Teething basics
When your baby starts teething, usually around 6 months of age, it can be a tough time for both of you. Here are some basics about teething to help you get through it.
As your baby’s teeth start to come in, their gums will become sore and swollen. This can cause your baby a lot of pain and make it difficult for them to sleep.
There are a few things you can do to help soothe your teething baby’s pain and help them get through the night:
– Give them something to chew on. Teething toys or a clean finger can help massage their gums and provide relief.
– Apply pressure to their gums. Gently rubbing or massaging your baby’s gums with your finger can help ease the pain.
– Use a cold compress. A cold, wet cloth or teething ring placed on your baby’s gums can also help reduce swelling and pain.
When to expect teething to start
Teething is a process that starts around 6 months of age, when the first baby teeth start to come in, and can last until the child is about 3 years old and all their adult teeth have come in. It can be a difficult time for both parents and baby, with symptoms including sore gums, swollen gums, drooling, irritability and disturbed sleep. There are however things you can do to help soothe your teething baby and help them (and you!) get through this phase.
Here are some tips on when to expect teething to start and how to soothe your teething baby:
1. Teething usually starts around 6 months of age, but can start as early as 3 months or as late as 12 months.
2. The first few teeth to come in are usually the bottom front teeth (the bottom central incisors), followed by the top front teeth (the upper central incisors).
3. Teething can be a difficult time for both parents and baby, with symptoms including sore gums, swollen gums, drooling, irritability and disturbed sleep.
4. There are however things you can do to help soothe your teething baby and help them (and you!) get through this phase – these include using a cold compress or teething ring on the gums; giving them something hard to chew on such as a cold carrot or celery stick; rubbing their gums with your finger; or giving them infant paracetamol according to the instructions on the packet if they seem in pain.
5. It’s also important to keep up with good sleep habits during this time – create a bedtime routine that includes winding down for 30 minutes before sleep; put them down drowsy but awake so they learn to self-settle; and don’t give in to demands for feeds or cuddles during the night – this will only reinforce bad sleep habits!
Tips for soothing a teething baby at night
If your baby is teething, you may be wondering how to soothe a teething baby at night. Here are some tips that may help:
1. Give your baby something to chew on. A cold, wet cloth or a teething ring can help to soothe the pain.
2. Massage your baby’s gums with your finger. This can also help to reduce the pain.
3. Apply a topical anesthetic gel to the gums. This can provide temporary relief from the pain. However, it is important to only use a small amount and to avoid getting it in your baby’s mouth or nose.
4. If your baby is having trouble sleeping, try some sleep training techniques such as gradually lengthening the time between feedings or establishing a bedtime routine.
5. Be sure to offer plenty of cuddles and comfort; sometimes just being close can help reduce the discomfort of teething pain.
Teething myths
There are many myths about teething and baby sleep. Below are five of the most common myths, with the truth about each one.
1. MYTH: Teething babies will start sleeping through the night once their teeth come in.
TRUTH: Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your teething baby will start sleeping through the night once their teeth come in. However, some babies do sleep better once they have a full set of teeth.
2. MYTH: All babies show symptoms of teething, such as excessive drooling and fussiness.
TRUTH: Not all babies show symptoms of teething, and some only have mild symptoms. If your baby is drooling more than usual or seems irritable, it could be a sign that they are starting to teeth. However, it could also be a sign of something else entirely unrelated to teething. If you’re concerned, always consult with your pediatrician.
3. MYTH: Teething causes fever in babies.
TRUTH: Teething does not cause fever in babies. If your baby has a fever, it is likely due to another illness unrelated to teething. However, some parents report that their baby’s fever seems to spike around the time their teeth start coming in so it can be difficult to tell if the two are related . Again, if you’re concerned , always consult with your pediatrician .
4 . MYTH : You can give your baby pain medication to help with the discomfort of teething .
TRUTH : You should not give your baby pain medication unless directed by a doctor . Medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be harmful to infants , particularly when used without medical supervision .
5 . MYTH : There’s not much you can do to help a teething baby feel better .
TRUTH : There are actually several things you can do to help soothe a teething baby , including massaging their gums with a clean finger , providing them with cold objects ( such as a frozen washcloth ) to chew on , and giving them extra cuddles and love .