Some Teething Remedies Can Make Babies Sick

When the tears flow and wailing begins, a mother will do just about anything to make her baby's teething pain go away. But according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, she shouldn't head to the drugstore. The FDA warned parents in a recent Consumer Update that mouth-numbing gels and liquids don't belong on babies' gums.

FDA warning

The FDA has previously warned parents not to use over-the-counter mouth-numbing benzocaine products, but the new warning adds prescription drugs, such as lidocaine viscous, to the list of medications that should not be used on children younger than 2, unless directed by a medical professional. Babies who are given too much lidocaine viscous may suffer the following overdose symptoms, according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices: