Monday, May 16, 2011

How Teething Robbed Us of Our Happiness.


I have a happy baby. I'm not sure if you know that.


He smiled when he was just a wee wisp of a person, and laughed before he was a month old.

I even made a video about him smiling when he was a month old.

People comment all the time about what a good-natured, happy little guy he is.

Kid. Is. Happy. (I'm not bragging, as we obviously just got lucky. We won the baby lottery.)

So, we were understandably so frustrated we wanted to rip our hair out when Gabe started
teething a month ago. He suddenly wouldn't sleep, wouldn't smile, was grumbling, and wanted to
gnaw our faces off. We were all, "Huh? Who? What? WHERE IS OUR HAPPY BABY!?"

His normal bedtime routine results in him sleeping from about 7 until 11pm, then waking up and
eating before we go to bed.

While he was teething? He'd wake up FOUR TIMES before 11pm. FOUR. TIMES. (And then he
pretended to be like a newborn and wake up all night long.

So, I understandably felt the need to purchase every item related to teething pain relief there is. I
mean, can you buy your baby's happiness back? I wanted to. Oh, yes I did. Teething was sucking
the happiness out of my sweet baby, and as a result, ruining my life.

(Dramatic? What?)

When BlogHer sent an email about trying Baby Orajel® Naturals , I believe I might have scared
them away with how eager I was, "YES PLEASE ZOMG, I NEED TO TRY EVERYTHING IN
A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GET MY BABY AND SANITY BACK."

Is this how you use it?
 Plus, natural? That's sort of up my alley. I like that it is free of benzocaine, alcohol, and dye.
And I like that it had the potential to save my life. Or, make Gabe feel better. Same thing.

I tried it first, just because I like to know how things taste/work before giving them to my baby.
Just a tiny little dab. It wasn't super sweet and it definitely had the same numbing power as
benzocaine. Win. I squeezed a little on a baby toothbrush (my secret weapon for successfully
applying Baby Orajel® Naturals), and stuck it on his gums. I don't know if you've ever given a baby
Orajel® , but the faces they make are hilarious.

Happily, though, the Baby Orajel® Naturals provided poor little Gabe some relief and allowed me
to get some sleep (a few hours, anyway. He is still a baby, after all).

We've finally pulled through teething and our happy little baby is back:

Now, with teeth! Crooked teeth, oddly enough.

To enter a drawing for a $100 BABIES “R” US giftcard (that's a whole lot of baby teething
products you could buy!), answer me this:

When it comes to teething, how do you naturally soothe your baby?? (I'm already gearing
up for his second set of teeth. And am already nervous about it. Eeep.)

OR, if you don't have a wee one, do you think baby smiles are cuter with a few teeth or just
toothess little gums?

Rules:
The giveaway is open May 16th until June 16th.
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post (with your email!)
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of
entry.
You can also enter on other blogs here.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.

Now, I just need something to help with the crying and sleep loss that have resulted from Gabe's
learning to crawl. Please?

139 comments:

  1. as someone who is without a wee one but knows plenty, I am obsessed with gummy grins (and chubby cheeks!) my friend recently had a baby girl in december and she would make great use of this gift card.

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  2. I love babies with one or two teeth. We used to do the iced teething rings but now we love orajel and the teething tablets.

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  3. We've tried nearly everything- tylenol is our go-to teething option.

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  4. For the general day time discomfort of teething, I went with cold teething rings or a frozen damp washcloth. Overnight, I was so not above the non-natural methods of Tylenol/Motrin for the night or two the tooth was actually popping through, haha.

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  5. Oh geesh. I am five months along and I am already worried about teething. Well basically because of sleeping. I imagine I am going to try every single thing I can find to help with teething!

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  6. I love the Camilia teething relief and Hyland's teething tablets. They are AMAZING!

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  7. yea, two kids later and hylands doesn't do it. advil slash tylenol and NOW, thanks to your suggestin, the natural teething gel. actually, to be fair, thats really only for night time.

    day time is frozen teether and wet washcloths.

    the natural oragel seems to be helping tho, so thank goodness!

