Your Childrens Health

Teething is perhaps one of the most difficult transitions your baby has to go through. The process begins around 6 month and the symptoms can vary.

Your teething baby may have excessive drool. To help protect clothing and skin, you can use a soft pull-over bib. If your infant’s cheeks and chin become red and irritated you can apply petroleum based ointment, such as A & D ointment, to help sooth your baby’s skin. Even though it might be hard, try not to wipe your child’s chin excessively. This can make the irritation worse and chap their delicate skin.

Red and swollen gums can be irritating to your baby, and over-the-counter preparations may help lessen the pain. Some popular brands include Baby Orajel and Hyland’s Teething Gel (my personal favorite). If you like, you can also give your baby a cool, damp washcloth to chew on. Drinking cold liquids may also reduce the pain. Massaging and rubbing the baby’s gums with your finger or soft tooth brush can also provide relief for your little one.

The urge to bite and chew is your baby’s natural response to their gum discomforts. Don’t punish them if you find them gnawing on something they shouldn’t be. Just redirect their attention to a teething ring or toy. Make sure to have a variety of clean substitutes handy for your teething baby.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 14th, 2006 at 1:56 am and is filed under Medical Care, Growing Pains, Dental. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.