Natural Ways To Alleviate The Pain & Stress Of Teething

Natural Ways To Alleviate The Pain & Stress Of Teething

Teething can be a very difficult time in your home. Parents get stressed and your baby is grouchy, whining and in pain. If this is your first time dealing with teething pain, try not to panic or beat yourself up about it. We all know it’s tough to deal with and you are doing the best possible job you can to help your child cope with the aches and pain. Unfortunately, this is a stage in life you cannot fast forward but handling the situation head-on and finding great natural ways to alleviate the pain will make teething a more bearable time for both you and your child.

Here are a few tips to try at home.

Mum Stress

Teething is not only stressful for your child, it certainly affects you as well, especially if this is your first time as a mother. You are still learning the tricks of the trade and finding your feet which at times can be overwhelming and since stress can affect your health in many negative ways, it is a good idea to look into natural supplements and superfoods such as Moringa, Omega 3, and Turmeric to keep your immune system strong and healthy. You can find out more at Mommy Authority.

Embrace The Cold

You can detect the early stages of teething when your child starts to gnaw on your or their fingers more frequently. They also tend to become more fussy and irritable — who can blame them — they don’t understand where the ache is coming from after all. When you notice a hard red bulge in your baby’s mouth, try to give them something cold to gnaw on instead of subjecting your fingers. During this time your fridge will become your best friend — try refrigerating the following household items for your baby to chew on:

• Use a clean cloth to wrap some ice in so your baby can suck on for a while to ease the swelling.
• Teething rings should never be frozen as it may cause harm to your baby’s gums. Instead, pop them into the refrigerator to cool for a while. They will still be as soft and won’t cause bruising or harm to the gums.
• Freeze a rubber feeding spoon. The metal of the spoon will help retain the cold and the rubber protects the gums from bruising.

Teething Snacks

Finding the bests foods for your baby while they are fussy and irritable can be a challenge because they may not have an appetite during this period at all. At times you may resort to adding sweeter treats in order to get them to eat but this might aggravate the pain further. Try to avoid introducing foods that contain too much sugar and rather stick to natural alternatives. The gums are usually inflamed so it’s also best to avoid giving them any food that is too spicy or acidic such as oranges and other citrus fruits. You may find that your child finds pressure soothing while teething. If this is the case, try giving them teething biscuits or rice cakes as these foods will eventually dissolve away which reduces the risk of choking. Bananas are a great treat to freeze, they are gentle and easy to eat and the coolness will offer relief from the pain for a while. Cucumbers and watermelon are another great soft treat to freeze when your baby starts getting irritable. They are a great way to keep them hydrated too.

Nursing

Breastfeeding a teething baby can be a painful experience especially if you are not expecting the bite. Before a feed, try massaging the gums with your finger as this could prevent biting during feeding. Usually, your baby would need to stop sucking before they bite down. When this happens, gently put your fingers over your nipple before they get the chance to bite down. This is also a sign that they may be full as they will usually only start gnawing once they are done feeding. If you prefer, during this time you could start expressing milk and try bottle feeding, however they may not take to the bottle. If this is the case, try sticking to the tips above — it may be a painful time for you every now and then but we promise it won’t last for long!

Guest Article.