Having a teething baby in constant pain can be heartbreaking for any parent. Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can help your baby get through it with as little discomfort as possible. Keep reading to find out ways to soothe your baby’s teething pains.
10 ways to soothe your baby’s teething pains
Gum massage.
Use a clean finger or a clean, soft, damp cloth to massage their gums.
Refrigerated teether.
You can chill any type of teething ring for your baby. Just be sure not to freeze them, so you avoid damaging the teether… This is especially true for liquid-filled teethers, since liquids expand when they freeze.
Cuddle comfort.
Sometimes, the best way to comfort a cranky and pained baby is to hold them close. A teething baby should not be left to “cry it out.” Teething is an uncomfortable process, and they will need all the love you can possibly give them.
A teething necklace.
This would be for YOU to wear, and not your baby. Letting your baby wear a teething necklace poses a high risk of your child choking to death. However, if you wear it, your baby can use it to chew on while you hold them with your arms or in a snuggly/wrap carrier.
Cold fruit.
You can either use cold cut up fruit, or cold puréed fruit for this. Put it in a mesh feeder and your baby has a sweet and cooling teether!
Frozen washcloth.
Dampen a soft washcloth and freeze it. When you do this, not only is it a great option for teething, it also helps absorb some of the drool that comes with teeth coming in.
Massage their toes.
According to baby reflexology, massaging their feet and toes can help with the pain and discomfort of teething. Be careful not to be too rough, but simply apply light pressure with your thumbs and massage the undersides of the toes and feet.
Cheese block.
A block of hard cheese like cheddar or parmesan can be a great, natural option for your baby. This is best to try before the teeth are fully out of the gums, so that they are not actually eating the cheese. A cold block of cheese is great for some gumming and the coolness will help numb some of the pain as well.
Carrots and cucumbers.
Some peeled cucumbers and carrots are great edible teethers. Just be sure to put them in a mesh feeder to avoid any choking hazards. You can also chill them to benefit your baby even more.
Popsicles.
Freeze some breastmilk or formula in baby-safe molds, and you have a special popsicle just for your teething baby. Make sure to supervise this, so they do not end up dripping melting popsicle all over themselves. Hold it up for your baby, and let them gum and chew on it to their heart’s content.
Always be sure to talk to your pediatrician about how to help your baby get through teething pains. With these ten ways to soothe your baby’s teething pains, you and your baby will be well on your way to fostering healthy teeth for the future!