Ways To Naturally Soothe A Teething Baby
Did you know that a baby is born with their first set of teeth already formed? They develop them in utero and the term "teething" is used when these teeth make their way from underneath the gums. The teething process varies from child to child but generally occurs between six months to three years of age.
Teething is a painful yet normal experience for infants and toddlers. It can interfere with mealtime, cause fussiness, and tiredness from not getting adequate sleep. The last one probably applies to both the child and the parents since we are found soothing them throughout the night during their teething phase.
HERE ARE SOME SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:
- PAIN
- INFLAMMATION
- DISTURBED SLEEP
- TIREDNESS
- FACIAL REDNESS/FLUSHING
- DROOLING
- UPSET BOWELS
- LOSS OF APPETITE
- RUBBING OF GUMS
- SLIGHTLY HIGHER BODY TEMPERATURE
Keep in mind that not all babies will experience all of these symptoms. There is great variation in who has these symptoms, which symptoms they have, and at which severity level they occur.
NATURAL REMEDIES TO HELP SOOTHE A TEETHING BABY:
1. Applying pressure by rubbing or massaging their gums gently using a clean finger is sometimes the best thing you can do to relieve pain.
2. Apply a cold washcloth to the gums. The cold sensation numbs the area to help alleviate some of the discomfort. I like to put a clean wet washcloth in the freezer for about an hour and then offer that during the bedtime routine so gums are nice and numb making it easier for them to fall asleep.
3. Provide a cold teething ring to play with to help numb the area during awake windows.
4. Make breastmilk, formula, or fruit popsicles. I like to use these silicone popsicle molds.
5. Provide plenty of teething toys and cold cloths to chew on during the daytime.
6. Camilia Homeopathic Drops are a great homeopathic topical pain-relieving medication that is widely recommended by pediatricians in the EU. Please consult with your childβs pediatrician before using these with your child.
LIST OF THINGS TO AVOID USING:
AMBER NECKLACES
The amber teething necklaces became widely popular over the past few years but they are not recommended by the FDA due to reports of infant choking while wearing them. The risk of choking is greater when the necklaces are left on the baby during naps and nighttime sleep. There are no studies that show these necklaces have any proven analgesic properties. If you still wish to use them for your child, please do so with caution.
I, like most parents, used an amber necklace for my daughter when she was teething as an infant. I did, however, remove the necklace while she was sleeping because I did not feel comfortable leaving it on overnight.
BENZOCAINE AND BELLADONNA
Creams and gels containing benzocaine and/or belladonna are also not recommended because they can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia. This is a condition in which your red blood cells reduce their capability to carry oxygen. Therefore, the FDA has banned the use of benzocaine and belladonna containing baby teething products.
xoxo,
Unnati
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References:
Stagnara J, Besse P, El Kebir S, Bordet MF. Symptoms associated with teething and response to three treatments, including homeopathic medicine: a multicenter prospective observational study among 190 French pediatricians. Minerva Pediatr. 2018;70(6):519-528. doi:10.23736/S0026-4946.16.04585-0
Soudek L, McLaughlin R. Fad over fatality? The hazards of amber teething necklaces. Paediatr Child Health. 2018;23(2):106-110. doi:10.1093/pch/pxx158