TIPS TO SOOTHE A TEETHING BABY

September 15, 2020

So it’s teething time and you have been dealing with a particularly irritable child? While teething is a big milestone that needs to find a place in the baby book of milestones, the fact remains that it can turn even the happiest child into a crying bundle. Not to mention the fact that it can give you heartbreak to see the child in distress!

Luckily though there is a lot you can do to help your baby, cope with this phase. Before you know it, that precious tooth would have erupted, bringing the baby relief and you, joy!  Read on:

#1 Teething toys

There is nothing that works better than offering your child safe teethers as he or she feels the urge to chew on something. A word of caution here though- do ensure that what you have are organic teethers with no plastics or toxins that could harm the child. An organic teething mitt will offer just the relief your little one needs besides also protecting your baby from germs that come with the constant dropping of teething toys. With an organic teether buddy, you will feel confident knowing that the baby is safe. That the baby may continue to play with some of these good looking teethers long after the teething phase has passed, is an added perk! Here’s to eco-friendly teething!

 #2 Something cold

Those emerging pearly whites put immense pressure on the gums, leading to inflammation. Something cold would give the child the much-needed relief. Cool foods such as banana or cucumber, work well. Ensure that when you hand these to the child, you are around to prevent any risk of choking. If your baby is breastfeeding though, nursing can be a huge source of comfort.

#3 Rubbing the gums

All you need is a clean fingertip to gently massage the child’s gums to bring relief. Small circular motions work well. In fact, massaging your baby’s gums before each feed may keep her from biting while breastfeeding.

#4 Drying the drool

The teething phase is also one where the child drools excessively. In turn, that can cause a rash on the child’s cheeks or chin and further add to the discomfort. Make sure that you wipe the drool away and that the baby’s delicate skin is kept dry to keep rash at bay.

#5 Cuddle therapy

You may be indulging in this, even without knowing that it is a thing! There is a lot that a warm cuddle can do in comforting the child. In fact, sometimes all the child needs is a little distraction to focus his attention away from the pain. Singing a soothing song while cuddling him can bring him relief. Pro tip- As far as possible, try and keep to the child’s usual bedtime routine. Changing the routine for a couple of days may lead you to sleep issues, later.

Remember that fussiness, trouble sleeping, drooling are regular symptoms of teething. However, if the child develops a fever, rash or diarrhea, do seek medical help. Self-medication in these conditions is absolutely avoidable.

Here’s to those pearly whites and to your child’s overall health!

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