Teething is a natural process, although it may seem disturbing when your baby is fussy and crying for what seems like hours at a time. Some babies are actually born with a few teeth, but most babies are born with bare gums, and start teething when they are a few months old. The exact date varies from child to child, and can actually start any time within the first year of life, and it will still be considered “normal” whenever that day comes.
Teething is usually a fairly painful process for babies, which is why most teething infants become fussy when their first teeth start cutting through their gums. But there are a few ways you can help alleviate your baby’s teething pains.
First of all, you can use an over-the-counter teething gel made especially for babies. These usually come in pleasing flavors like cherry, although don’t expect your child to enjoy the taste. These gels are safe when used as directed, and can provide much-needed relief.
If you prefer a more natural approach, there are all types of special teething toys that you can purchase. These range from simple water-filled rings that you can refrigerate or freeze to all shapes of toys with bumps and ridges on them. No one item is “better” than another, so this is largely a choice that is best left to your baby. Buy your child one item, and if he doesn’t like it, try another. Sooner or later most babies find a teether that they enjoy.
Another thing that some parents do is giving teether biscuits, also called biter biscuits. These are cookies that are designed for small babies. They are made so that they dissolve very easily in the mouth to help keep smaller babies from choking on them if they manage to break of larger pieces. There are also products like Zwieback toast that are given to infants to help with teething. Most of these products are typically given to children that are at least six months of age, although you should ask your child’s doctor what age he recommends for your child to start using these items. Some parents also give frozen items such as waffles to their babies, but this is not a recommended practice since most newly teething infants are not yet used to eating such foods. If you do try this, watch your baby very carefully while he is doing this.
You can also try gum massage. Simply take a clean finger and gently massage your baby’s gums. You can usually feel the area where the tooth is coming in, even if it has not yet broken the skin. You will usually feel a hard bump in the gum that signals a tooth is trying to break through. Concentrate on this area, applying light pressure, but don’t press too hard. A light massage is all it takes. Some babies love this and some hate it. You will soon learn how your baby feels about this particular method!
One last thing you can try is actually very beneficial. You can take a clean, damp washcloth and rub your baby’s gums with it. Softer washcloths are best for this, and those that are made for infants are especially nice. Your baby may grab this and try to suck on it, which is just fine. If your baby enjoys the washcloth, it is perfectly fine to allow him to play with it himself.
Teething really isn’t so bad. It causes some discomfort, yet. But rest assured that it will all be over soon, and your baby (and you) will make it through it just fine!
