As your child grows and develops, his teeth begin to cut through his gums. This process is often a painful one for your child, associated with minor swelling and extended periods of discomfort. While teething pain can come at all hours of the day, it is magnified at night because of your child's need for sleep.
Teething Rings
Prior to bedtime, supplying your child with a chilled teething ring can help her numb her gums as well as satisfy her urge to apply pressure directly to the sore areas of her gums. In addition to teething rings, cold food during dinner time, such as chilled applesauce or yogurt can help reduce pain in your child's mouth while providing her with a nutritious snack before bed.
Washcloth
If your child is crying in bed due to teething pain, supplying her with a cold washcloth to suck or chew on can help reduce pain as well as shift her focus from her pain to the texture and feel of the cold washcloth. Giving your child the washcloth as soon as she starts crying is essential to prevent a cyclical habit of crying. If your child cries for extended periods before you help her, chances are she will begin to understand it is a habit and cry more frequently.
Clove Oil
If you are not interested in giving your child drugs or other prescription medications for inflammation, certain natural remedies, such as clove oil, can help reduce pain in your child's gums. Start by diluting the clove oil so that is at about 30 percent of its original concentration. Dab some on a cloth or your finger and rub it gently on the gums of your child. In addition to the numbing quality of the oil, the new taste might also distract your child from the pain he was feeling.
Infant Tylenol
If your child simply does not respond to any other solution during night, providing him with a small dose of Infant Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help reduce inflammation and pain in your child's mouth. Consult a doctor before administering any type of drug or medicine to your child. In addition to acetaminophen, some oral products can be directly applied to your child's gums to help reduce pain and swelling in his mouth.
