it feels like we are trying everything when the day or night gets long. It is a small plastic tube with ready to go liquid that you squeeze into your baby’s mouth, and so far we have not seen any negative effects, though we have only used four.

It has seemed positive, but time will tell if they’re a true game changer and we end up buying a second pack when the next teeth roll in. We are currently in Hawaii as this email drops and MK managed a solid B minus plane ride in terms of being a cool patron. Having these drops in the bag gave me the hope I needed to get through the trip, and sometimes that hope is worth the $12 alone. If nothing else, these drops might give you a little hope too especially when you’re desperate for some baby teething relief. -SW

Just for Dad: Just Give the Kid Motrin

There are plenty of home remedies for teething, but also know that it’s perfectly fine to give your teething child Children’s Tylenol or Motrin for teething pain with doctor’s approval. As they say, every kid is different and responds to intervention differently. In the midst of finding what works best for your kid, don’t hesitate to give your kid medicine in the right quantity and interval. -KC

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Dadvice Weekly is Kyle and Skyler—two friends in their thirties, living in Colorado, settling into fatherhood and trying to stay sane. Every Tuesday we share what’s working in our homes: gear we use, routines we’ve tested, ideas we’re trying. It could be a recipe, a product that solved a problem, or just what we’re thinking about as dads.

If you have a tip, tried something we mentioned, or just want to say hi, reply to this email or message us on Substack. We read everything, and we’re always looking for what works. Glad you’re here.