You’ve finally gotten your baby to sleep through the night, when all of a sudden you’re faced with another challenge, TEETHING! It seems your sweet child is chewing on everything in sight. In addition to the chewing, they are drooling, occasionally fussy, and waking up during sleep time. Baby teeth most often begin to emerge beneath the gums between 4 and 7 months of age. However, sometimes, teething can start as early as 3 months. What can you do to help soothe your child throughout the teething process? Here are a few helpful tips:
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- Give your baby a teething ring made of rubber. Do not freeze teething rings as this could harm your child’s gums.
- Dampen a washcloth with cold water, but do not freeze the washcloth.
- Gently rub or massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger or a moistened gauze pad.
- Try cold drinks like water with ice cubes in a sippy cup, or cold foods like applesauce.
- If your baby is still uncomfortable, contact your provider at Pediatric Care Group to talk about other options and the possibility of using of ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Babies tend to put their hands in their mouths while teething, so make sure your child’s hands are clean.