When it comes to teething, parents turn detective. Their babies will make a lot of noise, and the concerned parent will try to figure out why their child is crying and uncomfortable. You’d agree with me that soothing a baby is a difficult undertaking because their mood swings resemble a rollercoaster.
Teething is the process by which an infant’s first set of teeth, known as deciduous or baby teeth, erupt from the gums. This usually starts at six months of age and can last until they are about two or three years old. The order in which teeth emerge varies, but the front teeth, known as incisors, often arrive first.
Symptoms of Teething In Babies
Teething is an essential developmental milestone for your child. Teething discomfort is produced by the pressure of the emerging teeth on your baby’s gums.
Teething discomfort can manifest as a variety of signals from your baby. Let’s look at some of the symptoms.
- Drooling
- Chewing on anything they can find
- Uncontrollable bouts of fussiness
- Mild fever
- Gum rubbing
How To Soothe A Teething Child
Finding teething relief is vital for both the baby’s well-being and the parents’ overall sanity. Here are some tips for soothing your teething child.
Chilled Teethers
These are teethers that can be chilled in the fridge. The chilly temperature provides relief by relaxing your baby’s sore gums when they chew on them.
These teethers are a natural and safe approach to relieve your baby’s gum soreness.
Mesh Feeders With Frozen Fruits
Mesh feeders loaded with frozen fruits have two purposes: they provide nutrients and act as a cold, soothing teether for your baby’s gums. It adds a sweet element to teething treatment while fulfilling your baby’s natural need to chew.
Gentle Gum Massage
Using a clean finger or a soft, silicone baby toothbrush to gently massage your baby’s gums will help relieve pain. This approach applies a sensory and soothing touch directly to the troubled area, which can enhance your baby’s comfort.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
According to the NCBI, “the most common recommendation given by primary care physicians was acetaminophen or ibuprofen (80 percent)”
These drugs are used to relieve pain and inflammation. They also provide more systemic relief from teething discomfort.
Natural Remedies (Amber Teething Necklaces)
Some parents try natural remedies, such as amber teething necklaces. As stated by Nissen et al., “the claim most closely resembling science is the assertion that succinic acid will leach out of the beads and through the skin of the wearer and carry out anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.”
However, because of the risk of choking, extreme caution is advised.
Takeaway
Teething is the process by which an infant’s first set of teeth, known as deciduous or baby teeth, erupt from the gums.
Teething discomfort can manifest as a variety of signals such as drooling, chewing on anything they can find, uncontrollable bouts of fussiness, mild fever, and gum rubbing etc.
Finding teething relief is vital for both the baby’s well-being and the parents’ overall sanity. Some tips for soothing your teething child include: chilled teether, gentle gum massage, natural remedies etc.