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  8. Neither of my boys really gave me TOO much trouble when they were teething but when they did fuss I found that frozen washclothes and teething rings seemed to soothe them for a bit. One teething toy that my youngest LOVED was this First Years Massaging Teether that vibrated? http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-Massaging-Action-Teether/dp/B000V8AL3C/ref=pd_sim_t_1 He loooooooved it.
    (And actually, big brother liked to play with it too, even tho he was far past teething age, haha!)

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  9. My girl loves to gnaw on frozen mini bagels. Apparently my mom did that for me and my siblings, so that's where I got that pearl of wisdom! Also, cuddles. :) (We throw in a little baby motrin every once in a while during bedtime, but that doesn't fall into the "natural" category so well...)

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11.  We use Nuby Nibblers with chunks of frozen fruit, chilled teethers with liquid inside, and camilia from time to time. I think our son Jacob is about the same age as Gabe, and he's just cut his second tooth. What a process! Good luck and thanks for the giveaway! 

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  12. I don't have a baby, but my friend's little girl had a super-rough time with teething too. I like reading these posts, though, because it makes me feel more prepared for when I have babies of my own! But to answer your question, I think baby smiles with a few teeth -- maybe the bottom two -- are adorable.

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  13. My little one just got her first tooth, so I don't have much experience with teething remedies. It makes me a little sad though, because I love the gummy smiles! Also not too fond of getting bitten while nursing.

    99blackolives {at} gmail.com

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  14. Baby smiles are just cute, period! I think their little tiny baby toothless smiles are super cute, but then - crooked little teeth? Irresistible :)

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  15. We just use those liquid-filled silicone teething things; we keep them in the fridge all the time (they double as boo-boo icees!) and sometimes, frozen washcloths.

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  16. Teething tablets and cold wash cloths work for us.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

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  17. http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/70722178605264896

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  18. I give my kids frozen fruit in a mash. It works, just a little messy.

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

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  19. I use teething rings and cold wash cloths.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  20. tweet:


    http://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/70805286931283968

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  21. My son hasn't starting teething yet, but I am bookmarking this post for ideas when he does! I think I'm going to miss his gummy smile when those teeth do start making an appearance!

    kaitlin.polak at gmail dot com

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  22. Claire started teething at 5 months, and a lot of the teether toys were too big and bulky for her, so we froze her pacifier and that seemed to help. We also used the fruit teether nets and put cold fruit chunks inside. She loved it! (But I must admit that at 3AM, Tylenol is my backup!)

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  23. Toothless smiles are so adorable.
    MCantu1019 at aol dot com

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  24. I have yet to find anything that really works! I have many sleepless nights, as he is getting his second round of teeth. I swaddle him, rock him, and sing to him. If anything it helps me stay sane while being able to love on him!
    brittastyers at gmail dot com

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  25. frozen teething rings

    karinaroselee at gmail dot com

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  26. I LOVE BABY SMILES REGARDLESS- WITH TEETH OR NOT :-)

    kytah00@yahoo.com

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  27. 2nd ENTRY TWEET @ http://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/71650549946261504 kytah00@yahoo.com

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  28. My daughter prefers being spoonfed and gnawing on a spoon when she's teething (now) to her bottle. We still do both, but we do a lot more spoon feeding when she's teething than otherwise.

    smrtmouse at yahoo dot com

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  29. Mandatory Entry: clove oil diluted worked wonders!!
    anashct [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  30. I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/anashct/status/71752456790474752
    Thanks for the chance!!
    anashct [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  31. We use frozen wash cloths and a teething ring which seemed to help.

    s2s2 at comcast dot net

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  32. http://twitter.com/#!/susan1215/status/71772671876153344

    s2s2 at comcast dot net

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  33. My baby is just a month old so we haven't hit the teething stage so unfortunately I don't have any advice (though, I'm totally bookmarking this post for the day I need it!).

