When it comes to a teething baby, it can be especially beneficial to follow the steps to relieve their discomfort. This can make both of your lives much easier. Learning how to help a teething baby can often go a long way toward reducing problems. Here are a few of the best strategies to follow to help a teething baby.
Implement a Regular Routine
Babies that are teething often have a particularly difficult time sleeping, due to the discomfort that they are in. However, following a regular routine can help to make sleeping much easier for them. Ensure that your baby has a regular wakeup time, bedtime, and naptime throughout the day. This can help to ensure that they are able to sleep more easily when they are teething.
Symptoms of a Teething Baby
There are many symptoms of a teething baby. Babies generally begin teething around 4 to 7 months, but these time periods can fluctuate between babies. Understanding the various symptoms of a teething baby can often help to ensure that you provide them with the appropriate soothing strategies when they begin teething. Ensure that you understand what isn’t a symptom of teething. This will help to ensure that you are aware when your baby is actually ill and not just teething. Teething doesn’t cause fevers above 100.4 degrees, vomiting, or diarrhea. If these symptoms arise, you should consult with a pediatrician.
Some common symptoms of teething include excessive drooling and swollen or tender gums. A baby that has begun teething may start chewing on particularly hard substances, because the pressure can aid in alleviating their pain. Teething babies are often irritable, fussy, and cry much more frequently. They often seem like they have a loss of appetite, due to their discomfort. Teething babies may have difficulty sleeping and often have a low fever, though not one above 100.4 degrees.
Medications
It is possible to use various medications to soothe your baby if none of the other methods for alleviating discomfort are effective. However, it is critical to ensure that you talk to your healthcare provider before you do so. This will help to confirm that the medication is safe to use. When you don’t check beforehand, the results can be extremely devastating. Always take the extra step to guarantee that medications are safe before you use it for your baby’s teething process.
Cold Washcloth
A cool washcloth can be a useful tool for reducing your baby’s discomfort while they are teething. This can be used by wetting a washcloth and wringing it out until it is damp. Then you can place the washcloth in the fridge to help cool it down. Once the washcloth is cool, you can give it to your baby to let them chew or suck on it. This can help to reduce their pain. Ensure that you don’t leave your baby alone with the washcloth whenever they have it. This can be a choking hazard, so you need to watch your baby at all times while they have the cool washcloth.
Wipe Drool Away
When your baby drools excessively, there will likely be a layer of drool that will build up around their mouth. When this drool sits on the skin, it can lead to irritation and rashes beneath the drool. By regularly wiping the drool away, you can help to prevent this irritation from occurring. Use soft cloths and be gentle whenever you wipe the drool away. This can help to prevent the act of wiping the drool away to cause extra irritation to the skin.
Cool Metal Spoon
A metal spoon can be another great tool for eliminating the pain of your teething baby. When you cool down the metal spoon in the fridge, you can gently rub the back of the spoon against the gums to help alleviate discomfort. It is extremely important to ensure that you put the spoon in the fridge rather than a freezer. Frozen metal and babies are a very bad combination.
Massage Gums
A massage around the gums can help to improve blood circulation and helps to relieve tension in their gums. When you massage their gums, you may be able to help reduce the pain that is caused by their teething. It is important to ensure that you both trim your nails and wash your hands before you massage their gums. This can help to prevent scratching to the surface of their gums and can prevent substantial issues from impacting their health.
Care for their Teeth
It can be particularly beneficial to ensure that you begin to care for your baby’s teeth early on. This can help their teeth to remain healthy, which can prevent the likelihood of tooth decay or other potential issues. Ensure that you start caring for the health of their teeth as soon as they become visible in the mouth. Gently brushing their teeth can help to remove plaque and bacteria from the surface of their teeth. You should also make sure that you bring your baby in for a dental visit early on to optimize the health of their teeth. Many experts recommend that children see their dentist as early as their first birthday.
When it comes to a baby’s teeth, it is important to ensure that they obtain the appropriate dental treatment. This can help to prevent tooth decay and provide them with the best start for their teeth. At the Oral Health Center, we provide many dental services to optimize your oral health and that of your family. To learn more about the importance of caring for your baby’s teeth or the services that we offer, contact us at the Oral Health Center today!
