It is rather difficult to watch your baby suffer from that teething pain and discomfort that follows. Trust us, we’ve been there! It can be stressful both for babies and adults, however, there are several ways to soothe painful gums.
Here are six of the most effective teething tips to soothe a teething baby and help them go through this stage easily:
#1. Refrigerated food and cold water.
Cold milk, fruit, yogurts, and other goodies may become even more attractive and desired for your infant when they are cold. Such snacks can kill two birds with one stone: they help to deal with feeding problems (in case your child rejects food) and relieve sore gums a bit. Or you can start with ordinary cold water (with no ice cubes, of course).
#2. Chewing.
When kids have sore gums, they instinctively want to chew something to release the tension in the gums. So do not forbid it. It is actually a good tip on how to distract your kid and help them ease the pain. There are dozens (if not hundreds) of kinds of special teething toys babies can chew. Choose any teether you want! To double the pain-relieving effect, you can put these toys in the fridge to cool a bit.
#3. Massage.
Try massaging kid’s gums with your forefinger. This way, you’ll create the pressure that helps to soothe sore gums. The idea here is quite similar to chewing a teething ring. Your baby won’t probably like it at first, but after a few massage sessions, they’ll appreciate that for sure.
#4. Painkillers.
In case no toys, cold food, or massages help, you can try painkillers that are suitable for children. The FDA, AAP, and Mayo Clinic recommend ibuprofen, paracetamol, and acetaminophen which are suitable for babies aged 3 months and older. Avoid other OTC medications including homeopathic teething remedies and medicines that contain benzocaine, lidocaine, and belladonna. But before resorting to any teething gels or medicines it is advisable to consult your pediatrician!
#5. Do not resort to doubtful kinds of medications.
For instance, scientists from reliable institutions have proven that applying ointments, such as topical anesthetic, is dangerous for infants. Special magical kinds of necklaces also do not work and may even provoke choking. Anyway, please, do not be guided by dubious articles you find on the Internet; always ask your baby doctor about any kind of treatment.
#6. Motherly love and care.
One can always use an additional portion of kisses, hugs, and cuddles. Sometimes they are the best pain relief for teething baby being more effective than painkillers!
When to See a Doctor: Disturbing Symptoms
A lot of parents face their child’s temperature being a bit high when teething. However, scientists have not come to a unified conclusion about this symptom being related to teething at all.
If the temperature keeps being high for 3 days or longer, and especially if there are some other disorders, don’t hesitate to call a baby doctor.
Concerning diarrhea, the algorithm remains the same. If it repeats three or more times, then you should definitely contact the doctor.
Teeth that are about to pop up may provoke bleeding under the gums. This may look a bit scary but it is no big deal. Just apply something cold to ease baby’s discomfort and wait till it is gone.
What to Expect Further?
After your baby has got their first temporary teeth, you may proceed to the next level — feeding them with solid food. Soon your sweet little muffin will start trying to eat with their own hands.
All the recommendations and tips listed here are based on the information provided by a range of highly respected institutions, among which are the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), WHO (World Health Organization), and AAP (the American Academy of Pediatrics).
