Teething 101: How to help your baby
Teething, like many baby stages, can feel like a bit of a mystery – especially as our tinies can’t yet talk. For some babies, a tooth just suddenly appears without so much as a whimper – if that’s your experience, congrats! But for others it can be a rather arduous process that can start as early as three months old.
Being that every baby is different, it also requires some trial and error to find out what helps with teething. What works for one baby won’t for another and things can even vary day by day for the same baby – but fear not, we have a few (tried and tested) remedies to help you on your way.
Before we dive into how to help a teething baby, let’s look at the things to keep an eye out for. The teeth that usually appear first are the bottom central incisors. Of course, this isn’t always the case so don’t be alarmed if some different teeth appear, but it's worth knowing the area of your baby’s mouth that’s likely to be in pain. After these, the general order is the lateral incisors, first molars, canines, and second molars. Again, there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ here but if you’re worried, contact your healthcare provider for reassurance.
So now we know which teeth are likely to start popping through, let’s talk symptoms. We’re going to give you some typical symptoms but it’s worth being aware that these are not restricted to teething and, again, if you’re ever worried about more serious conditions, you should take your little one to be checked over.
With that said, some things we suggest looking out for are as follows:
Typical teething symptoms
One or both cheeks flushed
Excessive drooling
Chewing or gnawing on things more than usual
Refusal to feed
Crying or grizzling more than usual
Trouble settling for sleep or staying asleep
Loose stools and nappy rash
A mild temperature
Of course, your baby may well experience none of these (congratulations if so!) but if your little one is seemingly in pain or discomfort, there are a few things you can do.
What can I do to help my teething baby?
Invest in some dribble bibs – the extra drool can mean multiple outfit changes so carrying extra bibs around this time is key and will help you keep on top of damp little chins that can end up getting quite sore.
Massage the gums with teething gels – easier said than done we know but if your baby plays ball, this can really soothe the gums. Try after bathtime when your little one is more likely to be relaxed and winding down or even offer something to distract them.
Teething toys – whether it’s Sophie the giraffe or a classic teething ring you can pop in the freezer, a teething baby will love gnawing on something.
Crunchy, cool foods – offer your little one a carrot stick or some slices of apple that have been cooled in the fridge but be sure to keep an eye on them to prevent any choking hazards!
Painkillers – whether for gum pain or to bring a temperature down, alternating baby paracetamol and ibuprofen can work wonders. Always read the directions carefully to make sure you keep within the recommended dosage for your baby’s age.
Offer a cold flannel to chew on – simply grab a clean washcloth, dampen and leave in the fridge or even the freezer to provide your baby with something soft and cooling.
Lots of cuddles – close contact has been said to help relieve pain so grab your grizzly baby for a cuddle, keep them close in the carrier and accept that they’re going to need some more closeness from you while they ride out the teething.
Make homemade ice lollies – Mix 1 cup of chamomile tea to 1-2 cups of breastmilk or formula, pour into baby-friendly ice lolly moulds and go! You can even store them in a thermal lunch bag if you’re on the go.
Distract them – sometimes the only way to help is to provide some distraction. Head to a baby class, soft play or get out into the fresh air to turn your baby’s attention to something less painful.
Obviously there’s also the challenge of sleep! A baby in pain isn’t going to be able to wind down and stay asleep as they usually would so we’ve collated a few things to help as the night draws in…
How to help a teething baby sleep
Prioritise their routine – now, more than any time, your baby needs the comfort of their routine so try to make sure you stick to your usual mealtimes and bedtime routine to try to avoid making symptoms worse.
Help them wind down – prioritise bath time as a warm bath will not only help your baby to relax and alleviate pain but it can be a great distraction.
Massage – Baby massage is a wonderful way to help your baby to wind down and you can incorporate the gums while your baby is going through the motions of teething.
Pain relief – again. Make sure you give your baby the suitable dose of pain relief as close to bedtime as possible.
Use white noise – as with the daytime, any kind of distraction will help your baby drift off to sleep so use white noise or calming music to give them something else to focus on. There are some great baby sleep playlists on Spotify that can work wonders!
Offer a teething toy – make sure you have a batch cooling in the fridge so that one is ready for bedtime! If your baby is in pain during the night they can reach for it for some relief.
Above all, it’s worth keeping in mind that there’s going to be a fair amount of trial and error involved. As we said at the beginning, what helps one teething baby might not help the next but rest assured, this too shall pass and then you’ll be onto the next phase of fun!