Teething babies are often crabby and cranky. Why? Because teething hurts. Sharp little teeth are pushing up through their gums, ripping and tearing their way to the surface. Teething can also cause fever and excessive drooling. Here are some tips to help you and your baby get through the teething stage.
Tip 1:
Be understanding. Your baby is fussy because he or she is in pain. It’s not their fault. Teething usually begins around five or six months of age. Some babies though begin to teeth around three months of age. The teething stage generally ends around three years of age once all of the baby teeth have “come in.” During this time it is perfectly normal for your baby to be fussy, irritable, even a little whiny. Sooth your baby any way you can. Never, ever scold him or her for their fussiness. For each tooth that comes in, the teething symptoms will last for three to five days. (teething)
Tip 2:
Do NOT use baby pain relieving gels. The main ingredient in most teething pain gels, Benzocaine, has been known to cause a rare but serious disease called Methemoglobinemia. The FDA warns parents not to use products containing this ingredient for their teething babies. Choose a teething gel that does not contain Benzocaine. (fda-warns-about-teething-medication)
Tip 3:
Give your baby a dose of pain reliever only when symptoms are at their worst. Try to avoid frequent use of pain relievers as they can have side effects. However, if your baby is in a lot of pain and/or has a fever use a trusted brand such as Children’s Advil to help ease their discomfort. Follow the directions on the label carefully. Give only the recommended dose, never more, and wait the recommended time between doses as indicated on the package.(childrens.advil)
Tip 4:
Have your baby wear a bib to protect their clothing from the excessive drooling. Drooling is a part of teething and is unavoidable. A bib will prevent frequent outfit changes and can also prevent baby’s neck from becoming irritated from the drool. Wash your baby’s face often using a wash cloth and plain water to help prevent irritation on their cheeks and chin.
Tip 5:
Use teething rings or teething toys. Teething rings and toys contain purified water or non toxic gel. They can be placed in the freezer and frozen. Once frozen they can be given to a teething baby to chew on. The cold of the teething ring helps to relieve some of the pain caused from teething. When baby bites down on the teething ring or toy it can actually help the teeth to break though.