    But I do have to say I love my little one's toothless grin!

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  34. Ack - didn't post my email: brandiliciousblog at gmail dot com

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  35. Nursing...that's the only way that I could soothe the girls when they were teething (when the Orajel wore off, that is). I would nurse them back to sleep and pray that the milk coma would keep them from realizing that their gums hurt! :)

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  36. cuter with a few teeth! scg00387 at yahoo dot com

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  37. http://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/72424399126528001 scg00387 at yahoo dot com

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  38. Nursing and a lot of cuddles worked for us...and Tylenol occasionally, too.

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  39. We haven't yet gone through the teething monster, though I feel like we've been gearing up for teething for the past few weeks (much more fussy!). Personally, I adore the toothless grin the best. Babies are so pure, especially before they get teeth!

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  40. I use popsicles - all natural fruit, or just a water popsicle. Works really well.

    mjf926 at gmail dot com

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  41. cold wash cloths, or toys you can freeze are really helpful

    Artisticbaker@gmail.com

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  42. I like home made popsicles.

    shoppingchic2 at gmail dot com

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  43. Currently, I use the mesh teething bags with frozen fruits and vegetables in it, but I might give orajel a try.

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  44. We use Tylenol, Teething Tablets, and/or teething rings. Maybe you'll breeze through the next teething stage, I didn't even realize my son was teething with TWO molars coming in!

    nicole(dot)anne(dot)mason (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  45. I tweeted about this giveaway as well!

    https://twitter.com/#!/nicole_mason/status/72728600092217344

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  46. I am noting anything and everything from this post and the comments within. Heehee.

    And I adore a baby with a couple little teeth - it always makes me giggle. Love it!

    wishcakeblog@gmail.com

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  47. We were big fans of wooden teething rings when the kids were little. But nothing helped that much. Not my favorite part of the kids' growing up, that's for sure :)

    growingababyreviews at hotmail dot com

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  48. I would use a cold teething ring.
    toddjesslabrum@gmail.com

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  49. I think babies are just precious - yours as one in particular! Regardless of how few or many teeth that little baby has! I pray that we are blessed with a baby and soon... but I know plenty of new Mommies I love that I would love to spoil with the loot from a $100 giftcard!

    Hugs and love and sweet little smiles!
    asamrb@gmail.com
    Ashley Sue

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  50. My baby loved frozen bananas on his teeth! Thanks for the giveaway!

    gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com

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  51. tweet-http://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/74245091824369664
    gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com

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  52. When my baby is teething, I let her chew on a teething ring or cold washcloth. I even let her chew on Daddy's finger. :)

    Mandinav at aol dot com

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  53. https://twitter.com/#!/stblessings/status/74286636447432704

    Tweet

    mandinav at aol dot com

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  54. I use a Mesh Pop, cut up a banana into 2 inch pieces, stuff the mesh pop and put in ziploc bag and freeze. Tastes good and helps soothe their gums.

    karenmed409 at comcast dot net

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  55. rt-http://twitter.com/karenmed409/status/74328633052893184
    karenmed409 at comcast dot net

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  56. When my daughter was teething we used teething tablets, and frozen french toast!

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  57. I tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/Jammie79/status/74344256814317568

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  58. My children are grown but when they were babbies I would use a cold teething ring on their teeth or let them have a hard bisket. helenkeeler@comcast.net

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  59. Usually a cool wash cloth or a cold teething pretzel works well for our little guy.
    Thanks so much
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

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  60. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  61. I used frozen teething rings and baby Orajel when my daughter was young, now she is having her own baby and I will pass this on to her.

    reveilletx at hotmail dot com

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  62. I used a frozen washcloth for my babies.

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  63. I used cold, soft things and washcloths
    tvollowitz at aol dot com

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  64. Great review! I am soooo glad the teething days are over for my 4. I used to give them popsicles & anything cold/frozen to chew on & they seemed to like that. vickismail77 at yahoo.com

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  65. A chilled teething ring does a good job.

    rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

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  66. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/rhoneygee/status/75468964423143425

    rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

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  67. I used orajel with great success! Or, a cold washcloth is the more natural way that seems to have good resutls.

