What to Do When Your Baby is Teething l 5 Signs Your Baby is Teething

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Teething is one of the phases of a baby’s development, and it can be stressful for parents because their little ones are struggling with their first few teeth. A baby can be fussy when they are teething, and it can be challenging for parents to calm them. In this article, we will solve your problem on what to do when your baby is teething and help parents relax during this time.

When does teething start?

Typically most little ones start teething during around 4 to 7 months. However, some babies start teething earlier or later. It will all depend on your baby.

What are the common signs of teething?

The lower central incisors or the two front teeth on the bottom part of your babies are the typical teeth to appear first, and it will be followed by the upper central incisors or the two front teeth on the upper part.

The 5 typical symptoms your baby is teething:

· Chewing objects

· Excessing drooling

· Crankiness or irritability

· Tender or sore gums

· Their temperature is increasing, but they don’t have any fever

Sometimes parents think that teething can cause diarrhea and fever for their babies. However, research states that these are not directly tied to teething.

Give your baby’s gums a massage

During this time, your little one’s gums are sore and irritated, which is why they are fussy, especially at nighttime. When your baby wakes up crying, it is recommended that you offer them the cooling gum massage that comes with their teething ring.

You should make sure that the teething toys you use are made with solid plastic rather than gel-filled, and you should store them in your freezer or fridge. Check the teething rings every time your baby finishing using them to ensure that there are no broken pieces that can cause a choking hazard. It would be best to avoid teething jewelry like bracelets and necklaces made of marble, amber, wood, or silicone.

Offer your babies some cooling treats

This trick doesn’t require you to have special equipment, and is it incredibly simple. First, you will have to prepare some washcloths, soak them in water, and place them into your freezer for only 30 to 60 minutes.

Be your little one’s chew toy

You can let your little ones chew into your fingers. However, you must always ensure that your fingers are clean and sanitized. Additionally, you can dip your fingers in cold water to help them more.

Add some pressure

This method is similar to letting your babies chew into your fingers, but you include some effort. Before doing this method, you must always sanitize and clean your fingers. When you stick your fingers into your baby’s mouth, you can easily add some pressure on your little one’s gums. Adding this pressure and gently rubbing will ease their pain.

Wiping

Many parents don’t connect drooling with being uncomfortable, but if you let your little ones sit all day with a wet face, this might contribute to uncomfortable rashes. It would be best if you wiped their faces. You can also buy durable bibs so your babies won’t be soaked with their drool.

You can try some white noise

Sometimes you can redirect your baby’s attention from their teething discomfort. Although this method is not going to work with every baby, adding white noise to the nursery can help distract them from the pain they are feeling.

Teething gels

There is no evidence that a teething gel can help ease your baby’s pain. It is typically recommended that parents first try non-medical options for teething, such as the teething rings.

If you are going to use a teething gel, only use those specially made for children. General oral pain relief is not recommended for your little ones. The teething gel comes with a mild local anesthetic and can only be available in pharmacies.

Treatments to avoid

For your baby’s safety, here are some treatments you should avoid:

Over-the-counter medicines such as homeopathic teething tablets. There are no proven advantages to using teething tablets and topical gels. Additionally, some lab analyses of homeopathic remedies found more belladonna, an ingredient that can cause difficulty in breathing and seizures, in the remedy than what was advertised on the label.

Teething medications can contain lidocaine or benzocaine. Although they are pain relievers, still they are harmful and can be fatal to your little ones.

Teething bracelets, necklaces, and anklets. These items will pose risk of strangulation, mouth injury, infection, and choking for your babies.

Do you need a doctor?

You can typically handle teething at your home. However, if you see that your little one is very uncomfortable or feel like their teething is interfering with the way they drink or eat, you should call your doctor right away.

How can you care for your baby’s teeth?

You can run a soft and clean cloth along their gums once or twice a day, especially after you feed them in the morning and before they go to bed. The cleaning will help bacteria and food debris from building up in their mouths.

Once their first teeth start showing, you must use a small, soft bristle toothbrush to clean their teeth at least twice a day. You should also start to have regular dental checkups for your baby.

Stay calm

We assure you that your baby’s discomfort is typical for teething, and you are not the only parent experiencing this. No matter how stressful this phase can be, you will get through this. Try to keep your baby comfortable, and make sure to give them extra cuddles to ease what they are feeling.

Take away

Teething is one milestone of your baby’s development that you will likely love and hate. Everyone is excited to see their little one developing and growing. However, their symptoms that can make them uncomfortable, and their nighttime can be disrupted.

Luckily there are several methods you can use to ease the discomfort. These methods can also help your babies sleep comfortably during the night so that everyone can get a good night’s sleep. However, if you notice that your baby has a rash or fever, you should immediately call your little one’s pediatrician.

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