“My three-month-old is irritable and drools all the time,” “My two-year-old is still unable to relax and go to sleep at 11:00 p.m.,” “ My five-year-old is acting like he did when he was an infant,” or “My teen is totally irrational and out-of-control.” Whether you are a new parent or an experienced one, these scenarios are enough to frazzle anyone’s nerves and disrupt a household.

There are many reasons why children experience different physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms as they grow. Believe it or not, teething is one of them. In fact, many problems of today’s youth may be related to the teething process.

Teething begins at birth and continues through adolescence – that’s right, adolescence. Most equate teething with infancy, but the teething process takes place in two phases. The first phase lasts from birth to 3 years: the period of time (weeks or months) preceding the eruption of a primary tooth, the process of eruption, continuing until the tooth finishes growing into position. This sequence of events repeats until all the primary teeth are in place.

The second phase is from 5 years through adolescence—beginning with the movement of the unseen permanent molars, continuing when a primary tooth becomes loose, losing the tooth, then cycling back to acquiring a new set of permanent teeth.

While teething may precipitate a wide range of various symptoms, it is important to note that physical or emotional illness in an infant, child or teen can be very serious and should not be ignored. Parents should always seek the advice of a trained medical professional to be sure the child is evaluated properly and treated responsibly.

When the teething process begins, an infant experiences different symptoms at different stages. During the first stage, from birth to 3 years, the most common symptoms are fever, sleeplessness, drooling, a diaper or body rash, diarrhea, irritability, gas, loss of appetite, biting, tantrums, nightmares, earaches, runny or stuffy noses, persistent coughs, croup and signs of aggression.

During the second phase, beginning around age 5, some of the earlier symptoms may return, as well as some new ones including depression, anxiety, headaches, restlessness, trouble concentrating and low self-esteem. Many children are even diagnosed with attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) at this time and prescribed prescription medication.

Once the child has been properly evaluated and it is determined that the symptom or symptoms are not related to a more serious health problem, rest assured there are safe and natural remedies to help make your child more comfortable while teething.

Homeopathic remedies and flower essences are two of the safest and most effective natural solutions. A homeopathic remedy is based upon the “law of similars”—“let likes be cured by likes.” It is prepared by taking a minute dose of a substance—mineral, plant or animal—which, if taken in large quantities, would present a set of symptoms in the body. This substance is then diluted and made into a remedy that stimulates the immune system to correct the problem and help relieve the symptom.

A flower essence is made from flowers’ buds, clippings of wild bushes, plants and trees. Flower essences can neutralize a negative emotion and restore balance to the mental, physical or spiritual states of mind. Each essence is used to address a different emotion. The most famous flower essence formula is Rescue Remedy. This is a combination of five flower essences: Clematis—for a spacey or unconscious state; Cherry Plum—for a feeling of being out of control (mind or body); Impatients—for restoring patience; Rock Rose—for panicky fear; and Star of Bethlehem—for loss, sorrow or grief.

There are literally hundreds of different homeopathic remedies for teething-related symptoms. In order to determine which one will be most suited for your child’s needs, a parent must pay close attention to behavior and physical symptoms.

If an infant is continuously drooling and uncomfortable, the homeopathic remedy Mercurius vivus might be the right remedy. If your toddler is prone to earaches and fussiness when teething, Chamomilla along with herbal eardrops and Rescue Remedy could be the answer.

Sleeplessness and nightmares are also very common for a 5 year old getting his 6-year molars. If the child is waking on a regular basis with nightmares; sweating and clammy and has been craving eggs lately, Calcarea Carbonica might bring some relief.

Again, there are several natural treatment options: the appropriate homeopathic remedy; aromatherapy oils, such as lavender and chamomile—a few drops applied to a handkerchief and placed in the bed; or a calcium/magnesium (with equal ratios) supplement given in the evening hours may be the key to soothe and calm a child to sleep.

Other areas to investigate if a child is experiencing restless sleep or nightmares are food allergies, nutritional deficiencies or parasites.