Home Remedies for Baby Teething
When your child is in pain, it's tempting to try just about anything that might soothe him. But not all the home remedies that your friends and neighbors recommend are safe; for instance, the amber necklaces that some parents believe ease teething pain can pose strangulation and choking risks for little ones, notes Valerie King, M.D. in an article on the American Academy of Family Physicians website. Using a combination of several expert-advised remedies is the safest bet for your baby.
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Chilly Chewables
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Anything on which your baby can safely chew will ease his teething pain. To keep him from gnawing on your book collection, keep a stash of safe chewables in the refrigerator, not the freezer. Frozen teething rings or ice cubes are too cold for his sensitive gums. Wet a pacifier or washcloth with water and refrigerate it for an hour. Stock up on hard rubber teething toys rather than the liquid-filled type, which could break under the pressure of your child's jaw.
Food Fixes
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A bottle filled with cool water, milk or formula provides hydration to your baby and gives him something to press between his swollen gums. Cold foods can also soothe a child who is already eating solid foods -- and you can introduce most babies to soft solids starting at around age 6 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Give him chilled pouches of fruit purees and make infant cereal using cold breast milk or formula. An older baby can munch on teething crackers that melt in his mouth. Any teething tot can get relief from chewing on a mesh feeder filled with cold fruits or vegetables.
Pain Medication
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If nothing seems to bring your child relief, you may consider pain relievers. Don't apply any topical medication to your baby's gums, advises the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Giving a teething child acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help the pain, according to HealthyChildren.org, a website of the American of Pediatrics, but you should talk to your child's doctor first. Ibuprofen is only safe for children ages 6 months or older, while and acetaminophen is safe for children 3 months or older. Because dosages depend on your child's weight, consult your pediatrician during each teething episode. These medications also treat fevers, which may accompany teething. However, teething shouldn't cause a fever that's higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Call the doctor if your baby's fever is higher than that. Keep in mind that you shouldn't give a child younger than age 2 any medication that includes benzocaine.
More Remedies
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Rubbing your child's gums with a clean finger or piece of gauze will help soothe the pain. Homeopathic remedies made with Chamomilla, or chamomile, can treat teething and diarrhea, according to the University of Michigan Health System website. However, you shouldn't give your teething child any substances without first talking to his pediatrician. Giving your cranky teething baby a warm bath, taking him for a walk or distracting him with a game of peek-a-boo might be all he needs to take his mind off his mouth.
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Q My nephew is almost 11 months old and hasnt cut any teeth yet. Is this normal? A The first tooth usually erupts (come through the gums) between 5 to 7 months, although it can be as early as 3 months and as late as 15 months. At 11 months of age, yo
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Most babies get their first front teeth, called central incisors, between 6 and 10 months of age. However, its important to note that every child is different and this is just a general timeframe. Some babies may get their first teeth earlier or late
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Teeth grinding, medically known as bruxism, in babies can be an annoying and troublesome condition. Some babies suffer from bruxism because their teeth are not growing normally, but for most, teeth grinding is a stage that will pass with growth and d
