So, you’ve tackled the feeding, become a dab hand at a 5-second nappy change and are just about able to cope with the night-time wakings, when, bam, teething hits! Suddenly, the newborn phase doesn’t seem so hard after all, as you deal with a dribbling, crying, distraught little one.
Teething generally tends to hit around the age of six months, with the two bottom front teeth often being the first to appear, followed by the two top front teeth. Signs of teething vary from baby to baby, but classic symptoms include:
- Excessive drooling
- Red cheeks
- Chewing on hands and other objects
- Irritability
- Inconsolable crying
- Slight fever
- Diarrhoea (though professionals believe this isn’t a symptom of teething, many parents beg to differ!)
Watching your baby go through the pain of cutting their baby teeth can be distressing but there are a few things you can do to try and help ease their discomfort. Every baby is different, and some will be affected by teething more than other. Similarly, whilst some remedies work for some children, they may not for others and it can take some time working out what works best for your little one.
- Keep it cool – applying something cold to your baby’s gums may help relieve some of the pain. This could be a cold washcloth or spoon.
- Hard food – gnawing can help your baby to deal with teething, so try giving them hard (healthy) food, such as peeled and chilled cucumber or carrot.
- Pressure – applying a little bit of pressure with a clean finger to your baby’s gums can help ease their discomfort.
- Medicine – don’t worry about giving your little one medicine to help deal with the pain, over the counter remedies such as Calpol, Baby Ibuprofen or baby Bonjela can work wonders.
- Teethers – teethers work brilliantly to help give your baby something to chew on and relieve some of the pain. You can also chill them to give an extra boost of relief.
There are a number of great teethers on the market, and here are our top 4:
Tiny Love Squeaker – Albertina Beaver
Named after the famous scientist Albert Einstein, this super cute toy is designed to help promote your child’s fine motor skills. The crinkly fabrics and squeaky noise engages your little one, whilst the easy-grasp teether will help ease any teething pain. It also serves as a fabulous pram accessory to keep your baby amused whilst you are out and about.
One of the ‘must-have’ baby toys, Sophie La Girafe is a true icon. Designed to stimulate each of your child’s five senses, as well as soothing teething pains, Sophie has been adored by over 50 million babies worldwide – that’s pretty impressive!
Cloud & Cuckoo – My Friend Goo
Hand crafted from 100% sustainable natural latex rubber and painted by hand with food-grade dyes, My Friend Goo is a lovingly made teether perfect for babies. It’s easy to hold and free from any horrible nasties, so you can be sure that your baby is safe as they chomp away!
DreamBaby – Click Clack Balls Teether
Not only does this fun teether help comfort your little one as they cut their first teeth, but it also entertains them as they shake the ring and listen for the click clack sound of the balls.
