Anna Maria Richards
Parenting is not an easy job. Apart from the late nights and the changing needs, one problem that bogs most new parents face is baby teething. Unfortunately, teething in a baby starts pretty early. Most babies find it pretty hard to cope up with it. In the end, it is left to the parents to find out solutions.
The problem aggravates during the night when even the parent is half asleep to cater to the baby’s demands. If you are also in a similar situation, here are some simple yet effective tips to reduce baby teething troubles.
What are teething and common symptoms?
Teething is when the baby feels irritation in his gums due to the arrival of new teeth. In medical terms, teething is known as odontiasis. Most kids start teething between 4-7 months. Though the timetable could be different for your baby.
The most common symptoms that a baby experiences during this time are.
- Tender and swollen gums
- Irritation and getting fussy
- The rise in temperature (101 F)
- A feeling of wanting to chew on things
- Drooling that causes rashes on the skin
- Coughing
- Rubbing the cheeks or pulling the ear
- Putting their hand in the mouth frequently
- Changes in the eating or sleeping habits
Give them a gum massage
The symptoms of teething include sore gums and drooling. Initially, if you cannot comprehend the exact problem, you can offer them a gum massage to ease the impact. You could also provide Teether Toys for the respite they need.
Ensure that the toys you pick are solid plastic rather than being gel-filled. You must also store each of these toys in the freezer when not in use. Before handing the toy to your baby, check to see any broken pieces could cause a choking hazard.
Offer them a cooling treat
Some sore gums enjoy the feel of something cool against them. This trick is pretty helpful and does not require much effort from your side. Just keep a few washcloths stored in the freezer, which you can take out any time.
Just check that the cloth pieces do not have any rips or tears to them. The cloth not only provides a cooling feel to the gums, but your babies can also chew on them as long as they want. But, keep the clothes in the freezer for at least 30-60 minutes for this trick to work.
Applying pressure
Often you might not find something to calm your baby. In such a situation offering your clean finger is the closest option you have. For more relief, you could dip your fingers in cold water before giving it to your baby. Be prepared for the pressure that he might apply.
But if that is not helping, you could apply some pressure on his gums instead. Start by rubbing his gums in small strokes and increase the pressure as you move ahead. Your baby’s relief will show you if you are doing your job correctly.
Wipe the drool
Many parents do not consider drooling as an inconvenience. But if your child has a wet bib all the time, it will cause him discomfort. Though you cannot keep wiping every drool, try and keep him as dry as you can.
Choose durable bibs and change them frequently. If the baby remains dry most of the time, chances are he might not even notice the problem he is going through. Mainly if the baby remains relaxed during the day, his night is going to pass comfortably.
Consider offering medication
If your baby is not getting the relief, you could offer him some medication. This, though, would provide relief in 30 minutes. It is also advisable to consult the baby’s pediatrician before you choose to do so. Try not to use any teething medication or topical numbing medications.
Sometimes these gels remain ineffective as the drool washes away all the medication. Plus, some teething tablets contain ingredients that could cause side effects in your babies. Opt for this method only if nothing works in giving the baby the relief he needs.
Try hard foods
If the baby has started hard foods, you could offer them to munch on. The suggestions, in this case, are peeled or chilled cucumber or carrot. Give him the vegetables and make sure to keep an eye on him. It is possible that he might just break a piece out of it, and that could cause choking.
Once you think that he is feeling better, make sure to take the piece away from him. Try to give two or three options at one time. Let him decide what he wants to chew on. You could keep a handy bag of such veggies in your refrigerator for such emergencies.
Follow regular sleep pattern
The stress you show during these times will make your baby crankier. Try and maintain a regular schedule for all the tasks done till now. When the child realizes that nothing has changed, he will try and ignore the problems.
Follow the same sleep and food routine and do not let the baby feel anything is amiss. To avoid any irritation, give the child a book or his favorite toy to take off his mind over the teething.
Conclusion
A baby goes through lots of stress while teething. This is probably because he has no idea of what is happening. Initially, the teething process would be difficult for both you and the baby. However, as time passes, you will learn the tricks to calm the baby.
If during teething your baby has vomiting, rashes, cough, very high fever, or congestion, you must consult a pediatrician immediately. It could be that the problem is not because of teething only. Also, do not offer any medicated relief without prior discussion with the doctor.
Apart from that, bleeding gums and swelling on the face are also not typical symptoms. You will have to discuss the problem with the pediatrician if you notice any of these. Hopefully, the problem will not reach that point, and with help, your baby will tackle his teething woes easily.