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  68. My son liked to chew on a cloth booboo bunny filled with ice chips.
    lenz.nicole(at)gmail(dot)com

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  69. I don't like to medicate my kids unless they absolutely need it (must be the nurse in me, heh) so I stuck with chewy teethers and frozen teethers, and they both made it through just fine. :) Thanks for the giveaway! And yay for happy babies!

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  70. My son isn't teething just yet but we're ready when it happens!

    My sister gave me a mesh pouch she used with her children - you put frozen fruit inside of it and the child can chew on that while they teeth.

    Tarah
    tarah716[at]ymail.com

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  71. When Ian was teething he loved to chew on things for relief but he hated to chew the cold things you are "supposed" to give a teething baby. So everything I owned was covered in drool. We did get an awesome picture of him on the floor next to the dog, both of them chewing on a toy. For the record they were different toys, not the same toy because that would be gross.
    thedayslikethis@gmail.com

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  72. I prefer a few teeth and for soothing use a cooling ring you freeze and let them chew on it

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  73. We use a frozen bagel.

    Scott Martin
    spmartin122@gmail.com

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  74. My daughter likes her frozen teething rings.

    chambanachik@gmail.com

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  75. I tweeted...

    Our Little Reviews: How Teething Robbed Us of Our Happiness. http://t.co/rar8Xbg

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  76. I don't have babies, but I do have nieces and nephews that are in their teething stage. They would love more teething toys.

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  77. i don't have a little one but think that those toothless gums are too cute!

    debbiebellows(at)gmail(dot)com

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  78. tweeted here:

    http://twitter.com/bellows22/status/76130506105831424

    debbiebellows(at)gmail(dot)com

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  79. a cold baby washcloth works well for our boys

    teechbiz at gmail dot com

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  80. Tie a knot in the middle of a wet washcloth and freeze it for about an hour. It works better than a teething ring!

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  81. Freeze a banana. The babies love to suck on them
    super_alba_star@yahoo.com

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  82. tweeted
    http://twitter.com/#!/independentmami/status/76357447996030976
    super_alba_star@yahoo.com

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  83. For our second child, we used the amber teething necklace.

    ajanery@hotmail.com

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  84. i don't have any babies (yet!) but i think they look awfully cute when toothless :)
    lyndsey dot hauck at gmail dot com

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  85. a cold wet washcloth works great.

    Cathy Philipps
    philipps.c@hotmail.com

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  86. I've used teething rings or frozen washcloths.
    lazybones344 at gmail dot com

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  87. a frozen washcloth does wonders.

    1agordon at live.com

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  88. I have always used a frozen washcloth with my baby. I usually end up just trying to cuddle them alot more also. Mommy's love always helps a little haha!

    Aly at infertilityoverachievers dot com

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  89. We use teething tablets and it worked
    merleandtina@yahoo.com

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  90. https://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/77392186928402432
    merleandtina@yahoo.com

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  91. I freeze rubber teething toys and give them to a teething baby to chew on.
    smchester at gmail dot com

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  92. I keep cold teethers (rubber, gel filled) in the fridge for when their pain acts up.
    KellywcuATyahooDOTcom

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  93. tweeted
    http://twitter.com/Kellywcu/status/77819649424756736

    kellywcuATyahooDOTcom

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  94. Baby smiles are cute no matter how many teeth there are. :)

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  95. Baby smiles are adorable with or without teeth!

    kmearley -at- gmail -dot- com

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  96. I have used cold teethers and Hyland’s Teething Tablets
    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

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  97. tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/ChelleB36/status/77965051226636288
    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

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  98. frozen washcloths worked awesome for us

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  99. Baby smiles are cuter with their first two front teeth on! Teething though could be pretty heart-wrenching and all, and good thing you were able to get something to soothe your little one's pain. A dental visit then would be in order. Do they really make funny faces after putting the gel?

