Teething can be a nightmare for both mother and child! When your child turns one, they will have experienced the teething pain. The arrival of their first molars and canines around 13 to 19 months of age will crown the painful, uncomfortable experience.
Teething causes incredible frustration to both the child and their caregiver. Knowing what to look out for when your child is at that teething age, what to do to help ease the pain, and how to make the process more manageable is essential.
What are the teething symptoms, and how can you help your child?
The exact timing for teething may vary from one child to another, but most babies begin their teething journey at around 6 months. The lower central incisors are always the first to emerge, followed by the upper incisors. Teething toys can be a lifesaver during this period.
Infants tend to become highly cranky and fussy during this period, and knowing what to expect may be required for you to stay put and provide your child with the support they need. Here are some teething symptoms and how you can help your child get through them:
- Discomfort and irritability – This discomfort is caused by the tooth as it erupts through the gum. The first teeth and the molars are often the most uncomfortable.
What to do: Comfort, reassure the baby, and cuddle as much as possible. This will give mommy and child some extra bonding time.
- Drooling and skin rashes – Many babies drool around their teething time. Due to their sensitive skin, the saliva may cause rashes, especially on the chin, cheeks, and around the neck area.
What to do: Keep the areas around their mouth as dry as possible. This can be done by wiping (taking care not to overdo it and hurt the skin further) and using a drool bib with good absorbent material.
- Biting and gnawing – Chewing and biting on firm, solid objects like teething toys provide counter pressure to what they are feeling from under the gums.
What to do: Offer anything cold to the baby. You can make fruit or veggie popsicles or offer chew beads and teething rings.
- Low-Grade Fever and diarrhea – During this teething period, your child will tend to put their hands or anything they can chew on in their mouth to help relieve the pressure from the gums. This can easily cause infection, hence the Fever and diarrhea.
What to do: Always Keep the baby's hands clean, and make sure that the items they put in their mouth are adequately cleaned. Please consult your child's pediatrician and use pain medication appropriate for their age.
- Ear pulling and cheek rubbing – When the molars erupt, they may cause pain that travels to the ear and the cheek.
What to do: Use your finger to massage your little one's gum and notice if it makes a difference. It's important to note that ear rubbing or pulling might indicate an infection. Seek medical advice if this symptom persists or is accompanied by a high fever.
Best teething toys for babies
- Banana Teether Toy | Made from FDA-approved food-grade silicone – Made from FDA-approved food-grade silicone, this banana teether is 100% safe for your little one. It's toxic and BPA-free and will help your child to gently scratch their irritated gum. The banana is chewable, and the bristles are soft enough to provide relief without hurting.
- Fox Wooden Teether Ring Rattle – Made of beech wood, this colorful handmade rattle is perfect for teething. - Featuring a sly, lovable fox, your child will play with this teether and find relief by chewing on it whenever their gums are itchy. The toy is easy to take care of as it is machine washable, and the colors and textures will be good for the baby's visual and auditory stimulation.
- Grape Teether – Teething is often accompanied by aches and itches in the baby's mouth, which cause a great deal of discomfort. The grape teether will provide the much-desired relief with its uneven texture that soothes and gently brushes your baby's irritated gums. Made from FDA-approved food-grade silicone, this teether is safe for babies and relieves teething discomfort and pain.
- Pink Hedgehog Teether – This teether is both adorable and practical! Just the perfect combo! Great for relieving infants of teething pain and sore gums, this stylish teether is perfectly sized for easy holding by your child's little hands. The surface is multi-textured, which makes it a great massager.
- Orange Teether – Ease the teething process for your little one with this orange teether. No itching and no pain will mean no tears! Everyone is happy! The orange has an uneven texture that is perfect for rubbing and soothing a baby's gums. The handle makes the orange teether easy to hold.
- Wooden Teether – This organic wooden teether may be just what your baby needs. It will not only help relieve the teething pain and irritation but also promote healthy teeth development in your child, stimulate their sensory and motor skills, and calm the baby. Made of high-quality polished beech wood, this teether can be washed in warm soapy water, rinsed, and air-dried for subsequent use.
- Coolio Cade Silicone Llama Teether – A gentle yet effective way to soothe your baby's sore gums. This teether is cute and will provide the relief your little one needs. Made of food-grade silicone, the textured teether features an oval opening that makes it easy to be grabbed by little hands.
Conclusion
Teething in some children can be severe, and they may need pain-relieving medicine to help them get through it. Over-the-counter teething medicine that is rubbed on the baby's gum may not be effective and must be avoided. This is because the baby can easily and quickly swallow it, which means that instead of the medicine numbing the baby's gum, it might end up numbing the throat, which is risky.
References
Home Kartz, 2023. Banana Teether Toy | Made from FDA-approved food-grade silicone.
https://homekartz.com/products/banana-teether
Home Kartz, 2023. Fox Wooden Teether Ring Rattle
https://homekartz.com/products/fox-wooden-teether-ring-rattle
Home Kartz, 2023. Grape Teether
https://homekartz.com/products/grape-teether
Home Kartz, 2023. Pink Hedgehog Teether
hthttps://homekartz.com/products/pink-hedgehog-teether
Home Kartz, 2023. Orange Teether
https://homekartz.com/products/orange-teether
Home Kartz, 2023. Wooden Teether
https://homekartz.com/products/wooden-teether
Home Kartz, 2023. Coolio Cade Silicone Llama Teether
https://homekartz.com/products/coolio-cade-silicone-llama-teether