Four Teething Tips for Parents

One of the not-so-joyous milestones new parents get to experience is that of teething. It’s not hard to understand why a baby would be cranky when their teeth are coming through, especially for those of you who have experienced wisdom tooth pain. Teething definitely isn’t fun for baby, but it certainly isn’t a fun time for parents either. Here are some easy ways you can help relieve some of your little one’s pain.

Frozen Washcloths
One of the oldest tricks in the book for a teething baby is to get a rough washcloth wet and stick it in the freezer. Once the washcloth is frozen, give it to baby. I like to put a rubber band around one section of the washcloth and then dip half of it into water before freezing, that way baby has a non-frozen portion to hang on to. The coldness of the ice will help baby’s gums feel better and the roughness of the washcloth could help break teeth through.

Teething tablets
All-natural teething tablets can be a great way to provide a cranky teething baby with some much needed relief. Teething tablets are gentle, mild and effective. Make sure to avoid teething gels that contain numbing medications like oragel as those can actually prolong teething due to the swelling of the gums caused by the numbing agents.

Protect baby’s neck
Many babies begin to drool a lot when they are teething. The drooling is harmless, but the constant moisture on the baby’s neck and face can lead to a rash or irritation. Protect your baby’s chin and neck using some type of barrier cream, such as lanolin. Making sure that baby has a well-fitting bib and is wiped often when drool is seen will also help to prevent a drool rash.

Give baby a gum rub
Rubbing on baby’s gums with a clean finger can provide baby a lot of teething relief. The counter pressure can feel good to baby as well as help teeth to break through the surface of the gums sooner. Make sure to wash your hands well before placing a finger in baby’s mouth.

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