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  100. Cold washcloths here! Works for us :)

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  101. Teething is such a process for both the baby and mom and Orajel saved us back in the day along with lots of TLC.

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

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  102. Tweeted here too

    http://twitter.com/#!/gmissycat/status/79506531443408897

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

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  103. We've always used frozen teething rings or even frozen bananas. I'm excited to try the new Orajel because the old one was also useful. This one sounds even better! Thanks~!
    tmp95 at comcast dot net

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  104. Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/dahbou/status/79590248203567104
    tmp95 at comcast dot net

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  105. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  106. ahhaha I think they are cute either way but the toothless grins always get to me :)

    deeg131 at gmail dot com

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  107. https://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/79660500107001857

    tweeted

    deeg131 at gmail dot com

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  108. I used refrigerator chilled teething rings, and they seemed to help a lot.

    cgclynsg0 at gmail dot com

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  109. I had teething ring that you put in the freezer. The cold seemed to soothe

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  110. I used to love my kids toothless grins the best!
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

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  111. tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/KerryBishop/status/80281549689470976
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

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  112. They look so sweet with a couple of little teeth sticking through but oh do I know the pain of having babies teething.
    chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  113. tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/chipdip2010/status/80459357686480897
    chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  114. Frozen, homemade yogurt popsicles help!
    --Brandy
    fosterbrandy(at)msn(dot)com

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  115. I soothed my teething babies with washcloths that I dampened and then put in the freezer for a while. The loved chewing on them.
    ape2016(at)aol(dot)com

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  116. frozen washclothes
    Awesome contest! Thanks a ton! Janna Johnson jannajanna@hotmail.com

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  117. I would soothe them with frozen bagels, (hey it is a snack and it numbs the pain).

    As for babies, I love them with toothless grins and with a few teeth showing, both are adorable!

    purehrt555(At)Yahoo(doT)com

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  118. I freeze teething rings. honeypie411 at yahoo dot com

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  119. My baby just started teething, and so far the frozen teething rings work well.

    melduke26 at gmail dot com

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  120. I like to give them a wet wash cloth that has been placed in the fridge. I tie a knot in one corner to give them something to gnaw on.

    hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com

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  121. I use the frozen teething rings to help her.

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  122. We use frozen washcloths. As for smiles, I think one or two teeth is absolutely adorable.

    the imagine tree at aol dot com

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  123. They're both cute - but I'm leaning towards pictures with a few teeth!
    wilburnnewsome atyahoodotcom

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  124. http://twitter.com/#!/Giantsis/status/81171181692137472
    wilburnnewsome atyahoodotcom

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  125. Chewing on a cold washcloth has worked for us.

    annettekz2@yahoo.com

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  126. I used cold teething rings.

    hlee99 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  127. Frozen washcloths work wonders!

    Holly Miller
    Airfrcgrl87@aol.com

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  128. I use a frozen wash cloth.

    eugeniewu at gmail dot com

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  129. I used to give my daughter a frozen wash cloth to chew on

    itsjustme62613 at gmail.com

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  130. tweet

    http://twitter.com/MistySunrise/status/81303193488855040

    itsjustme62613 at gmail.com

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  131. We use teething rings and lots of distractions!

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  132. DH and I are expecting our first child in October; however, we have been blessed with a baby niece while we wait. :) She is currently cutting teeth and we have found that chilling those water filled teethers and letting her chew on those seems to work for a little bit. And I am loving the toothless gummy smiles our baby niece has given us!! :)

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  133. My son is 4 months old and I think about ready t teeth- so I'm looking for advice to soothe his teething pain which I know will be coming.

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  134. My nephew, Riley, is teething. He just got his 4th tooth. I think his smile is cuter with the teeth. But, I think he gets cuter everyday. I love that little boy!

    ReplyDelete
  135. Tweet:
    http://twitter.com/heatherzilla8/status/81342706944712704

    ReplyDelete