Children begin the teething process anywhere from 3 months old to 6 months old. You may
notice your baby drooling more, being more irritable, or trying to chew things. You may also be
able to see a tooth beginning to erupt through the gumline.
Although teething can be a challenging time for both parents and kids, it’s important to
remember that this is only a temporary experience for your child. Teething tends to be worse
when children are tired or at night, making it harder for both you and your baby to sleep.
How can you help your baby feel better when the pain of teething is present? Here are some
suggestions to best manage your child’s teething.
Cold Compresses
Cold can help numb baby’s mouth and lessen their pain. To do this, you have a few options:
A frozen washcloth. Put a clean, wet washcloth in the freezer in a plastic bag. Once
chilled or frozen, take it out and let your child chew on it. This will help relieve their
soreness.
Rubber teething rings. These rings can be frozen or chewed on at room temperature,
whichever your baby prefers.
Wooden teething toys. For those wanting to avoid plastic, these teethers can still be
frozen or just help apply pressure to your child’s gums, which will help control pain.
It’s essential to always supervise your child when they have any of these objects at their
disposal. To help distract baby, keep alternating frozen washcloths to help your child manage
the discomfort of teething.
Gum Massage
A gum massage helps put pressure on the gumline, which can lessen pain. You can use a tool
for this—called a teething stick—or just use your clean fingers.
Gently rub any sore areas on your baby’s gums. You can rub back and forth on the gumline as
well as above and below the gumline. This will also help you to feel if there’s a tooth coming
out. Instead of using your fingers, you can also use the washcloth we discussed earlier or a
small piece of wet gauze, as long as your movements are gentle.
You can also massage your baby’s gums from the outside of the mouth, whichever option your
child is more comfortable with.
Chilled Foods
If your child is eating solid foods, you can use cold or chilled foods to help them overcome their
discomfort while teething. These foods include yogurt, applesauce, carrots, celery, and
watermelon.
In addition, you can also take advantage of mesh holders that are designed to hold chilled or
frozen fruit so that your child can chew on these and still get the juice of the fruit out while
providing relief for their teething pain.
It’s always crucial to supervise your child while they are eating these foods, especially if they’re
beginners with solid foods. Never let them bite off chunks that are too big for them to chew.
Is your baby going through the teething process? If so, take advantage of some of these helpful
suggestions to lessen your baby’s discomfort. Your child may find relief from using cold
compresses or chilled foods in addition to gum massage to help both you and your child feel
better!
