It’s one of those baby milestones you’ve heard about but when it finally happens to your newborn at around the six-month mark, you know it; your baby is teething. While not all little ones will start teething at the same time — some will begin sooner than six months, others later — there are some telltale signs and symptoms that let you know it’s happening. Here are some teething remedies to try when those little teeth start to erupt.
Symptoms of teething
Safe and natural teething pain relief
The pressure of biting helps relieve some of the discomfort your baby is experiencing, so teething toys are a safer bet than over-the-counter numbing products.
Choose a hard, rubber teething ring rather than a liquid-filled type that could be punctured. Refrigerating a teething ring might bring your baby extra relief. Your little chewer — as long as they’re over six months of age — might also enjoy nibbling on a teething blanket or on a mesh feeder filled with crushed ice or large chunks of frozen fruit. They’ll get the relief of pressure on their gums without the choking risk.
Start with soft, cold foods such as applesauce, or offer teething biscuits and wafers. Pieces of plain toast will be satisfying for your baby to chew as well. Don’t give a baby any large foods to chew on, however. A whole frozen banana might help with pain relief, but it’s a choking hazard, so it’s best to put frozen bananas in a mesh chewer.
The simplest home teething remedies might be your baby’s favorite. When you’re rocking your restless, teething baby, slip a clean finger in their mouth and rub the gums in a rhythmic motion. And finally, rest assured, as, with everything challenging, this too shall pass. It won’t be long before your sweet little one will be losing teeth left and right and giving the Tooth Fairy a run for her money.
