SOOTHING YOUR TEETHING BABY
You might have noticed frequent crying, problem sleeping, more drooling, red cheeks, refusing food and trying to nibble and chew on any thing he or she can get their hands on. Teething in babies usually happens around 3-7 months. This time can vary as each child is different.
Stay patient and positive, teething isn’t fun for anyone. Its not easy seeing your baby crying, waking up from the sleep in the middle of the night but remember your baby’s teeth are poking out of gums which causes pain and irritation. It is natural to feel a little helpless, but you can do a few things to soothe your baby down. Try and see what works for your baby as each child is different.
TEETHING SIGNS
- Red swollen gums and cheeks
- Biting, sucking, gum rubbing
- Heavy dribbling
- Sleepless at nigh and at day naps
- Irritable and unsettled
- Not feeding properly- less interest in food
- Pulling or rubbing ears
SOME TIPS TO SOOTHE YOUR TEETHING BABY:
Stay positive and patient – Give your baby lot of cuddles, love, and attention to divert baby’s mind off their teeth to give a short-term relief.
Rubbing the gums with your finger or cold washcloth -Sometime gentle rubbing gums with a clean finger or cold washcloth helps just make sure not to rub too hard or not too cold.
Teething Toys – You can also use chilled not frozen teething rings available in the market for babies. This gives baby temporary pain relief through pressure and cold.
Solid foods to chew on – Babies who are already eating solid foods can benefit from peeled cucumber sticks, carrot sticks which they can chew on but can’t swallow whole and sugar free rusks.
Using Dummy or Pacifier – Some parents let the baby chew on the dummy or pacifier which helps the restless baby and provide some relief. Do not put anything sweet on the dummy as this can cause tooth decay.
Wipe excess drool – Excess saliva while teething can cause irritation on face and neck. Make sure to wipe and keep clean or use bibs or change clothes frequently if wet.
THINGS TO AVOID:
- Do not add sugar, honey or any other sweet s to baby’s dummy or bottle. Sugar does not help with pain but can cause decay in baby teeth.
- Do not add any medicines to child’s dummy or bottles.
- Do not use amber necklaces as this can cause choking risk.
Ask your dentist or pharmacist about over the counter pain relieving medications or oral gels which contain local anaesthetic.
If your child is showing symptoms like diarrhea, fever, rashes, see your health care professional straightaway to rule out any other illness.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with our team for more information on 07 38783384.
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