Toot's Mom is Tired

A Parenting + Mom Life Blog

  • Home
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • “Why Do You Call Your Daughter Toot?”
  • Popular Posts
    • Top Posts
    • Mom Life
    • Pregnancy
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • Preschoolers
    • Crafts & Activities
    • Earn & Save Money
  • Mom Resource Library
  • Contact Me
  • Our Favorite Things

How to Make Teething More Comfortable for Your Baby

January 20, 2021

9.8K shares
  • Share287
  • Tweet

Teething can be a challenging time for babies (and parents!)

Soreness and swelling from teething can make some babies more fussy and more reluctant to eat.

Here are some basic facts about baby teething and home remedies to make this teething more comfortable for everyone.

How to Make Teething More Comfortable for Your Baby | teething pain remedies, babies, month old, months old, year old, toddler teething, home remedies for teething pain, motherhood, parenting, mom hacks, baby hacks, when do babies start teething?, when do baby teeth come in?, baby teeth schedule

{This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.}

Basic Facts About Teething

When do baby teeth start to come in?

You can usually expect to see your baby’s first tooth when they’re about 3 to 6 months old. Check with your doctor if it doesn’t appear by their first birthday.

Toot didn’t get her first tooth until she was 10 months old. 

Our pediatrician said a baby’s teething schedule will track around the same time as one of the parents got their baby teeth. My mother-in-law said B didn’t get his first tooth until around 10 or 11 months which is probably why her teeth were late to the party.

baby teething chart
Source: Indiana State Dept of Health

Expect different reactions to different teeth

The lower front teeth will usually appear first and the very first tooth may be the most uncomfortable.

Big molars or cutting several teeth at once can also be difficult for babies.

Pay attention to more serious symptoms

Teething used to be seen as dangerous mostly because it was blamed for other developments that babies are prone to around the same age.

Check with your doctor if your baby has a fever, congestion or diarrhea. They might indicate a viral infection.

A teething baby

Home Remedies To Make Teething More Comfortable

Massage your baby’s gums

Rub your baby’s gums gently for a couple of minutes with a clean finger.

Related:  How to Keep Your Baby or Toddler from Crying in the Car

They may resist at first and try to bite you, but they’ll let you continue if it helps to relieve the pain.

You can also do this with a finger tooth brush for babies.

Get a Finger Tooth Brush

Buy teething rings

Store-bought teething toys will help your baby to relieve pressure on their gums and make them less likely to gnaw on other things that could be toxic or bad for them.

Pick whatever style your baby prefers. There are several different kinds. Most are made of silicone and can contain liquid that can be frozen.

See Teething Rings on Amazon

Make your own teething toys

Washcloths or terrycloth toys dipped in water and chilled are good options.

You can also fill a pacifier with cold water.

Just make sure they’re not too cold. If they’re too cold it can hurt your baby’s mouth.

Also check out: 5 Baby Items I Couldn’t Live Without

Take proper care of all teething toys

Clean all teething toys after each use.

And take frequent breaks to limit the amount of time a very cold object has direct contact with your baby’s gums.

Serve your baby cold foods

Your baby may have trouble eating because sucking increases blood flow and sensitivity in the gums.

Foods like popsicles and cold applesauce can ease the pain by numbing the area.

Soft foods are easier on gums and new teeth, too.

I remember having my braces tightened and only eating mashed potatoes and macaroni for the next few days. I imagine that’s what teething feels like.

How to Make teething more comfortable for your baby or toddler

Clean up drool promptly

Babies drool more when they’re teething. Wiping your baby’s chin frequently with a clean cloth will help keep them dry and reduce the risk of rashes.

Related:  How to Throw a Successful Sip and See Baby Party

Drooling bibs are good for teething babies. We had a hell of a time keeping Toot’s drool in check. She ended up with a neck rash several times because of it.

Receiving blankets make good drool wipers. Check out other ways to use receiving blankets here.

Give your baby Infant Tylenol

Check with your doctor to make sure you can give your baby Infant Tylenol.

If your baby is over 6 months, you can use Infant Advil (ibuprofen). But Tylenol should be okay for most babies under 6 months because it’s acetaminophen.

Get Infant Tylenol

Talk with your doctor before using any teething gels

The FDA advises against teething gels with ingredients like benzocaine because of the potential for toxic reactions. Your doctor can help explain the risks.

Keep all teeth clean

Baby teeth need to be kept clean to avoid future dental problems. Wipe them with a soft cloth until there are enough teeth to need a soft toothbrush.

We started with a baby banana teething toothbrush. By the time she was two, we got a kid’s tooth brush.

Get a Banana Teething Brush
Me and my teething toddler
Look at all the teeth she has now!

Schedule your child’s first visit to the dentist

At your next appointment, ask your dentist when they would like to see your baby.

Each dentist is different but early checkups enable them to spot irregularities and advise you about any special care your little one needs.

Our dentist told us to bring her with me to my appointment around her third birthday for a quick look and so she can see how it all works. Then her first appointment will be 6 months after that.

Related:  5 Baby Items I Couldn't Live Without

Is your baby having trouble with teething?

Let me know in the comments below!

Many babies sail through teething with no symptoms at all and simple home remedies will be all you need to ease most cases of fussiness or eating troubles.

As always, talk with your doctor about any concerns you have and get your baby off to a good start with healthy and happy teeth.

Read More about Babies

You may also like:

  • How to Get Your Baby on a Good Sleep Schedule
  • 9 Mom Hacks to Make Shopping With a Baby Easier
  • 5 of the Best Musical Toys to Put Your Baby to Sleep
  • Gift Ideas for Baby's First Birthday
  • best books for babies
  • 10 Things You Can Do with Receiving Blankets
9.8K shares
  • Share287
  • Tweet

Babies · 5 Comments

Trending Posts to Read Next

Realistic Toddler Meal Ideas

9 Prizes for Baby Shower Games

Why is My Baby Gasping or Sobbing in her Sleep?

50 Toddler Approved Recipes for the Whole Family

10 Educational STEM Toys for Toddlers

 


« Top 10 Best Books for Babies and Toddlers
15 Best Interactive Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers »

Comments

  1. Julie S says

    January 8, 2018 at 10:34 pm

    MY fingers were H’s preferred teething rings lol! Man sometimes it seemed like he popped out two at the same time but he got all his molars early.

    Reply
  2. Bekah smith says

    January 9, 2018 at 7:28 am

    I enjoyed this post! I have 12 month old twins that have been teething for months now and only have 2 teeth! This tips are sooo helpful to make my girls a little more comfortable while all the other teeth break through! Thanks for thinking outside the box (massaging their gums!! I never thought of that!!)

    Reply
    • Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says

      January 9, 2018 at 7:30 am

      I can’t imagine having two fussy teething babies at once! I hope they get through it comfortably!

      Reply
  3. Adeel shehzad says

    February 11, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    I love this article thanks for sharing you you please tell teething toy is ok for baby ?
    can i use it

    Reply
    • Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says

      February 11, 2018 at 1:00 pm

      Teething toys are fine usually.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Toot's Mom is Tired

Hi! I’m Niki.

I’m a mom of a kid called Toot. Yes, I’m always tired!

So I’m sharing all of my tips, hacks, and recommendations for other tired moms to make parenting and mom life a little easier.

Find out more about me >>

  • About Me
  • Mom Resource Library
  • Popular Articles
  • Mom Life
  • Pregnancy
  • Babies
  • Toddlers
  • Crafts & Activities
  • Shop

Privacy Policy

Disclosure

Contact Me

Search

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Toot's Mom is Tired · Hello You Designs