Your baby is wailing…again. And you don’t know why.
You’ve checked off all the usual suspects.
Hungry? Wet diaper? A long hair twisted around a finger?
Nope. Nope. And nope.
It’s possible that your precious baby is experiencing teething pain. Most babies begin teething around four to six months, but it can vary widely depending on the child.
How do you tell if your baby is teething? More importantly, what can you do about it? Let’s take a moment to learn about teething and how to provide your baby with teething relief.
You both will appreciate it.
Signs Your Baby Is Teething
First of all, you should determine if teething is the problem. Is your baby drooling a lot? Trying to chew or gnaw on anything and everything like a little puppy?
In some cases, your baby will be fussy and may even develop a low-grade fever.
If you suspect that teething is the culprit for your baby’s discomfort, try some of these baby teething remedies. Every baby is different, experiment until you find the method that works best for your baby.
Ways to Provide Teething Relief
When it comes to providing teething pain relief, cold and pressure are your friends. Both of these things help soothe your baby and ease the pain.
Below are some ideas on how to use these to help your baby. If cold and pressure don’t cut it, we have more ideas too!
1. Cold Rag
Try freezing a clean, wet rag. The hundreds of soft, cute little baby washcloths you got at your shower are perfect for this.
Many babies will find relief by chewing and sucking on the chilly rag. Just be sure it’s not too cold or it could damage the gums.
2. Ice Cube
If the baby seems to want something a little harder, try an ice cube instead.
A straight ice cube is too cold for baby’s sensitive gums so wrap it in a towel first. Baby will enjoy playing with it and the relief it brings.
Pro tip: if your baby doesn’t like water yet, try a breastmilk or formula ice cube instead. Yum!
3. Cold Foods
In case your baby is starting to eat solids, you can try a cold piece of food. Fruits and vegetables are perfect for this. You can also use a bagel or biscuit, or even beef jerky!
If you have already discovered your baby’s preferred food, go with that. Keep an eye on your baby at all times in case a small piece breaks off to create a choking hazard.
4. Cold Bottle
A frozen baby bottle can also be a good way to provide teething pain relief. Fill it with water and leave it for an hour in the freezer.
Your baby will appreciate the cold nipple and the trickle of cold water.
5. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is soothing and calming. It is also anti-inflammatory and helps reduce swelling. This makes it the perfect remedy for your teething baby.
You can use it in place of water in all the ways we’ve just mentioned. Make chamomile ice cubes for baby to gnaw on, dampen and freeze a baby washcloth with the tea, or put it in the baby bottle to chill.
While you’re at it, have a cup yourself. It will help soothe your frazzled nerves.
6. Ginger
Ginger is also naturally anti-inflammatory. Peel a little chunk and use it to massage your baby’s gums for a few minutes. You can also let baby gnaw on it, but be aware of choking.
Ginger is a pretty strong flavor, so your baby may not like it very much. That’s okay. Just try something else.
7. Teething Toys
There are a variety of teething toys on the market that you can get for your baby. You can get silicone ones, rubber ones, or you can make your own! Some have liquid inside that you can chill in the refrigerator.
Regardless of what you choose, be vigilant about choking hazards. If the toy tears open or is wearing out, replace it immediately.
Be aware that the ones with liquid can break, and that liquid may not be the best thing for your baby to be swallowing.
8. Teething Necklaces
There are a couple types of teething necklaces. One type is designed for baby to chew on.
The great thing about a necklace instead of a toy is that it stays with baby. It doesn’t end up on the ground getting dirty, and it’s always on hand.
The other type is amber necklaces. The idea is that amber releases succinic acid, which has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties. It gets absorbed through the skin into baby’s bloodstream for systemic relief.
9. Mom or Dad’s Finger
What if you don’t have anything on hand and baby seems to be having a particularly painful moment? Go the old-fashioned route.
Wash your hands and offer baby a finger. Gnawing on your finger provides the pressure baby needs to soothe those sore gums.
This works best before those teeth have popped through. Otherwise, you’ll find out just how sharp those little chompers are!
10. Cuddling
Sometimes our baby just needs a little extra love to get through a tough teething episode.
Take a few moments to cuddle with your little one. You might feel like you don’t have time, but trust us when we say that later on, you’ll cherish these moments.
The Right Remedy for Your Baby
Every baby is different in how teething affects them. Even the same baby will respond differently to these soothing methods depending on the day. Try one, and if it doesn’t work, try another.
Most of all, remember that this is only a short time in your baby’s life. It can get frustrating, but your baby needs your love and support.
Your child is upset because those gums hurt. He will appreciate whatever teething relief you can supply. Happy baby equals happy mama, so keep trying until you find the best remedy.
Have some more teething relief ideas? Be sure to let us know in the comments! And don’t forget to check out our blog for more parenting tips and tricks.