Teething is a horrible, terrible, cruel joke on every parent. Anyone who tries to tell you it isn’t is probably delusional (from lack of sleep due to teething). As a new parent, however, it can be difficult to know the difference between teething fussiness and general new baby fussiness.
Symptoms of Teething
Teething can start as early as two months, but typically begins in earnest around 4- 6 months old. Every baby experiences teething differently; some will experience virtually no symptoms (the lucky ones), and others will experience pain for months.
So what do teething symptoms look like anyway? The most common teething symptoms include:
- drooling
- “teething rash” (from said drooling)
- biting
- excessive crying and irritability
- feeding issues (these can occur with solids and breastfeeding)
- poor sleeping habits (unusual night waking)
- noticeable tugging of the ears
No one teething experience will be the same. Thankfully, there are steps we can take to try to soothe our poor, pitiful teething tots. Here are a few tips and tricks for combatting teething, plus one of my favorite baby+mama products on the face of the planet!
Soothe Teething with These Tips and Tricks
1. Take a Chomp Out of Teething Pain with Chewbeads.
As you’ve probably discovered, babies put everything in their mouths — and for good reason! As it turns out, gumming provides counter pressure, which relieves the achy feeling that results from brand-new baby whites pushing up and out into your sweet, unsuspecting, little one’s mouth.
Not unlike most moms, Chewbeads co-founder, Lisa Greenwald, quickly noticed that her son Benjamin was always putting things in his mouth — and his favorite “chew toys” were always mom’s necklaces! Lisa was concerned her jewelry might break, or worse contain harmful chemicals. So as a veteran of the fashion industry, she set out to create “soft, non-toxic jewelry that was both chic (read colorful) and safe.”
Chewbeads products are made of 100% silicone. They are BPA free, and contain no phthalates, lead, cadmium, or metal. Chewbeads are also dishwasher safe. Score! They offer stylish products for both mom and babe, including necklaces, bracelets, pithy silicone bibs, and adorable (chew-friendly) pacifier clips.
My two-year-old has seriously been teething for the past two years. I can honestly and unabashedly say that our Chewbeads have saved our lives (and our sanity) on numerous occasions. And they are so stinking cute!
2. Cold Food and Drinks
Think ice-cold water in a bottle (after six months), and frozen or cold food (like yogurt or frozen fruit chunks in a mesh baby feeder) — these can be more satiating than warm food, and can help (fingers crossed) to ease baby’s achy gums.
3. Snuggles, Snuggles, and More Snuggles!
Because snuggles make everything better.
4. Baby-Safe Pain Medication
You should always consult your physician before giving your child any (new) medication. A temperature of 101 degrees or less while cutting a tooth (due to inflammation of the aggravated gums) shouldn’t cause too much alarm — but if it persists, or is higher than 101 degrees, or is accompanied by other symptoms, your best bet is to call your pediatrician. Trust us, these guys are professionals. And they have undoubtedly heard it all.
You’ve got this, mama! Remember, this teething nonsense won’t last forever–this is only a season. Because let’s face it, you’ll probably experience bigger and badder parenting issues down the road. So this is basically a cake walk! It’s all about perspective.
What are some of your best teething tips and tricks? We’d love to hear! Feel free to share in the comments section below.
