Ways of making your baby comfortable during teething

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One of the important stages an infant must pass through in his/her development is the formation of teeth.  Teething is a normal process that infants go through as their teeth develop, break, or cut, through their gums. The process of teeth formation falls between 4 and 7 months old. By age 3, they should have a first or primary set of 20 teeth.

Having teeth means your child will be able to eat a bigger variety of foods, but getting there can be tough on both baby and parent. There are ways you can make your child more comfortable during the process, and there are signs that signal when it’s time to call the pediatrician.

Understanding Why Babies Teethe

All babies are born with a full set of teTeeth formation.

One of the important stages an infant must pass through in his/her development is the formation of teeth.  Teething is a normal process that infants go through as their teeth develop, break, or cut, through their gums. The process of teeth formation falls between 4 and 7 months old. 3, they should have a first or primary set of 20 teeth.

Having teeth means your child will be able to eat a bigger variety of foods, but getting there can be tough on both baby and parent. There are ways you can make your child more comfortable during the process, and there are signs that signal when it’s time to call the pediatrician.

Understanding Why Babies Teethe

All babies are born with a full set of teeth underneath their gums. During the first year of life, these teeth begin to spring out through the gums.

Stages in Gums development 

The first set of teeth is the classic bottom teeth often referred to as pegs, this is followed by the second set known as the top middle teeth while the remaining teeth will cut through the gums over a period of three years. Some children may even get their full sets of teeth after 2 years of age.

Symptoms Associated with Teething

The symptoms varies from one infant to another, however, the most common symptoms are irritability and a lack of appetite. Others are:

Drooling

Chewing on solid objects

Crying and crankiness

Inability to sleep

Sore and tender gums

Red and swollen gums

Relief measures for teething pain

Rub the child’s gums with a damp washcloth, a clean finger, or a special gum-rubbing finger pad.

Use of teething rings which babies can chew to ease the discomfort

Introduce harder foods, like cold fruit and vegetables, to your baby’s diet. This is an important milestone that can also alleviate teething discomfort. 

Stay with the child at all times, so you can monitor their chewing and prevent choking.

Relief with Medications

Acetaminophen can relieve discomfort

Apply a teething gel that is free of choline salicylate and benzocaine. These are not safe for infants, since they can reduce the levels of oxygen in the blood.

Avoid giving a baby aspirin or rub it on the gums

Avoid alcohol on the baby’s gums

Do not put completely frozen objects directly on the gums

Never allow your child to chew on hard plastic toys 

It is erroneously believe that high fever and diarrhea are also symptoms of teething, but this is usually not the case. See pediatrician if your baby develops a fever or diarrhea, or if they’re having continued discomfort underneath their gums. During the first year of life, these teeth begin to spring out through the gums.

Stages in Gums development 

The first set of teeth is the classic bottom teeth often referred to as pegs, this is followed by the second set known as the top middle teeth while the remaining teeth will cut through the gums over a period of three years. Some children may even get their full sets of teeth after 2 years of age.

Symptoms Associated with Teething

The symptoms varies from one infant to another, however, the most common symptoms are irritability and a lack of appetite. Others are:

Drooling

Chewing on solid objects

Crying and crankiness

Inability to sleep

Sore and tender gums

Red and swollen gums

Relief measures for teething pain

Rub the child’s gums with a damp washcloth, a clean finger, or a special gum-rubbing finger pad.

Use of teething rings which babies can chew to ease the discomfort

Introduce harder foods, like cold fruit and vegetables, to your baby’s diet. This is an important milestone that can also alleviate teething discomfort. 

Stay with the child at all times, so you can monitor their chewing and prevent choking.

Relief with Medications

Acetaminophen can relieve discomfort

Apply a teething gel that is free of choline salicylate and benzocaine. These are not safe for infants, since they can reduce the levels of oxygen in the blood.

Avoid giving a baby aspirin or rub it on the gums

Avoid alcohol on the baby’s gums

Do not put completely frozen objects directly on the gums

Never allow your child to chew on hard plastic toys 

It is erroneously believe that high fever and diarrhea are also symptoms of teething, but this is usually not the case. See pediatrician if your baby develops a fever or diarrhea, or if they’re having continued discomfort.