To be able to see your baby smile for the first time, or hear them babble away – heart-melting moments like these, that we all share and treasure with each other whenever we get the chance to talk about our experiences. We coo, we talk, and very slowly try to teach them all the basics through play. But one of the first milestones every baby goes through is teething. This can be a trying time for both parents and children – and what every first-time parent should know, is that there are a few things they can do to make this period as painless and stress-free as possible.
1. There Are A Lot Of Myths Surrounding It
To start off, being a parent isn’t easy – apart from everything you have to do, there’s also the stress factor, and the plethora of misinformation you can find online and elsewhere surrounding babies doesn’t really help from that. There are a lot of myths surrounding this topic specifically, from talk about teething rashes on the bum, to a runny nose or a loss of appetite. In order to keep your stress levels at a relatively low level, it’s important to know what are facts, and which are myths. More than that, some of these things can lead you to overlook things that may need some special attention because you think it’s just a side-effect of teething. For example, the aforementioned rash is more likely to be caused by a simple stomach issue like diarrhea, or it may be a sign that you need to change the baby’s diaper differently than you do.
2. Ask For Help When You Need It
When it’s a matter of something that every child goes through, some parents feel uneasy asking for help since they feel like they should be able to handle it on their own. However, asking for help when you need it is one of the essential steps of being a parent – and everyone needs it for all sorts of things. This is especially when you’re a first-time parent, and you’re dealing with all this new information. In order to avoid unnecessary stress over something like this, talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns, or reach out to family members that have kids of their own. While teething isn’t as terrible as it may seem at first, it can involve a lot of fussing – it’s not the most comfortable thing for the baby, and that translates to more work on the parent’s side. Whether you just want to go over what’s going on with someone in order to see if everything’s going the way it should be, or just vent about the difficulties of dealing with a fussy baby – you need all the help you can get.
3. Common Symptoms
Something to keep in mind is that every child is different, and not every baby will behave or respond similarly to teething. That said, there are some common symptoms that come along with it. For starters, many children tend to be fussier than usual – they’re cranky, irritable, and more likely to cry for no apparent reason. Babies that are teething may also seem like they’re sore or uncomfortable in some way – this is due to the pressure on their gums as the teeth are starting to come through. Their cheeks may seem flushed, or there may be drooling. Now, drooling can result in a rash on the baby’s face. In order to prevent that, make sure that you wipe the baby’s face each time you see some drool and use a face cream specifically designed for babies in order to avoid their skin getting dried out. A less common symptom is a fever – but this is something that needs to be checked by a doctor if it happens, especially if the child already seems sick in some way.
4. Pain Management
Some level of pain – even though it’s really not that much – and discomfort are normal for teething. The good news is there are some ways you can help your baby with pain management. Using a cooled teething ring that you can pop into the fridge before giving it to your baby is an easy way to calm them down, since they’ll be distracted from whatever’s causing the pain, and the cold will soothe it a little bit this way. Teething gels may also be an option, but do keep in mind that they shouldn’t be used for children under the age of two – you would need a prescription from the doctor before using them on a baby that’s younger than that. It’s also a good idea to give them something to chew on – this will reduce the pressure on their gums and make things easier for them. As a general rule, avoid using anything that hasn’t been properly tested or approved by the pediatrician as a teether.
5. Developing A Dental Care Routine
As soon as your baby starts teething, you’ll need to start developing a routine for dental care. A soft washcloth dipped in some water is all you need when it comes to wiping your baby’s mouth after each feeding session – this will help with drooling and getting rid of food particles that might get stuck between their teeth. Make sure you brush your baby’s teeth at least twice a day, using a soft-bristled brush and an age-appropriate toothpaste. Even though they’ll lose their baby teeth over time, it’s still important to take care of them as if they’re there to stay and as if it’s your own teeth – since they’re going to be there for a while longer, and their health will depend on you keeping them clean.
Apart from that, you also need to find a reliable dentist so they can guide you in your baby’s oral care journey. You may check out this dentist in lancaster to get started.
When it comes to teething, all you need is patience – the baby will be able to cope with this stage by themselves for the most part, as long as you make sure they have everything they need and that you can help them with anything they may need. As a parent, the most important part of this is to be able to determine whether or not your baby is in pain – and if there really is something wrong with them. It may take some time and experimenting before you get it right, but once you do, the stress surrounding this period of your child’s development will become a thing of the past.