Unfortunately there's no knowing what teething symptoms your child will experience. Some common tell-tale signs to consider include:
- Are they crying?
- Are they grumpier than usual?
- Are they drooling and dribbling excessively?
- Do they wake up at night distressed?
- Are their gums sensitive and red?
- Are they biting and chewing whatever they can find?
- Are they rubbing their ear?
- Does your baby have flushed or red cheeks?
- Are they refusing food?
- Do they have a mild temperature?
Tips for easing your baby’s discomfort while teething
Once you know that your baby is teething, you can do several things to ease your baby’s discomfort. Things you can try to relieve the pain include:
Massage the Gums - The swelling and pain that comes with teething can often be soothed by massaging the gums. Many babies start biting down on the sides of a crib or playpen when teething because they like the pressure. Use a clean finger to gently massage the gums to help reduce their pain.
Hard Teething Toys - Many little ones love chewing on something hard because it adds pressure, and it can even speed up the teething process. Teething toys made of toxin-free plastic, rubber, or silicon are all great choices. Experiment a bit to see what your child likes the most, and make sure you keep teething toys clean.
Use Something Cold - A cool washcloth or even a frozen washcloth can feel wonderful on your baby’s irritated gums. Plush teething toys that are chilled also make great options. You can dip them in a bit of breast milk and freeze them or put them in the refrigerator as well.
Offer Chilled Food - Many babies don’t want to eat much while they’re teething, and since cold feels good on swollen gums, chilled food may help.
The best foods for teething toddlers
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Yoghurt
With calcium and protein for strong bones and teeth, yoghurt and its easy-to-swallow texture is a solid choice. Try adding some smooth peanut butter to provide a more nutrient dense snack or meal. -
Scrambled tofu or eggs
Tofu is a nutrition powerhouse high in protein and also contains iron and calcium. Silken or soft varieties of tofu can be scrambled and cooked just like eggs. -
Weet-Bix Little Kids Essentials and milk
Quick and convenient, Weet-Bix Little Kids Essentials offer a tailored blend of nine essential vitamins and minerals including iron, zinc and calcium, is high fibre and low in sugar. Either make them with cold milk to soothe, or add additional warm milk to make a mushier consistency. -
Pureed vegetables in white sauce
Go back to basics. A mix of vegetables like cauliflower, pumpkin and zucchini, with white sauce made of butter, milk and flour can help kids still get some daily vegetables at a tricky time. -
Smoothies
Blend whole-grains (cereals, oats), fruit (banana, berries), dairy or dairy alternatives (milk, yoghurt) as well as nuts and seeds (avocado, chia seeds, nut butters).
Tania of LMB
*sources: Dr Maggi Davis and Associates Pediatric Dentists + Sanitarium Weet-Bix