Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
No Result
View All Result
Black baby crying - Soothing teething babies

Black baby crying - Soothing teething babies Image from https://cutt.ly/aW3lKf2

Parenting: 8 Tips For Soothing A Teething Baby

Nereah Obimbo by Nereah Obimbo
15 September 2021
in Parenting
Reading Time: 4 mins read
5 1
0
7
SHARES
38
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterWhatsApp

Teething is a process where an infant’s teeth erupt through the gums. The timing varies but it often begins at about 6 months. The two bottom front teeth (lower central incisors) are usually the first to appear, followed by the top two front teeth (upper central incisors).

It can lead to various symptoms including mild fussiness and discomfort. There may also be pain, crying, and irritability which can be quite an ordeal for both the baby and the parents. It usually takes three or four days with the symptoms decreasing once the tooth breaks through the gums. Here are some ways to soothe the baby’s sore gums.

Symptoms of teething

  • Excessive drooling
  • Chewing or gnawing on objects
  • Irritability or crankiness
  • Sore or tender gums
  • Decreased appetite
  • Slight increase in temperature – but no fever

Symptoms that it is not teething and you should see a doctor

  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • High fever
  • Diarrhoea
  • Runny nose
  • Extensive rash
  • Inconsolable/excessive crying

Ways to soothe sore gums

1. Massage the baby’s gums

Use a clean finger or wet cloth to gently rub or massage the baby’s gums. After washing your hands, gently massage the gums in circular motions. Alternatively, freeze a clean, wet cloth rag and give it to the baby to chew on. It helps decrease inflammation along the gums.

2. Frozen or chilled foods

With supervision, allow your baby to gum down on some frozen bread or fruit. Hard foods like frozen carrots and chilled cucumber work great because babies can’t swallow them and suck on them is soothing. Serving them cold foods in general such as chilled applesauce or yoghurt also helps.

3. Cool metal

Take a regular metal teaspoon and chill it in the fridge. When it’s cool, gently rub the back of the spoon against the baby’s gums.

4. Chewing toys

Sometimes, teething will cause the baby’s gums to itch and harder plastic may provide relief. Chewing toys can also help the teeth break through the gums. Make sure that you purchase teething rings that are age-appropriate and have no small parts that can come off in the baby’s mouth. Also, make sure that the teething rings don’t freeze solid but are rather chilled allowing the baby to chew them more easily.

Soft silicone teething toys, shaped to reach the back teeth as well provide comfort for the front teeth and are a way to help your baby when teething through all the stages of their development.

5. Wipe the drool away

Excessive drooling is one of the main signs of teething. Help protect your baby’s clothes with soft bibs. Wipe the drool from your baby’s face and make sure to keep it clean and dry. Gently wipe often enough to prevent any rash or irritation but not so often that you create additional irritation.

6. Teething biscuits

You can offer teething biscuits starting at 8 to 12 months of age. Pay attention to gum hygiene wiping the gum area and teeth and when they get more teeth, introduce a toothbrush.

7. Lots of cuddles

Sometimes the biggest comfort for a teething baby can be cuddle time. Babywearing also helps. Babywearing is the action or practice of wearing or carrying a baby close against one’s body in a sling or similar carrier. Cue the cuddles and kisses.

8. Try an over-the-counter remedy

If your baby is especially cranky and uncomfortable, you may consider pain medication. Do consult your doctor just to get some guidance on what medication to opt for.

Caring for baby’s new teeth

Run a soft clean cloth over the baby’s gums twice a day, in the morning and evening. This cleansing keeps food debris from building up in the baby’s mouth.

When the teeth first appear, use a small soft-bristled toothbrush to clean their teeth twice a day.

Also, consider regular dental checkups. Childhood dental health sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Check out

Parenting: The Best Foods For Your Baby’s Brain Development

Parenting: 7 Things To Know About Newborn Babies

15 Home Remedies For Itchy Nipples

Share3Tweet2SendSharePin1
Previous Post

15 Home Remedies For Itchy Nipples

Next Post

Lifestyle: The Health And Nutritional Benefits Of Turnips

Nereah Obimbo

Nereah Obimbo

Writer. Youtuber. Filmmaker. Abolitionist. Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.

Next Post
Fresh turnips with leaves - health and nutritional benefits

Lifestyle: The Health And Nutritional Benefits Of Turnips

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

Pregnant black woman in bed - compensating partner for pregnancy

Health: Postpartum/Postnatal Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

29 July 2022
74
Nike logo just do it- with no added

Opinion: Stop Advising Married Women To Have Sex Even When They Don’t Feel Like It

30 May 2023
37

Popular Stories

  • Black woman with short hair leaning on black man and laughing

    They Had A Bad Breakup. When They Met 3 Years Later, She Was In A Jail Cell

    348 shares
    Share 139 Tweet 87
  • Enemies To Lovers: A Storm Made Her Seek Shelter At The Neighbour’s House She Hated

    368 shares
    Share 147 Tweet 92
  • Kenyan Musician J. S. Ondara Nominated For A Grammy Award For His Album Tales Of America

    23 shares
    Share 9 Tweet 6
  • Safaricom Launches Investment Opportunity – Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Ziidi Money Market Fund

    29 shares
    Share 12 Tweet 7
  • What You Need To Know About Vision 2030

    90 shares
    Share 36 Tweet 23

Potentash Blog

Potentash is an award-winning lifestyle blog. We publish lifestyle content that intersects with health, women, beauty, travel, business, relationships, finances and entertainment.

Explore

  • The Singlehood Series
  • From Stairs To Ramps
  • Man Around Nairobi
  • Pearls And Heels
  • Personal Finance
  • Food + Beverage
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Reviews

Get the Potentash Newsletter

  • Newsletter Archive
  • Subscribe
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books

Copyright © 2023. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima