Teething Survival Guide

For many parents, the first tooth is a greatly celebrated event. It symbolizes the coming of a new phase of life- oh- wait, who am I kidding?

My daughter is eight months old, and has just cut her first tooth. I can see three more on the way. She slept so well her first night that I kept waking up to make sure she is still breathing. She's been such an angel that I debate on having another, because I know I'll won't be this lucky again.

Until recently.

Teething rings are a Godsend. I watch my little girl as she sits on the floor, grabbing toy- make that item after item, chomping on them a few times before moving on to the next. So far she gets the most comfort in her dad's workboot. I would imagine his boot tastes like...well...old leather. I found a Sassy Teething Feeder. It says 6 months plus, but I've been using since about four months. Load it with a frozen berry and you have a teething ring that tastes delicious, encourages self feeding, and the unique part about this toy in particular, is there's a little gel pack inside that you freeze and take the food on the go. I've heard they are difficult to clean, but as I scrub bottles twice a day, one more item doesn't end my day, and I use Palmolive, so it's like a budget hand-spa.

For you, not the baby. When things get tense, take a good, hard swig. It won't last forever.

I got this goofy looking thing at my baby shower, it was a gum cleaner. I've been using it, and since the teeth came along, it has become a neccessity. You put it over your finger and "brush" baby's gums with it. My little one gets very excited when she see it, as it's like a little massage for her poor, sore little gums.

Just as your little one settles in to a nice routine and you're perfectly tuned to it, the teething phase begins. Sleep? Forget it. My daughter currently averages a 20 min nap a day. We're up late at night, and early in the morning. Preperation H works wonders on those nasty under eye bags.

Just because I am a sleep deprived, heed the beck and call mother does NOT mean that I should sacrifice my love of fashion. I have finally found the ultimate addition to my jewellery collection. I found something called "Teething Bling," a surprisingly stylish piece that goes around my neck and doubles as a teething ring. It goes without saying that this item should only be used with parental supervision, as there is a string tied around it.

Need I say more?