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Even Though Babies Don’t Get Their First Tooth Until About 6 Months of Age, Teething Starts Earlier (Around 4 Months).
- Teething causes swollen and itchy gums, which can make your baby fussier than usual.
- Teething also contributes to the increase in drooling that we see in babies around 4 months. That being said, not ALL drooling is the result of teething. Your baby’s salivary glands are prepping for the introduction of solid foods, too.
- Although teething can be a real drag, it’s actually not the cause of all the world’s problems. Parents like to blame almost everything on teething (diarrhea, fevers, runny noses, ear infections, and the current political climate), none of which are caused by teething.
- In addition, parents will often say their baby is constantly putting their hands in their mouth because of teething. While teething may be partly responsible for this behavior, babies also put their hands in their mouths as a way of exploring them.
Below are the Top 5 Tips & Tricks for Managing Teething:
1. Offer Cold Teething Toys.
The best way to soothe bothersome gums is to give your baby a cold toy to gnaw on. You can freeze teething rings or chewable toys (like Sophie the Giraffe)
2. Ease the Discomfort With Tylenol (or Ibuprofen If Your Baby is 6 Months or Older).
If your baby is struggling with the pain or is having trouble sleeping, you can give them a dose of Tylenol (or Ibuprofen). Remember Ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin and Advil) should NOT be given to babies under 6 months of age.
3. Avoid Teething Medications (Including Gels Like Orajel and Tablets Like Hyland’s Teething Tablets).
Why? Because they’ve been linked to health problems in babies.
4. Ditch the Teething Necklaces.
Teething necklaces are OUT because they’re potential choking hazards.
5. Look for Other Possible Causes of the Fussiness.
Remember, not all fussiness and hand-chewing is due to teething. Look for other possible causes of the fussiness (such as hunger, fatigue, a wet diaper, or a fever).
The Bottom Line
Teething is unfortunately an unavoidable rite of passage for babies. Rely on the tips above to help your get your little one through it.
