Calgel for teething 9 wk old?

[MoominMum]

Drooling, licking and chewing blankets and everything in sight, furiously grabbing our fingers, stuffing them in gob and chewing for all he's worth (can feel roughness towards back on both sides), general grumbling, sometimes yelps and poor tired tears, sweats but not high temp, latch also seems occasionally affected, v smelly nappies - I'm pretty sure this is teething, right?

Have ordered small teething rings for him and have tried the frozen flannel thing but his hand control isn't quite steady enough yet so can't keep it in mouth.

Am giving the smallest dose of Calpol twice a day atm as HV said it was fine for his imms at 8 wks but feel something localised would help him a lot.

Do we have to wait until 12 weeks to try Calgel? Are there any alternatives which are safe for his age? Have heard chamomile is good, but in what form?

i was told on monday that teething gels need to be put on a dry gum for them to work properly. I think you can give Ashton and Parsons powders. They are in a white box with a blue label and you can buy them in savers. I found them to be a lot better than teething gels and i tried quite a few of tem. Hope this helps

Ashton & Parsons herbal remedy, easy to administer, well recommended.

I doubt if this is teething. The mouthing/ chewing is developmental. There definitely won't be any teeth coming in at the back this young

Very very few babes teeth this young. Give him nice things to chew, his hand control will be along soon, this is the age it starts (ramming everything into mouth)

I have nothing against calpol and used it regularly on mine but on one so young I would be wary. Teething goes on for what seems like forever, you don't want to be using it daily for the next 2 years

I have heard bad things about putting any sort of gels or cremes on babies gums. The reason being is that they naturally will swallow it and it numbs the backs of their throats, which can then cause them to choke b/c they can't feel themselves swallowing. Very dangerous!

thanx all - that's just what I needed to know - will give the powders a try.

Minorityrules - KWYM about the Calpol - that's why I'd like to find an alternative if poss. I would go along with the developmental thing except that he's def in pain and discomfort of some sort - could it be something else? If it were an ear infection, could it affect both sides? In all other situations he is v accurate at pointing to what hurts him, and he is being v consistent about this, i.e. usually points or guides our fingers to the same places, seems to get similar level of relief whenever he chews. He also points to the same places from both inside and outside of his mouth. If it were developmental i imagine it would be a bit more random to start with - no? Mind you, maybe he's just figured out that if Mummy or Daddy has a finger clamped in his mouth then they're not going anywhere! Clever wee pup !

It is possible to have a baby teething early! They could teethe at any time! I actually know a guy who was born with a tooth out already!

Or you could try Nelson's teething granules (or Boots own brand)

Homeopathic chamomilia, and a nicer taste imo than the Ashton and Parsons.

It is certainly possible that it is teething. My DD started this, with the characteristic bright red cheeks and acid nappies at 12 weeks. She didn't get her forst tooth until nearly 8mo though!

and a friend's baby got his pre-molars through at two weeks .

Two weeks? Poor wee pudding!!

So if the chamomilia is a homeopathic remedy, will it be in drops? Can I add to a feed (he's mixed-fed) or do they have to be taken separately?

His nappies are def more smelly and he's dropped to only 3 dirty a day, with more wet nappies than usual. I notice that you described them as acid and I read someone else describing them as vomit-smelling. I wouldn't say his are a different smell, just much stronger, with something that really gets to your nose lining - does that sound ok?

Thanks all for the tips and info.

no, they are tiny little sachets filled with granules. You can either wet your finger, dip in the granules and rub on his gums, or just tip them into his mouth. DD got a bit of a fright the first time I did that (so I guess rubbing would be the way forward ), but she gets all excited when she sees the packet coming now, and tips it in herself (but she is 9mo!)

Excellent - a little chamomile junkie LOL. Yep, rubbing does sound a bit less freaky, thanks, I'll give it a go.