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Baby Teething Remedies To Soothe Your Teething Baby
Milestone achieved! Your baby is one step closer to enjoying and exploring more foods with the family! However, teething may come with some obstacles. Some teething babies may become more cranky and some may show no signs at all – it absolutely varies from baby to baby.
Babies can actually be born with teeth, known as natal teeth. Do not mistake these as fully developed teeth or neonatal teeth, they generally have weaker roots and are not fully functional. They are often small, loose, and can be discolored. The baby’s dentist or healthcare provider will assess if treatment is needed or not, in some cases it is removed to prevent your baby from breathing in the tooth into their airway or damaging their tongue.
So when do babies start teething? Most babies will develop teeth at 6-12 months. They may start to explore the world with their mouths at about 3 months, such as putting hands in their mouths. You may also start to notice increased saliva production at this time. However, these signs do not necessarily mean they are teething just yet. Their first tooth will come in at around 6 months and all their baby teeth should develop by their 3rd birthday.
This also means that if you are a breastfeeding mother, you may want to prepare for adjustments in your breastfeeding sessions and incorporate some baby teething remedies found in this article, to prevent your teething baby from clamping down on your nipple.
Signs Baby Is Teething
You may not be able to see the baby tooth yet, but when they are about to erupt from their gums, some may show signs of these baby teething symptoms:
- Drooling (pack extra bibs!)
- Red and swollen gums
- Irritability and crankiness
- Decreased appetite towards solid foods
- Increased gnawing, chewing, and biting things around them
According to doctors, these symptoms will switch on and off as each tooth erupts. Once the tooth has surfaced, symptoms will decrease, but do not be surprised if they keep coming back as more teeth will continue to poke out of their gums!
Your baby’s body temperature may also appear higher than normal, also known as “teething fever”, however, studies have shown that teething does not lead to a real fever (temperature over 100.4F or 38C). If your baby has developed a fever, it could be a sign of illness or infection and it is time to seek advice from a pediatrician for treatment options.
My teething baby is irritable and chews on everything (even my nipples!) What kinds of baby teething remedies can I do to help relieve my baby’s symptoms?
Here are some baby teething remedies to alleviate your baby’s frustration and make the breastfeeding process smoother for you and your baby:
Teething Remedy #1: Cold & Pressure
Cold Items
- One thing that is helpful for many teething babies is a cold moist washcloth. Soak the cloth in water, ring it out and freeze it. Make sure the cloth does not have any threads hanging or material hanging off it to avoid choking. You can use it to massage the gums or allow your little one to chew on it. The cold sensation can help soothe the inflamed gums.
- You can also use the wet washcloth and wrap an ice cube or frozen breast milk cube to massage and numb the gums. This is especially helpful before breastfeeding, to help your baby latch and settle into the feeding before their gums become irritating again.
- Use clean fingers to massage their gums in a circular motion to help calm their frustration and alleviate discomfort.
- Cold teething rings have been a popular item designed to soothe sore gums and prevent your teething baby from chewing on objects that may be unsafe. Teething rings are designed to be the right size to keep them safe and offer counterpressure to their pain! Make sure to select teething rings that can be easily cleaned and disinfected to avoid mold development.
Cold Foods
- Baby food feeders, or you may find them as baby fruit feeders, are great for freezing breast milk or fruits to help with teething. They are also easy ways to introduce fruits if your baby is ready to start solids.
- Frozen bananas are an extremely versatile ingredient. Before freezing, you can put the banana on a stick and make a popsicle for them to gnaw on. Make sure to monitor your baby as they reach the stick to avoid any choking or injuries. You can also puree your frozen bananas with frozen berries and yogurt as a snack! Not only are they having a delicious and nutritious snack, but they are also exploring different textures and temperatures while soothing their sore gums.
- Chilled fruits like mango spears or avocado wedges can also be just as great at alleviating their pain as frozen fruits!
- Milk popsicles containing breast milk or formula are perfect for their teething needs while obtaining essential nutrients. Using an ice-pop mold, fill the compartments up with breastmilk or formula, insert a stick into the molds, and freeze! Just like the frozen banana pops, make sure you monitor your baby as they reach the stick.
