Ahh, teething. Just when you think your baby has passed their 3-month sleep regression and you're on track to set up a stellar baby sleep schedule that has them (and you) sleeping through the night… teething starts!
In this post, we will go over the top eight ways to soothe your teething baby so both of you can get back to sleep ASAP.
Signs Your Baby is Teething
Common teething symptoms include:
- Red, irritated gums
- Irritability and distrusted sleep
- Increased biting, sucking, and hand to mouth movements
- Ear pulling
- Drooling
- Runny nose
- Mild fever
- Mild rash around the mouth
- Many more to list but some common ones
Do babies cry a lot during teething?
Yes, the discomfort of the teeth pushing it causes babies to be fussy and cry to express their pain and frustration. You will notice them constantly going for their little gums. The good news is, there are some ways you can soothe your teething baby. Keep reading to find answers to the question: What to do for a teething baby?
Tip #1: Give Baby a Massage
If you're wondering, "how can I soothe my teething baby naturally?" This tip is for you. During teething, your baby's gums become sore and irritated. So, when your baby wakes up wailing, try giving them a calming gum massage with a baby teething tubes teether. It may seem counterintuitive, but the counter pressure provided by gently massaging your baby’s gums with your finger or knuckle seems to provide effective relief. The value of this trick is in its simplicity. Simplicity is incredibly valuable in the wee hours of the night, when your baby is fussy, and uncomfortable and you are desperately in need of sleep. This trick can help your baby get back to sleep when your resources and energy are in limited supply. Gum massage alone will not provide all of the relief that you would like but it is a good place to start. This is exactly why we created our teeter to be hollow, to allow for the controlled counter pressure for your little ones. : )
Tip #2: Stick to Baby's Bedtime Routine
As your baby gets used to a bedtime routine, their body naturally becomes tired as bedtime approaches. If you decide to blow up their sleep schedule due to teething, you will end up causing more harm than good. Stick to your baby's bedtime bath and feeding routine and throw in a gum massage and other preventative measures to keep the pain at bay so your baby can sleep well. It’s as simple as letting them explore with our teether to provide the comfort and teething relief they're searching for on their gums. They will provide that counter pressure to help with that pain.
Tip #3 : “Consider” Topical Medicine, but be very cautious with this!
If the above natural teething methods & baby teething tubes just aren't doing the trick, it may be time to use some over-the-counter medicine. We know though, if you give us a try you won’t need this topical medicine that isn’t great anyway. : ) Remember, you should consult with your baby's pediatrician before starting them on any new medicine to confirm the proper dosage. You can try baby acetaminophen 30 minutes before bedtime to block mouth pain and help your little one get a good night's rest. We also highly recommend you fully do your research on these topical methods as the FDA has many studies out on this topic.
Tip #4: Dry Excess Drool
Any excess saliva from drooling can actually cause irritation to the baby's neck and face, so it's important to keep your little one dry by frequently wiping their drool with a bib or washcloth and change their clothes if they become soaked from drool. Bonus, snag up some of our drool bibs to help combat this for constantly switching out your little ones outfits.
Tip #5: Pacify the Situation
Sucking is a comforting act for babies and has actually been shown to reduce pain. You can reap these benefits by breastfeeding your baby, giving them a bottle to drink from, or letting them suck on their favorite pacifier. But, also, Pacifiers have been proven to cause significant tooth displacement of permanent teeth, and are frowned because of the constant sucking motion while teeth are forming. Teething bracelets and teething necklaces that contained teething beads in a variety of materials that were intended to be worn by baby or mother were prone to breaking and posing a significant choking hazard. If you decide to go a pacifier route and need to wean your little off the pacifier when the time comes, our teethers have truly helped many wean off the pacifier too.
Tip #6: Use Baby Teething Tubes® - It’s that SIMPLE & it will work!
Baby teethers, like our baby teething tubes®, are an excellent way to soothe teething irritation— day and night. The hollow, flexible design allows for the counter pressure to be applied on the baby's gums while cutting teeth in all areas of the mouth for soothing, calming relief. What's more, Baby Teething Tubes® are:
- Safe: Our silicone exceeds safety standards, including our colorings. Silicone does not contain any petroleum-based plastics or toxic chemicals like those found in plastics such as BPA, Lead, and Phthalates. It is also non-toxic to animals and marine life. FDA Compliant.
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Bacteria-resistant: Silicone also has a natural resistance to bacteria, making it safe and hygienic. You can safely boil your baby's baby teething tubes to sterilize them if desired. Silicone does not react with food or beverages and does not produce any hazardous fumes.
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Stain-resistant: Silicone is resistant to odors and stains. Any unwanted but this can be easily remedied using a mixture of water and soap.
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Dishwasher-safe: Silicone is extremely easy to clean. It can be safely boiled to sterilize and can be routinely cleaned in the dishwasher (top rack only, basket recommended).
- Durable: Silicone doesn't get warped or damaged and can withstand both hot and cold temperatures. It is also resistant to age, sunlight, moisture, and chemicals. Silicone is flexible and shatter-resistant.
- Multiple Developmental Benefits: Easy to hold, manipulate it to all areas of the mouth, develop dexterity, build hand / eye coordination, and the list goes on.
