7 Surprising, Yet Helpful Remedies For Teething
For new parents, one of the most common challenges of raising a newborn baby is dealing with teething that can occur during the first year of their development. It can be difficult to watch a child suffer with new teeth that are coming in, which can begin as early as four month of age. Each child experiences different symptoms with teething, which can include fevers, drooling, and diarrhea due to the pain that is involved. To relieve your child and allow them to feel more comfortable until the teeth break through the gums, there are a number of surprising remedies that are proven to work.
1. Provide a Facial Massage
Babies enjoy massages just as much as adults, which can help to provide relief when they're teething. Gently rub the baby's face and jaw in slow, circular motions to soothe the pain and allow them to relax. Gently pulling on the baby's ears will also help to reduce discomfort in the gums and cause the muscles to relax. You can also massage the gums directly with clean fingertips, which will may help you to feel where the tooth may be breaking through.
2. Apply Cold Compresses
Although most people may assume that ice or cold food items can irritate a baby, it is actually a common method for relieving teething pain. Apply cold compresses to the gums for the child to bite on, which will provide immediate comfort and will help to numb them. You can also try using a frozen washcloth to sooth the pain or even frozen vegetables that are easy to chew on for an extended period of time.
3. Apply an Anesthetic Teething Gels
Some parents may be leary of teething gels that numb the gums, but these products can provide instant relief for up to an hour at a time. There are plenty of all-natural gels available, which can be applied directly to the gums and work as a lifesaver when the baby is teething in the middle of the night. Regardless of which one you use, only apply a small amount directly to the area of concern.
4. Distract the Baby
When teething rings and medicine don't seem to do the trick to help your baby feel better with their teeth that are trying to break through, distracting them often works as a last resort and can help take their focus off of the pain. Consider going on a walk for a change of scenery, play a game of peekaboo, or put a baby television show on to help the child become distracted until the pain passes. Oh, and let's not forget tablets and phones. Not exactly a silver bullet, but not too far off.
5. Make Use of Essential Oils
Essential oils are increasing in popularity for their variety of uses and benefits in calming babies and soothing them with discomfort. Clove essential oil will work to numb the gums (commonly used in India) and can be diluted with coconut oil before application. Lavender can also be applied behind the ears for a calming effect.
It's important to use 100 percent essential oils that are all natural to ensure that they are most effective for the baby. If carefully selected and used properly, these products are safe to use and are void of all toxins or chemicals.
6. Use a Teether
Babies are more prone to chewing on various objects when they're teething, making it important to use a teether that they can freely munch on throughout the day. The added pressure to their gums will soothe the pain and will offer relief with the discomfort. Use teethers that are at room temperature for an ideal solution that is easy to use. Bagels are also a common food item for the baby to chew on for something durable that is safe on their gums. You can also refrigerate the bagel for a great teething ring that they can munch on throughout the day.
7. Freeze a Baby Bottle
Your baby is already likely to reach for a bottle whenever it's in sight, making it important to freeze the item and allow them to chew on it. Place the baby bottle in the freezer upside down for a few hours with water inside. This will allow the nipple to be hard and easy to chew on for a comforting item that the child is already familiar with.
Stay calm, teethe on. They only get 20 baby teeth... ;-)
