The best ways to help your teething baby! Sore, red gums are painful and no parent wants their baby to suffer. These remedies and tricks will help your little one feel better when teething!
While baby’s first tooth is adorable, a teething baby can be a nightmare! It can cause sleepless nights, uncontrollable crying, fussiness, and overall misery (for parents and baby!)
Take comfort in knowing that it is normal and temporary. Sore gums can be red and swollen, especially as their tiny teeth start to pop through. The good news is, there are tons of home remedies to help bring comfort to your baby’s gums.
When do babies start teething?
Most babies start teething between 4 to 7 months of age. Some babies start earlier and some babies start later! Most babies have cut at least one tooth by their first birthday.
This means that some babies start teething before they are able to start solid foods. Be careful not to offer things that could be a choking hazard.
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. This means if a purchase is made using links on this site, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business!
Best things for a teething baby
There are so many great ideas for ways to help your teething baby. The teething process can take months, so you’ll have plenty of time to try different things.
Be careful when looking for natural remedies. Well-meaning folks may try to tell you about a teething remedy that could be harmful or lack scientific evidence. It’s always a good idea to discuss things, like using herbal remedies or essential oils, with your child’s pediatrician.
A clean finger
The best way to sooth sore gums is to use a clean finger and rub along baby’s gums in a circular motion. Your baby may even grab hold to your finger and give themselves a gum massage! This is a safe way to offer pain relief without putting your child at risk for choking. Be careful though – baby teeth are sharp so once they poke through you may be reaching for a teething ring.
Hard plastic teething toys
A hard plastic teething ring is easy for baby to hold in their mouth. Similar to a finger, as they rub against the inside of baby’s mouth it can be very comforting.
Silicone teething toy
Silicone teething toys are great for a baby that wants to munch hard. Some of them offer different textures to meet baby’s sensory needs as well.
These teething mitts are also great for babies. They are very easy to clean and are easier for some babies to get into their mouth.
A cold, wet washcloth
One of the best natural teething remedies is to soak a towel or washcloth in cold water and let baby munch away! As those new teeth come through, a cold washcloth can help greatly with baby’s pain.
You can place a clean washcloth into some ice water but be sure not to let it freeze too cold. Ice can be painful against your baby’s gums.
Use cold foods in a mesh feeder
For an older baby, using cold foods (thing fruits and veggies) in a mesh feeder can help ease some discomfort. This is one of the best teething remedies for kids that aren’t eating well because their mouth hurts.
You can freeze purees in an ice cube tray or use cold, soft fruit. Help your baby chew by holding the teether for them.
To prevent tooth decay, many pediatric dentists recommend wiping or brushing baby’s teeth afterwards.
Frequent breastfeeding/ breast milk
Breast milk can help alleviate baby’s pain! You may notice changes feeding routines when you have a teething child. Homemade popsicles using breast milk or drinking milk from the breast are both good options to help with pain relief, comfort, and nutrition.
Things You Should Not Use For A Teething Baby
The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against the use of certain products for teething babies. Here are some things they recommend avoiding:
- Teething Necklaces/Jewelry. Using jewelry made from baltic amber, wood, silicone, or other materials can pose a serious risk to baby. This jewelry can cause a choking or strangulation hazard, infection risk, and can cause damage to the baby’s mouth.
- Teething creams or gels. Many of the teething medications, like Baby Orajel, contain medications like benzocaine to numb baby’s mouth. While it might seem tempting to reach for a teething gel, these can suppress the baby’s ability to swallow. They also put baby at risk for a serious, and sometimes fatal, condition called methemoglobinemia, where the red blood cells are unable to carry the proper amount of oxygen.
- Be careful of choking hazards. Your baby may try to chew on things that are not safe when their gums are sore. Be sure to keep items that pose a choking risk out of arm’s reach.
How to tell if your baby is teething
As those tiny teeth break through it is normal to see some changes to your baby. Your child’s pediatrician may feel around their mouth with a gloved finger to see if there are teeth coming through, or you may notice some of these:
- Excessive drooling
- Runny nose
- Fussiness, irritability or difficulty sleeping
- Tender gums
- Redness or swelling in the gum area
- Rash or redness on their face and chest from excessive drooling
- Gnawing or biting
Other helpful information
- Ear infections can be more common when teething. Talk to your child’s pediatrician if you notice them tugging at their ear or running high fevers with teething
- Always supervise your baby when offering teething items
- It’s common for baby’s face and neck to become chapped from the excessive drooling. Using diaper cream as a barrier from the moisture can be helpful.
- Soothe your baby however they like – fussiness is normal and temporary