Teething is part of normal infant development that generally begins around months four to seven. The infant's two bottom front teeth may appear first, followed by the four upper teeth about four to eight weeks later, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Signs that your child may be teething include excessive drooling and the desire to chew on something hard. Common symptoms experienced by an infant when teething may include a low-grade temperature, mild irritability and excessive crying. To ease your child's discomfort during teething, there are a few different remedies to experiment with.
Cold Temperatures
A bottle filled with cold ice water will keep the infant hydrated and may provide temporary relief from teething pain (though infants under six months should not be given water yet). At snack time, include cold foods, which the child may already be accustomed to eating such as applesauce or yogurt. Another teething remedy idea is to cut up an orange into bite-sized pieces and put it into the freezer. When the child is experiencing pain, simply give him a piece of frozen orange, and he will be pleased with the temperature and the flavor. If orange pieces are not age-appropriate for the child, you can freeze a wet washcloth and give it to the child to suck on.
Pressure
Simply rub your clean finger across the gums and apply gentle pressure around the area of discomfort. Although this may hurt initially, it will soon bring relief. This is good practice for when those teeth come poking through. As soon as they do, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends cleaning the teeth with a soft finger brush or a clean, wet washcloth.
Chewing
Be sure to keep the child's toys clean and sanitized as he is likely to be chewing on all of them during the teething process. The aching pressure of the tooth pushing through the gum is soothed by the counter pressure created by the chewing, and so he follows this instinct of putting things in his mouth. Having bumpy teething rings on hand, which can be stored in the refrigerator, is a good idea.
Pain Relief
A visit to the child's pediatrician may be in order to make sure that any symptoms experienced are truly from teething. He or she may recommend giving the child routine doses of acetaminophen. Although topical medications such as Orajel are available for soothing pain, the relief will be short-lived as the child is constantly swallowing. Another option is homeopathic remedies that can be found in a health food market or herb shop. They may contain natural herbal ingredients such as chamomile and fennel seeds. Though always speak to your pediatrician first.
References
- "Caring for Your Baby and Young Child"; The American Academy of Pediatrics; 2005
- What to Expect: Teething Relief
