One of the harder stages of raising babies is when they start to teethe, placing the baby in pain and discomfort at levels they have probably never experienced before. Teething starts at about 6-8 months and the process can take about two years until all the milk teeth come out giving babies their charming smile.
Some babies don’t experience pain during teething, but there are many others who suffer from unpleasant symptoms such as swollen and painful gums, fever, sweating, difficulty sleeping, crying, biting, red cheeks, mild diarrhea and so on, making it harder for both the baby and his parents to cope. The good news is that you can help ease your baby’s discomfort and pain with the following 8 tips that’ll hopefully make the teething process as easy as possible.
If your baby has already started eating solid foods or has reached the age of six months, you can serve him a cold cucumber. The cold temperature will help soothe gum pain, and the cucumber’s juice will satisfy his hunger. Also, the hard cucumber puts pressure on the aching gums, which will alleviate the unpleasant pain.
Instructions:
1. Rinse the cucumber well, place it on a plate, and in the refrigerator for at least 15-20 minutes to cool well.
2. Now, cut the cucumber lengthwise to 4 quarters, and serve, when needed, to your baby.
Note: Do not serve frozen foods straight out of the freezer, as contact with extreme cold can cause harm.
A simple massage of the gums can be of great help in relieving the discomfort that your baby feels when teething. The gentle pressure applied to those sensitive areas helps reduce pain and soothe your baby.
Instructions:
1. Use a clean finger or wrap it in a damp, soft cloth and rub your baby's gums for a few seconds. The baby may resist at first, but very quickly he or she will start to feel much better.
2. Next, you can massage the baby's jaw and face with gentle circular motions.
The chamomile plant can help to soothe the discomfort experienced during teething, in infants aged 1 year or older. This is because the plant possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe painful nerves.
Preparation and instructions:
1. Place a ½ teaspoon dried chamomile flowers into a glass of hot water.
2. After a few minutes, strain the flowers, and give your baby one teaspoon of the chamomile tea. You can give him or her another teaspoon every hour or two.
3. If you want to massage their painful jaw from the outside, you can mix 4-5 drops of chamomile oil along with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Rub the mixture on your hands (to heat the oils) and then massage the baby's jaw area and around the ears. We recommend repeating this several times a day.
A great way to help soothe your baby who is dealing with unpleasant pain is through reflexology. Your touch alone will no doubt be able to soothe the baby and, moreover, there are certain pressure points in the feet that’ll ease a toothache and can even promote better sleep.
Instructions:
1. Apply some warm oil on the baby's foot and apply gentle pressure to the bottom of his toes with your thumb.
2. After you’ve massaged all his or her toes you can finish with a pleasant massage of the entire foot.
3. Each massage should not last more than 5 minutes and can be repeated once to twice a day. In addition, you can familiarize yourself with the complete guide to the pressure points on your baby's foot, which will no doubt help him or her relax.
The most prominent symptom of teething is the pain the baby feels, but one should not overlook the fact that there are quite a few babies who experience other symptoms such as diarrhea. In addition to the fact that applesauce is among the first foods that babies eat, the pectin found in it helps prevent stools that are too soft.
Instructions:
1. Rinse the apple thoroughly, peel and core. Then, cut it into small pieces.
2. Put the pieces of apple into a pot, add water to cover the pieces and bring the pot to a boil over a medium-high flame.
3. Lower the heat and allow the apples to cook until softened.
4. Put the cooked apple pieces into a blender, and blend them until you get a sauce consistency.
5. Place the sauce in the refrigerator to cool down before your baby eats it since a cold sauce will soothe the gums better than a warm sauce. If you want to change it up a bit you can mash bananas instead, which of course do not require cooking.
The anti-inflammatory properties of clove oil will help reduce your baby's teething pain and can be used from the age of 1 year. There is no need to buy a special type of clove oil, as you can prepare it yourself by following these instructions ...
Instructions:
1. Place a medium skillet over a low flame and heat a tablespoon of virgin olive oil. Then add a teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers and a whole clove.
2. Heat the ingredients together for 10-15 minutes, then strain the clove and chamomile, and let the oil cool down
3. After the oil has cooled, massage the baby's gums with it as needed.
Note: You should check the solution on your gums before you massage your baby's gums to make sure it isn’t too potent.
If you are still breastfeeding, you’ll be happy to hear that the suction act encourages and comforts your baby, which may distract his focus from the pain. In addition, breast milk provides a unique balance of nutrients that help the baby recover quickly. Therefore, when your baby feels pain and discomfort, you can breastfeed him more often. If they try to bite during breastfeeding, try placing him or her at a different angle. In addition, it is recommended to massage their gums before breastfeeding and after, as mentioned in the second tip.
Teething toys can help relieve teething pressure just as well as gum massage can help relieve teething pain.
