Clove oil for teething

Gideon cut his first tooth a few weeks ago, just in time for our long drive to Iowa! It seems like he was teething forever, and yet I can't believe that our baby has a tooth! For some reason, he seems like such a big boy with his (two!) little teeth peeking through.

 So cute with his two bottom teeth!

With all of the teething remedies to choose from, I was a little overwhelmed when making my choice. I've used Hyland's gel, and although I think it works well, the most effective remedy I've found is clove essential oil, a natural analgesic. I've discovered the wonder of essential oils over the past several months, and I must say, they are lovely!

Essential oils are very potent, so you only need a couple of drops per tablespoon of coconut or olive oil. I used coconut oil because it tastes better. It was so easy to make my own, and I've been able to use it for weeks! I just melted one tablespoon of coconut oil, added two or three drops of clove essential oil, and put them into a dropper bottle. (I tested the oil solution on myself to ensure that it was potent, but not too strong for baby.) It does harden, so I just fill the sink with hot water and sit the bottle of oil in the sink for a couple of minutes. (In hindsight, I should have poured it into a small container with a screw top lid, so that I could rub a little onto a finger. I will do that next time so that it won't have to be melted every time I use it.)

Sidenote: Whenever using essential oils, make sure they are pure essential oils from a reputable company like doTERRA or Young Living.