If you’re interested in learning about what else you can make with breast milk, check out this post: What To Do With Leftover Breast Milk
Teething Remedy #2: Teething Biscuits
Teething biscuits are soft enough to chew and can keep their shape even with excess drool. In fact, they effectively distract teething babies from their discomfort! When offering teething biscuits, make sure to pay attention to oral health and hygiene to avoid cavities. Wipe their gums or small teeth with a clean cloth to help prevent plaque from accumulating. Make sure to monitor their bites to prevent them from biting off big chunks, which can lead to choking.
When shopping for teething biscuits, keep an eye out for the ingredient labels and be mindful of added sugars and preservatives.
You can also bake your own teething biscuits – there are a lot of simple recipes online! Many recipes only need a few ingredients such as bananas, rolled oats, and coconut oil.
Teething Remedy #3: Distraction, Snuggles, Comfort & Patience
Sometimes all your baby needs is someone to acknowledge their teething discomfort and feel secure when frustration builds.
Keep them preoccupied with bonding activities, like reading them a story and playing toys with them. Hold them close and snuggle with them as you sing a song to calm their emotions. This is the time to be extra patient and give them extra attention.
Remember that they are experiencing such discomfort for the first time in their lives, so they are bound to react and respond!
Teething Remedy #4: Medication for Teething Babies
If everything else does not seem to do the trick, speak to your pediatrician about pain medication. Always consult your doctor when it comes to medication for your baby. Your pediatrician may prescribe a weight-appropriate dose of acetaminophen. If your baby is over 6 months, ibuprofen may also be another option. Ask your doctor for the right dose based on your baby’s age and weight.
Beware of Teething Jewelry and Oral Care Products
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many products marketed to alleviate teething pain can be dangerous. Unlike teething rings that are made out of hard plastic or rubber, teething jewelry can be made from marble, amber, or silicone, which may not be safe for teething. The use of teething jewelry can pose risks such as strangulation or choking, and if the material pierces your baby’s gums, that can cause injury to the mouth and infection.
The FDA also warns parents against topical creams and gels for teething babies as they offer little to no benefit, and in fact, can pose serious health risks. Over-the-counter oral care products like Baby Orajel, Cepacol, Topex etc., are dangerous and generally washed out of baby’s mouths instantly. Benzocaine products for oral care can lead to a condition called methemoglobinemia, in which the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells is greatly reduced.
Teething and Breastfeeding
If you are experiencing challenges with breastfeeding a teething baby, many of the above baby teething remedies should help your baby be more comfortable! However, your biggest concern is probably your baby biting down on your breast during feeding. If you are considering weaning because it hurts too much, let me share with you a few more tips geared specifically toward breastfeeding before you make that decision!
Before Nursing
- Numb your baby’s gums with a cold or wet washcloth wrapped around an ice or breastmilk cube. Numbing the gums can help soothe the baby and get settled for the feeding.
- Gently massage the gums with your fingers before feeding.
- Hand express some milk before latching to get your milk flowing. This may also help your baby settle into the feeding more quickly.
During Nursing
- Try different breastfeeding positions. Some positions or angles might be more comfortable for you than others.
- Pay attention to your baby to see if you can prevent them from biting down. Their jaws might start to tighten or they may become more fidgety. If you notice this, break the suction at the corner of their mouth before your baby tries to bite down.
- Distract your baby by saying your baby’s name, or holding and cuddling them closer to you.
- Talk to your baby and teach them with phrases like “no biting”, or “biting hurts mommy”.
After Nursing
- Avoid offering bottles or pacifiers if you can. Your baby might be biting on their bottles and pacifiers to help with teething. This may cause them to get used to biting down on a nipple when bottle feeding, and end up biting on you when it is time for breastfeeding.
If your baby is clamping down on your nipple, break the suction immediately and try one of the techniques to apply cold and pressure to their gums before proceeding again. Make sure they are latching with a wide, open mouth to prevent any further irritation of the nipple.
If you are looking to start bottle-feeding your breastfed baby, you might be interested in this post: Introducing Breastfed Baby’s First Bottle And How To Bottle Feed With Paced Bottle Feeding
I hope the above baby teething remedies and techniques helped you and your baby go through this process a bit easier!
References:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/teething-101-4-pediatrician-approved-ways-to-soothe-a-teething-baby/
https://riseandshine.childrensnational.org/soothing-a-teething-toddler/
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/safely-soothing-teething-pain-and-sensory-needs-babies-and-older-children
https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/teething/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/teething/tips-for-helping-your-teething-baby/
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=natal-teeth-90-P01862
