What No One Tells You About the Teething Stage (And What Nature Already Knew)
Nobody warned me the teething stage would feel this hard.
Not just for baby — for you too. The sleepless nights. The inconsolable crying. The helpless feeling of watching your little one hurt and not knowing how to make it better.
If you're in that season right now, take a breath. You're not doing it wrong. It's genuinely hard — and there's a reason for everything your baby is going through.
What Is Teething and Why Does It Hurt?
Teething is the process of a baby's first teeth pushing through the gum tissue. It typically begins between 4 and 7 months of age and can continue through age 3 as molars come in.
When a tooth pushes through, it creates real inflammation and pressure in the surrounding gum tissue. That's why your baby is drooling more, sleeping worse, and reaching for anything they can get in their mouth. They're not just fussy — they're in pain. And they're instinctively trying to counter-pressure the discomfort by chewing.
Common teething symptoms include:
- Swollen, tender gums
- Excessive drooling
- Irritability and fussiness
- Disrupted sleep
- Chewing on everything in reach
- Loss of appetite
Natural Teething Remedies That Have Worked for Centuries
Long before plastic teething toys existed, families reached for what nature already provided. These remedies aren't trends — they're time-tested solutions that generations of parents trusted.
Chamomile for Teething
Chamomile has been used across cultures for thousands of years to calm inflammation and soothe discomfort. For teething babies specifically, chamomile is valued for its natural anti-inflammatory properties and its gentle calming effect. It has a long history of use for colic, irritability, and gum inflammation in infants.
Clove for Teething Pain
Clove has been used in natural dental care for generations. It contains eugenol, a compound traditionally associated with numbing and pain relief. Families have long applied diluted clove preparations to sore gums as a natural alternative to synthetic numbing agents.
Firm Natural Materials for Gum Pressure Relief
Babies are wired to counter-pressure sore gums by chewing. Firm, natural materials satisfy that instinct safely and effectively. Before rubber and plastic, families used what was available — firm, natural objects that gave babies something safe to gnaw on and relieve that built-up gum pressure.
What to Look for in a Natural Baby Teether
Not all teethers are created equal. Most conventional options are made from plastics that can contain BPA, phthalates, and other synthetic chemicals — materials your baby chews on for months during a critical window of development.
Here's what to actually look for when choosing a teether:
No BPA or Phthalates "BPA-free" doesn't always mean chemical-free. When BPA was removed from many products, it was often replaced with similar compounds like BPS and BPF. Look for teethers that are free from all synthetic plasticizers, not just BPA.
Third-Party Tested Any teether marketed as safe for babies should have independent third-party testing to back it up — not just a manufacturer claim. Ask for documentation.
Natural Soothing Ingredients The best natural teethers do more than give baby something to chew. Look for teethers infused with natural anti-inflammatory ingredients like chamomile or clove that actively work to soothe gum discomfort.
CPSC Certified The Consumer Product Safety Commission sets safety standards for baby products sold in the United States. CPSC certification means the product has been evaluated against those standards.
Firm Enough for Real Relief Soft silicone may feel safe, but it doesn't provide the counter-pressure babies are instinctively seeking. A firmer natural material gives gums something to actually push against.
Why We Made Buckaroo Chew
When we couldn't find a teether that checked every box, we made one ourselves.
Buckaroo Chew is a natural leather baby teether handcrafted in the USA from vegetable-tanned leather — processed using plant-based tannins with no harsh chemicals. We infuse every chew with our chamomile tallow blend, made from beef tallow naturally rich in vitamins A, D, and E, combined with chamomile powder traditionally used to soothe inflammation and calm colic discomfort.
Every Buckaroo Chew is:
- ✅ Third-party tested
- ✅ CPSC certified
- ✅ Free from BPA, phthalates, and synthetic chemicals
- ✅ Infused with chamomile tallow for natural soothing
- ✅ Handmade in the USA
- ✅ Firm enough to provide real gum pressure relief
Not a trend. A return to what actually works.
You're Doing Amazing, Mama
The teething stage is one of the hardest stretches of early parenthood. Your baby doesn't need perfect — they need you showing up. And the fact that you're here, reading this, looking for the safest option for your little one?
That's exactly the kind of parent they need.
[Shop Buckaroo Chew →]
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