The teething process in babies starts anywhere between 4-7 months and it has various signs and symptoms like more biting, salivating or drooling, loss of appetite, etc. All these symptoms mostly arise because the babies feel discomfort and irritation in their gums, sometimes pain too. And we understand that it must be hard looking at your baby suffer like this. So, we have come up with some of the ways through which you can help the baby relieve the pain and irritation and soothe them.
Chilled Fruit
If you have introduced your baby to solid food, you can feed them some chilled mashed fruits like bananas. The coldness of the food will help soothe their gums. You can even try experimenting with other fruits like strawberries, mangoes, ripe pears, etc.
Cold Washcloth
Take a clean washcloth and submerge in a bowl full of water. Rinse it and wring it out until it is damp and then place it in refrigerator. Take it out after sometime and fold it to smaller. Give the cloth to the baby to chew. But make sure that you don’t leave the baby with the cloth as it can be a choking hazard.
Cold Metal Spoon
Cold metal helps soothe the sore gums. Take a normal metal spoon and put it in the refrigerator. When the spoon is optimally cool, gently rub the back of it against the baby’s gums. It will give them some relief.
Massage Gums
To do this, you must first make sure that you have washed your hands thoroughly. Now, sit with your baby and carefully and gently message the gums in circular motion.
Chilled Non-Gel Teething Toy
Take your baby’s favourite solid teething toy and put it in the refrigerator. Make sure that the toy is not liquid or gel-based, otherwise it will harden the liquid/gel when you place it in the refrigerator. Allow it to cool and give it to your baby. Also, make sure that the toy is easy for the baby to hold and not too cold.
Wiping the Drool
One of the major signs of teething is excessive drooling. You can save the baby’s cloth and the irritation caused by excessive saliva using soft bibs. You can also use soft cloth to wipe their mouth and chin. But you have to make sure that you wipe it really gently so that the rubbing doesn’t cause more irritation.
Cuddles
Sometimes the best medicine and relief is some cuddle and snuggle time with the mother. Rock your baby gently, give them a lot of hugs. This will provide them some comfort and will be a quiet and resting time for you too.
Medication
If you have a feeling that the baby’s discomfort is going out of hands and they are in a lot of pain and none of the above-mentioned methods are working then it is better to seek help from a doctor or paediatrician and get advice from them. Use the prescribed medicines to help your baby with the teething symptoms.
It is understandable that you may not want to see your baby suffering like this. But be sure that you are not helpless and also that this is a natural process of your baby’s growth. Take it as an achievement of your little one and be excited about what it to follow. After the baby’s teething, you will be able to feel them solid food, and isn’t that exciting? But if you still feel that your baby is going through a lot more discomfort and pain, then it is advisable to contact your healthcare provider as there could be some other problem too.