When new teeth are breaking through, your baby can be very irritable. This means crying at all times of the day and being very clingy. Of course, as a parent, you do not want to see your child like this. You want to do everything in your power to ease their discomfort since they do not understand what is happening to them.
Thankfully, there are a few things that you can try when it comes to teething. Let’s take a look at them so that you have some options when your child is experiencing sore and swollen gums.
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A Gum Gel
Sometimes, your child just needs some pain relief when they are teething. They do not understand what is going on and you just want to take away some of the discomfort. So, you can try a gum gel. For example, the Frezyderm baby gums gel is a popular teething product that you can buy. This has been specially formulated with herbal ingredients to soothe the gums. This can reduce some swelling and pain, as well as stop so much saliva from being created as a result of teething. It is also said to offer long-lasting relief, which make keep your baby calm for longer periods of time.
Freeze a Wet Towel
When children are young, they like to chew on things. When they are teething, you have to watch what they are chewing on as some toys are going to cause more irritation and discomfort. But, something that paediatricians say to try is to freeze a wet towel. This is going to give your child a new toy. This can keep them busy, as well as the cold temperature has its benefits. Namely, the frozen towel can help to reduce inflammation, which can alleviate symptoms of new teeth coming through.
When you are placing and removing the wet towel, make sure that you do this slowly and gently. You do not want to irritate the gums anymore by being rough and reckless toward your child.
Offer More Playtime
Sometimes, all your child needs is a bit of TLC. They are going through a hard time and new teeth can be painful. So, this is your opportunity to be there for your child and make sure they are getting attention to distract them from the discomfort they are in. You have to ride out the storm and it is about figuring out ways you can distract and calm at the same time.
In other words, you should incorporate more playtime into the schedule when you think that your child is becoming fussy and bothered by their new teeth. This distraction might be just what is necessary to stop them from concentrating on the pain. Otherwise, they can feel sorry for themselves and get into a state. This is particularly true if your child is already tired.
Serve Cold Food
At feeding time, there are some foods that are going to help your child and the discomfort they are feeling. In particular, they should be cold so that there is a soothing effect on the gums. For instance, you can give your child natural yoghurt, as well as applesauce and even some fruit that has been refrigerated. Of course, this is only going to be suitable if your child is currently eating solid foods.
Thus, the coldness from the food can act as a natural numbing agent. It can take away that soreness for a while and this can be enough to calm down your child. While it might only be a temporary fix of the problem, it can provide some quiet time and you and your baby can feel more relaxed.
Wipe Away Dribble
A lot of children will dribble when they are teething. This is something that can happen regularly during the day and the most important thing you can do is wipe it away. While you might not think it is a big deal if you leave dribble, this can cause more discomfort later on. We are talking about causing a rash. This happens because the dampness irritates the skin over time. Your might start to itch it too and irritate the skin more.
Therefore, keep a bib or towel nearby to wipe away all of the dribble. This can make sure that your teething baby is not in any more discomfort. This is one thing that you can avoid before it starts. Just make sure that you are gentle when you are wiping the skin.
