Every parent dreads the teething phase; it can be a painful experience for infants and parents alike. It's heartbreaking to watch an obviously hurting child knowing there is very little a mother can actually do about it. However, there are a few methods and products that can ease the pain a little and provide some relief.
Signs of Teething
Babies develop at different stages so it's not always clear when certain milestones, such as teething, will be reached. Knowing the symptoms of a teething baby is the first step to soothing her. In What to Expect the First Year [Workman Publishing New York, 1989] there are several easy to spot characteristics outlined to keep an eye out for.
- Drooling – Babies drool quite often, but when they start to teeth the drooling may become excessive. The abundance of drool also causes a mild chin rash occasionally.
- Swollen Gums – A while before the teeth actually come through, the gums get a little inflamed and an outline of the teeth can be seen.
- Higher Temperature – Babies' temperatures often rise a little when they begin to teethe. Due to the pain of the tooth pushing its way through, the baby may develop a small fever. It's the body's way of fighting any potential sickness it thinks could be arising.
- Waking Through the Night – Babies tend to wake through the night more often when they are teething. The pain can be severe and cause them to wake up several times in the middle of the night.
- Rosy Cheeks and Rubbing – The baby's cheeks often get a little pink when the teeth start coming in and they also tend to rub them when the pain is bothering them.
Teething Chew Toys for Babies
Although there is no way to completely rid the baby of her pain, there are several products and methods to distract and soothe her. An infants instinctual reaction is to bite down and try and force the teeth through. By offering her some teething toys to help she will be calmed a little and slightly distracted.
Teething rings are a very popular product and come in many different varieties. They are often made of a rubbery plastic and have tiny bumps all over them. They can be refrigerated or frozen, depending on the particular product, to provide additional relief and numb the baby's gums. Double check the label before putting any in the freezer, some cannot be frozen.
There are also some items found around the house that could be used to soothe the baby. A clean terry cloth towel makes a nice, soft chew toy for a baby. Giving her a cool, damp cloth to chew on also provides some relief. Offering the baby a clean finger or thumb to chew on works well for some parents too.
Teething Pain Relief
If the pain gets unbearable at times some parents decide to use a numbing gel. A mild strength gel can be used a few times a day and provides the baby with a few moments of pain relief. It doesn't always last long and may not make a big difference all the time, but it can take the edge off and calm baby a little. When all other methods fail a baby pain killer can be used. It will often make the baby a little drowsy and ease the pain for a while. Make sure to check with the baby's doctor before administering any drugs.
Parents each have their own preferred toys or methods. The easiest way to find the system that works best is to try them all until one that the baby takes to is discovered, sometimes multiple methods need to be used. As always, the best method to soothe a baby is to comfort her and provide loving support.
Disclaimer: These methods for soothing a teething baby are to be used as a guideline only; always consult a physician before trying a home remedy for teething.
 |
