Teething Wahala In Babies

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To ease your child's teething pain and relieve tender, puffy gums and other teething symptoms, consider these remedies.

Cold things
In the same way that ice works on a sprained ankle to numb pain and decrease swelling, cold compresses and foods soothe sore gums.
Place a wet washcloth in a plastic bag and chill it in the freezer for an hour. (For an added soothing touch, soak it in chamomile tea, which has been shown to calm fussy babies and help them sleep.) When you remove the washcloth from the bag, your child will enjoy munching on it, since the fabric massages ridges in the gums and the cold numbs the pain.

Try a refrigerated pacifier or teether. (Don't store the teether in the freezer, because it can get so hard when frozen that it might damage a baby's gums.) There are a variety of refrigerated teethers on the market, including some that have plastic handles so your baby's hands won't get cold.


If your baby has started solids, offer frozen fruit in a mesh bag or freeze a bagel and let your baby chomp on it. A cold large carrot (not a baby carrot, which can be a choking hazard) allows you to hold one end while your baby gnaws on the other.

Pressure
Teething babies crave pressure on their gums since it helps distract their brain from the sensation of teething pain.
If your baby rejects cold items, chewing on a room-temperature teether may do the trick. Some teethers even vibrate. If one type doesn't work for your child, consider trying another.

Or give this strategy a go: Rub your baby's gums with a clean finger until the friction makes a squeaky sound. Not only will the pressure feel good, your baby will probably love the sound your finger makes.

Topical medication
Many parents choose to use a topical anesthetic – a numbing gel or cream that you rub on your baby's gums – to relieve teething pain. These are available over the counter in drugstores.
Be aware that those containing benzocaine may not be safe for teething babies. In rare instances, benzocaine can cause methemoglobinemia, a serious condition in which the amount of oxygen in the blood drops dangerously low. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warn that benzocaine products shouldn't be used on children under 2 without guidance from a doctor.

Another risk is that the medication won't stay where you put it. Even if you rub it directly onto your baby's gums, he might swallow some of it with his saliva, numbing his throat and relaxing his gag reflex – which can interfere with his ability to avoid choking.

Painkillers
If nothing else is working and your baby needs relief, your doctor might recommend trying an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen. (Note: Never give any medicine to a baby under 3 months old without first checking with a doctor.)

For babies at least 6 months old, ibuprofen is an option, too, and can also help reduce inflammation in your baby's gums. But bear in mind that the drug can irritate the stomach, which may be problematic if your baby's already turning down food (which some teething babies do).

Aspirin is off-limits for anyone under 19 years old. Don't give it to your baby or even rub it on her gums. The drug is associated with Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.
If a painkiller isn't doing the trick and symptoms persist beyond 24 hours, consult your pediatrician.

Source: http://www.babycentre.co.uk/