“Be not afraid!” – Perhaps these words of advice, given to us by our beloved Pope John Paul II at beginning of his pontificate in 1978, are best resource available for parents looking to provide comfort and reassurance to their children at passing of this great spiritual light. I have found this week that along with dealing with my own personal mourning, it has been important to spend time in prayer and conversation with my children as they deal with death of only Pope they have ever known.

Children are so wonderful – they freely and without reservation express many of emotions we “grown ups” hold inside. My two boys are no exception. I find myself looking to my ten year old son Adam frequently as a role model of empathy and compassion. Adam, at ten years old, has always been a perceptive child, and particularly so when it comes to human suffering. He’s first to cry “Stop, he needs help!” at site of a poor person looking for support. He’s also his mother’s greatest defender, coming to my aid against light hearted teasing of his father and older brother. So it’s no surprise that he is particularly in tune to Mom’s mood this week, and to profound wave of emotions that fill my heart.

To help shepherd my own “flock” through this period of mourning and prayer for our Church’s leaders, I consulted one of best group of “experts” I know on topic of Catholic parenting, mothers at Catholic Mom Community (www.cmomc.org). I asked them for their insights on how they are speaking with their own children about death of Holy Father and this time of transition for our Church. I am happy to share some of their words of wisdom.

Some babies will go through this event without a problem. However, other babies will experience discomfort.

To tell when your baby is about to enter this phase of growth, this article describes teething symptoms to be aware of. Then if you think your baby is experiencing these symptoms, some pain relieving remedies and guidelines will be presented to help you soothe your baby.

What Are The Teething Symptoms?

To determine if your baby is teething, ask yourself a few questions. Does she appear to be fussier? Is she crying at night? Does she cling to you? Is she dribbling or drooling in excessive amounts? Is she chewing on her fingers or objects?

Are her gums red, swollen or inflamed? Does she demand more breast or bottle feeding? On other hand, does she reject breast or bottle feeding because you think sucking is hurting her gums?

Other signs include poor appetite and interrupted sleep patterns.

What Are Some Remedies To Relieve Discomfort?

Now that you know what to look for if you think your baby is having discomfort due to teething, here are a few things you can do to help soothe her.

•Massage her swollen gums with your finger using a gentle touch (wash your hands thoroughly first).

•Place a frozen washcloth soaked with apple juice in your baby’s mouth. (The washcloth must be clean before being soaked, excess juice wringed out and tied in a knot. Put it in freezer for one-half hour).