Advice for Young Mothers: How to Ease Teething Pains
Teething time for babies can be uncomfortable and frustrating not only for a child, but also for parents. Suddenly your baby is not able to sleep and is fuzzy, and your disposition gets affected as well. Some parents do not realize the reason for their baby’s crankiness right away, and it takes a little while before they figure out what’s wrong. The truth is, there really is no need to worry as teething is totally natural and does not pose any risk to the baby. But there are a few things you can do to help ease the pain your child is feeling, and in turn get some sleep for yourself.
So what do first-time mothers need to know about teething and what can they do to help ease the pain and discomfort their little ones are feeling?
Teething Symptoms
Take note that teething symptoms vary from one child to another, and that there really is no set pattern on when teething will start, how long it will take, and how uncomfortable or painful it will be for your child.
When your baby is starting to grow his teeth, he or she may suffer from red, swollen, or inflamed gums. Thus, make sure to inspect your kid’s gums regularly. The outline of his teeth is visible before they actually emerge. In very rare cases, some blood may also be spotted when the gum starts breaking through.
The first baby teeth to appear are the two front teeth on the bottom gum. Normally, these teeth will start to emerge when your baby is between four to seven months old. Some babies, however, will start teething earlier than the others.
Other signs of teething include excessive drooling, rashes, the urge to chew and bite on various objects, reduced appetite, change in sleeping patterns, change in feeding habits, crankiness and fuzziness, and low-grade fever. You may also notice your child rubbing his or her cheeks or pulling at his or her ears. This is because pain in the gums could get to the ear and cheek areas, particularly when the back molars start coming in. Some babies also experience diarrhea. Doctors say loose bowel movements are common for teething babies due to all the excessive saliva swallowed.
How to Help Your Baby Get Through
There are a few things you can try in order to help ease teething pains and discomfort. Some of these called remedies are effective, and some are not. However, most mothers agree that they are all worth a try.
You can try so-called “homeopathic” teething tablets with chamomile, as well as various teething toys and chilled teething rings that your little one can chew on. There are also teething gels and powders that you can massage into your baby’s gums. However, remedies such as gels need to be diligently applied or massaged on the teeth and gums multiple times during the day.
Cold food also offers some amount of comfort. Your baby may find chilled yogurt, applesauce, and pureed peaches appealing. Giving your baby a cold bottle or cup of water also helps. The water can help replenish all the fluids that your baby has lost through excessive drooling.
A few parents, however, know that there’s an easier way to get through this difficult stage in their baby’s life. This remedy is called amber necklaces. Letting small kids wear amber necklaces to help reduce inflammation of the throat, stomach and ear is an age-old tradition in certain parts of Europe as well as certain areas in the Far East. Genuine amber is also known to produce a lasting calming and soothing effect on teething babies.
The traditional beaded amber, which comes from the Baltic region, is proven to be a non-intrusive solution for the painful and uncomfortable effects of teething. Amber is an all-natural and chemical-free analgesic and will help calm your baby instantly. When you wear amber beads and they touch your skin, the skin’s natural warmth helps release the therapeutic oils that they contain. These oils get absorbed by the skin through the pores and get carried into your bloodstream.
In Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and other nearby countries, teething necklaces made of pure Baltic amber can be purchased from local pharmacies. There are also a number of online boutiques that sell amber teething necklaces for the purpose of alleviating the pain and discomfort your baby feels.