How to Ease Teething Pain

While babies can begin teething at different ages, most start cutting teeth by the time they are 6 months old. In addition to some crankiness and a few sleepless nights, other symptoms may include drooling, swollen gums, and loss of appetite. Although some of the best medicine throughout this process is patience, and offering your little one comfort and lots of love, you may want to try a few other remedies as well.

Things You'll Need

• Clean Damp Washcloth
• Teething Ring
• Cotton Bib
• Chilled Unsweetened Applesauce
• Acetaminophen

Instructions

1. Gently but firmly massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger, damp washcloth or moistened gauze pad. Be sure to wash your hands first. Rub gums for about 2 minutes. Repeat as often as is necessary to give relief.

2. Give your baby a firm teething ring or bottle filled with water. A chilled teething ring or cold washcloth can be soothing to sore gums. For babies old enough to be eating solid foods, cold unsweetened applesauce or yogurt may be appealing. Others like to chew on cold carrots and celery sticks. Babies often don’t like to eat warmed foods when they are teething.

3. Wear clean, cotton bibs on your baby to catch and absorb drool caused by teething. This will help to prevent your baby’s cheeks, chin and neck from becoming dry, chapped, and sore.

4. Consider medicine if it gets really bad. An over-the-counter remedy such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help if your baby is having trouble sleeping. Medications that you rub directly on baby’s gums usually are not recommended, as these can numb a baby’s throat interfering with normal gag reflex.

5. Distract your baby’s attention from the discomfort of teething. Just like an adult, it helps to take a baby’s mind off her troubles. Play with your baby or redirect her attention to a colorful toy. Giving your baby a soothing bath not only may distract her attention, but relax her as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Babies rarely run more than a low-grade fever when teething, or suffer a runny nose or watery eyes. Teething does not cause diarrhea or earaches either. These may be symptoms of another health condition; therefore, contact your baby’s pediatrician for advice.

• Never give your baby OTC’s, which contain aspirin. Research has linked taking aspirin or aspirin-containing products during childhood to a rare, but sometimes fatal illness known as Reye’s syndrome.