One mom's story lead to a big warning for others when a teething tactic turned into a teething terror.
Many parents know the frustration that comes with a teething baby. There are a lot of remedies out there so we wanted to verify what's really the best and the safest for your baby.
We consulted three credible sources to come up with our conclusion:
- Danielle Kapetanovic, mom to Chloe, a toddler who had a close call
- Dr. Rachel Dawkins, Pediatrician at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
- The Food and Drug Administration
DANIELLE'S STORY
Danielle turned to baby Orajel for her 15-month old daughter Chloe but seconds after dabbing a little on her gums, Chloe lost consciousness.
"Put it on her gums, and within seconds she was gone. Her eyes rolled back, her lips started turning blue. She wasn't breathing. She was completely unresponsive," explained Danielle.
Fortunately, Chloe came to after about 20 seconds but the whole ordeal led Danielle to post her experience on Facebook. Her warning went viral. Turns out, Chloe's reaction was more than a freak accident.
ASK THE DOCTOR
Dr. Rachel Dawkins confirmed Danielle's experience was likely caused by an ingredient in the teething gel.
"Orajel has benzocaine in it. Benzocaine has been known to cause a condition called methemoglobinemia. So even in one dose, it doesn't have to be many doses, even in the first dose a child takes, it can cause this condition and that can cause a child to turn blue, and actually, their ability to carry oxygen in their blood is decreased. Big emergency."
ACTION BY THE FDA
In May, the FDA issued a warning to consumers to stop using products with benzocaine because they pose a serious risk to infants. They also issued a warning about teething tablets, another remedy with a dark side.
Dr. Dawkins explained the danger behind teething tablets.
"They contain belladonna, which is a plant-based medication that can be actually lethal in kids, and they found that those teething tablets have different amounts and they can't control how much is in there, so they just recommend not using those."
Even though the FDA removed teething gels for babies from the market, it could still be in your cabinet at home. So spread the word, because you want to throw the product out.
More from the FDA: Do Teething Babies Need Medicine on Their Gums? No
CONCLUSION
We can verify, over the counter teething gels and tablets are unsafe and could even be fatal for your baby. The best advice is tried and true- cold rings or even a parent's finger will do.
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