Teething Babies: How To Help Them
Written By: Guest Blogger
Teething can be one of the most stressful times for you and your baby, and no two babies are the same when it comes to teething which may leave you feeling quite frustrated when talking with your best friend who’s baby is finding teething a breeze. Teething usually starts to kick in around five or six months old and can go on for quite a long time, depending on how quickly your baby’s teeth develop. The first signs of teething are, any changes in their toilet habits, red cheeks, chewing on toys and fingers and experiencing a more irregular sleeping pattern. Once these symptoms are recognised, you are soon to discover that your baby has begun to teeth. Teething does not cause any medical problems, therefore there is no need to visit your GP when your baby is going through this growing period, unless in any unusual cases when you feel that your baby is going through more pain than they should be. Luckily, we have a few tips on how to help your baby through teething, making the time easier for both you and your baby to bare.
Methods to Combat Teething
One of the most common methods to ease the pain of teething from your baby is to use a teething ring, which are made from plastic and contain liquid, these when refrigerated are very soothing for your baby, as the cool liquid eases any pain and also distracts them from any discomfort they may be experiencing. There are also many other options out there now for your to try with your baby in order to find the most effective method for you, some suggest that more natural remedies such as chewing on a carrot, apples, and cucumber that have come straight from the fridge to be one of the most effective remedies, as these fruits and vegetables store lots of calming moisture and can also be a tasty treat. This method has been very popular with friends, who no longer feel that they would want to resort to actual painkillers for their child and that the natural, healthy option felt like one of the most appealing to try and test.
Medicines
However, if you feel that your baby needs something more than chilled fruit or vegetables to chew on, teething gels and baby paracetamol are widely used and trusted when it comes to dealing with teething. You can purchase these from over the counter at your local pharmacy, and the gels often contain a small amount of anaesthetic which help to soothe your babies gums, helping them forget all of their teething troubles. Homeopathic teething granules are also popular, as they use ingredients such as chamomile to help calm your baby without using any harsh chemicals. These products can be found widely in Boots and other high street stores and have proven very effective with mothers.
Advice from GPs and Tips to Remember!
An important thing to remember is that when using cold methods to calm your baby such as the liquid filled teething ring is never to put these items in the freezer to make them even cooler, or to give them any kind of frozen food to suckle on as this will result in freezer burns and can prove more distressful than the experience of teething itself. Also, try out the natural remedies before deciding to use medicines, as this could lead to dependency and the baby getting into habits of taking medicine. If you do feel desperate and have tried the natural methods advised here, always consult your GP on the best medicines and how to use them. What is most important here when looking after a teething child is that this experience is unknown to them, and more important than any remedy or medicine is that they will be needing lots of love and cuddles to make them feel comforted and relaxed, this will also help you to understand when your baby is in more pain than normal.
Rhian from www.pregnancy.co.uk gives you some top tips on how to cope with a teething baby. Being able to get your baby through the teething stage is extremely important, and following some advice can really help both you and baby.
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