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Ways to Soothe Teething

Around the age of six months, babies begin teething. Usually the front two bottom teeth appear first, then the top two front teeth. Teething can be an uncomfortable process for babies, characterized by excessive drooling, irritability and swollen gums. Fortunately, parents can take steps at home to ease their baby's discomfort during teething.

  1. Massage the Gums

    • Give your baby some relief by massaging his gums. Wash your hands, then dampen a gauze pad or washcloth. Wrap the gauze pad or washcloth around your finger and gently rub it along your baby's gums. The pressure can help relieve the baby's pain.

    Teething Rings

    • Babies tend to chew on objects when they are teething, so a teething ring may bring relief. Purchase one made of a firm rubber; a liquid-filled teething ring might break while your baby chews on it. Put the teething ring in the refrigerator before giving it the baby. The coldness can be soothing to the gums. However, don't put it in the freezer. An extremely cold teething ring may cause more pain to a sensitive child.

    Bottle

    • Sometimes all a baby needs is a bottle to suck and chew on to soothe his gums. For teething purposes, fill the bottle with water, not formula, milk or juice. The sugar in these beverages can lead to tooth decay.

    Solid Foods

    • For babies who are ready to eat solid foods, give them cold solids such as Popsicles, applesauce, pureed peaches or yogurt to soothe their gums. If your baby is 8 months or older, let him chew on bananas or bagels. Some manufacturers also make biscuits especially for teething babies. Monitor babies who are chewing on solids to prevent choking.

    Over-the-Counter Medicine

    • Purchase over-the-counter teething creams and gels, which are rubbed directly on the child's gums. These products numb the gums for a while, giving the baby some temporary relief. You can also ease her pain by giving her acetaminophen or ibuprofen -- but not aspirin, which has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a serious disease that affects the brain and liver.

    When to See a Doctor

    • You usually don't need to call a doctor when your baby is teething. However, if your baby develops a fever, appears severely uncomfortable or has diarrhea while teething, take him in.

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