Serena Williams asked for teething tips for her 3-month-old—and moms of the internet delivered

It doesn’t matter who you are, teething is rough on a baby—and mama. Serena Williams is experiencing that for the first time with 3-month-old daughter Alexis Olympia and turned to Instagram for some solidarity.

“Teething—aka the devil—is so hard,” Williams says. “Poor Alexis Olympia has been so uncomfortable. She cried so much (she never cries) I had to hold her until she fell asleep.”

Williams says she’s getting a bit desperate after trying everything she could think of that was supposed to help: amber beads, cold towels, her own fingers, homeopathic water (“lol on that one”).

But, so far, nothing has given Alexis Olympia much relief and it’s really wearing on her mama.

“It’s breaking my heart,” Williams adds. “I almost need my mom to come and hold me to sleep cause I’m so stressed. Help? Anyone??”

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on Dec 17, 2017 at 8:42am PST

It’s a struggle just about any parent can relate to. When I thought my son was getting his first tooth, I was at a complete loss for what to do until my experienced mom friend shared some of her hard-earned tips with me. (Lo and behold, that first tooth didn’t sprout for another few months—but I won’t tell Williams that.)

At the end of the day, that’s what this “village” of motherhood is all about: Helping each other through the hard times by passing on wisdom and offering support.

So far, it seems Williams has been finding that through social media. Recently, people delivered when she asked for breastfeeding advice and now they’re coming through with teething solutions.

“f you’re breastfeeding, make breastmilk cubes by freezing them in small ice cube trays. Then put them in the mesh feeders,” one mama suggested. “It helps soothe gums and it’s still nourishing for her. Also the amber necklaces do work. Leave them on 24hrs a day! Only remove then for a bath. Make sure you get authentic beads.”

Another reassured Williams that they’ll make it through the first teething battle.

“I remember those days. It’s not easy. I learned that when babies are teething, they don’t cry and fuss because they’re in pain. They cry and fuss because their gums itch like crazy and it’s uncomfortable,” the follower said. “With any itch, the best relief is by scratching it. I found that allowing my daughter to chew on something abrasive like a toothbrush (supervised of course, maybe tie it around her wrist) or clean baby wash cloths that have been drenched in water, rung out, rolled and frozen, were extremely effective. Granted, all babies are different but I do hope you find a solution in these comments that works well for your family. Good luck!”

It’s true: All of us survived teething the first time around. But, as any parent knows, it may be even harder when we’re watching our babies go through it. Hang in there, Serena!