It is common for babies to start teething at around 4 - 7 months old. We have shared the signs and symptoms and the various milestones of teething in the other blog posts, so be sure to check them out!
Quick Tips
Give them Things to Chew on
Babies actively tend to chew on anything they can find when they are teething. If they are old enough for solid foods, you can give them softer fruits such as grapes to chew on. Otherwise, food-grade silicone teethers are another great way.
Chill their Teethers
Chilling your baby’s teether can make it more soothing as it may lightly numb the sore areas. You can put the teether in the refrigerator to chill, but not the freezer as it can come too hard for your baby’s delicate gums. Just like what we mentioned above, do only purchase food-grade silicone teethers as they’ll be placed in your baby’s mouth!
Preventing Rashes
Babies tend to drool more when they are teething, and this may cause irritation to their skin. Gently wipe the drool off their face frequently, but be sure not to rub on their jaw bone as they may experience soreness.
Tender Loving Care (TLC)
At times, all your baby needs are some sweet TLC to distract him from the pain and discomfort! Spend more time engaging and playing with your baby when he is acting all cranky to divert their attention away from the soreness.
When babies start to throw tantrums and wail, before you start to panic and rush into it, there are some things that you should absolutely avoid. They may be ineffective, or even dangerous for your baby!
Things to Avoid
- Toys that are filled with liquid can tear and spill. Liquids in these products can be dangerous and unsafe for human consumption.
- Small plastic toys that are fragile. These may break easily and get lodged in the throat
- Ice or lollies. They are too hard for babies to chew on
- Numbing gels. These may not prove useful as they get washed away easily and may instead numb your baby’s throat. If you were to use such gels, be sure to check the label for ingredients that may be unsuitable for toddlers
Before even teething occurs, oral hygiene is a necessity to stay healthy! Clean your baby’s gums gently with a wet piece of cloth once to twice daily. When teeth start to develop, continue to do so for their teeth and gums. As a rough gauge, after your baby’s first birthday, you can start using a baby toothbrush with soft bristles and fluoride-free toothpaste to brush their teeth.
Press on Bearnie Fam! Your sleepless nights will be over before you know it, and you may even start to miss it. 😄 We hope that the tips and things to avoid above can help you with your little teething tot!
Unsure of which type of teether to get for your baby? Check out this article to help you make a better choice now.
Banner photo by kazuend on Unsplash
