No parent wants to see their child suffer. Teething can cause your baby a substantial amount of discomfort, which can lead to many additional issues. There are many strategies that you can follow to help soothe a teething baby and relieve their discomfort, as well as your own. It is also extremely important to ensure that you properly care for their teeth when they begin to come in. This can help to set them on the best path to maintain healthy teeth throughout their life. Here are some of the best strategies to soothe a teething baby.
Symptoms of a Teething Baby
There is no set timeline for a baby to begin teething. Due to this, it is important to know the symptoms so that you are aware when your baby is teething. On average, a baby will often start teething around 4 to 7 months of age. Some babies will begin teething earlier, while others will begin teething later. It is important to be aware of what are symptoms of a teething baby, as well as what aren’t regular symptoms. Sometimes, babies don’t receive medical treatment until some time has passed, because it can be easy to confuse the symptoms of other illness with the symptoms of teething.
Teething often involves excessive drooling. Your baby will often want to chew or suck on hard things more, because applying pressure helps them to alleviate their pain. When a baby is teething, their gums may be tender and swollen. Behavioral changes often indicate that they are teething. For example, a baby may become fussy, irritable, or cry more often when they are teething. Teething babies often exhibit a low-grade fever and the discomfort may cause them to have trouble sleeping. They may also seem to lose their appetite. It is important to note that symptoms of teething do not include diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever that is above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Massage Gums
Massaging your baby’s gums can help to relieve their discomfort. Whenever you intend to massage their gums, you should ensure that you wash your hands and trim your nails first. This is crucial in protecting your baby’s health. After this, you may gently massage their gums to help alleviate their pain.
Care for their Teeth
It is important to ensure that you begin to care for your baby’s teeth as soon as they begin to be visible. Use a soft toothbrush that is designed specifically for baby teeth. This can help to prevent tooth decay, which is an extremely common problem for children. You should also take the steps to provide them with dental care early on. Your baby should generally have their first dental visit around their first birthday. While they likely won’t have all of their teeth yet, it is important to get an initial checkup to keep the existing teeth healthy.
Cold Washcloth
A cold washcloth can similarly help to soothe a teething baby. Ensure that you always put objects you intend to cool in the fridge, not the freezer. When you freeze them, they will become too cold to be safe for a baby. Wet a washcloth and squeeze out the excess moisture, until it is damp. Then put it in fridge until it cools. After this, you can take it out and allow your baby to chew or suck on it. Don’t leave your baby unattended while they are chewing on the cloth, because it can potentially be a choking hazard.
Cool Metal Spoon
A cool metal spoon is another possible way to alleviate discomfort and pain from your baby’s teething process. Put a clean metal spoon in the fridge while it cools. Then you can take the metal spoon and gently rub the back of the spoon against your child’s gums. This can help to reduce their pain. Once again, ensure that you put the spoon only in the fridge, not the freezer. Frozen metal and babies are never a good combination.
Teething Toy
Teething toys can be a great method for relieving your baby’s pain from teething. Chilling their teething toys in the fridge can make them more effective methods for alleviating pain. However, it is important to do your research to help ensure that you use a teething toy that will be safe for the baby. Don’t use jewelry teething toys, because these can lead to choking and strangulation. You should also avoid gel-based teething toys when you intend to chill them.
Wipe Drool Away
When you have a teething baby, they are highly likely to drool much more. This layer of drool can cause irritation to their skin. It is important to gently wipe their drool away regularly. This can help to prevent rashes and irritation. Additionally, you will need to ensure that you don’t wipe too frequently, because that can also lead to irritation to their skin.
Give them Attention
Some strategies for soothing a teething baby don’t involve anything aside from your attention. When your baby is teething, you will want to spend time cuddling them and giving them attention. This small bit of comfort is often one of the most effective ways to keep your baby happy while they are teething.
Implement a Regular Routine
When your baby is teething, they will likely have trouble sleeping. Ensuring that you have a regular routine can help to make it much easier for them to sleep. Put them down for naps and for bedtime at the same time every day.
It is important to care appropriately for your baby’s teeth in order to prevent substantial issues from occurring later on. It can be especially beneficial to work with a family dentist to provide them with the appropriate care for their smile. These methods can substantially help to soothe your baby while they are teething. Our experienced team at Avenues Dentistry is dedicated to providing superior dental care for your entire family. To learn more about how to care for your baby’s teeth or why it is important to care for baby teeth, contact our professional team today!