Q: [Infants/Toddlers] We love, love, love our baby…but do NOT love the terrible pain our normally chipper little sweetie is apparently suffering through as her first teeth are coming in! We are only dealing with her very first tooth and are both out of our minds trying to soothe her sore gums. And this is just the beginning! Nothing seems to work. She is fussy and miserable and we feel like crying right along with her. Help?
A: A baby’s smile can light up a room, but it can be painful watching a baby go through the stage that makes that smile grow even cuter. Most parents will admit that teething bites, literally. In fact, a 2015 survey found that teething topped the list of the most difficult childhood milestones according to parents, trumping both potty training and the terrible twos. But, it doesn’t have to bite.
Try these tips to relieve pain and get parents and their babies back to giggling and smiling.
Gently rub baby’s gums with a clean finger to soothe sore gums or try a temple massage, which can be a calming distraction and ease the pain radiating from baby’s mouth.
Teething babies drool. Keep lots of washcloths on hand and remove drool frequently from the infant’s chin to avoid irritation or a rash.
Try BPA-free teethers, which babies love to chew and gnaw on for relief.
Administer Infants’ Advil Drops for babies 6 months or older to safely and effectively relieve teething pain for up to 8 hours.
If following other tips from fellow parents, make sure to run suggestions by your medical professional to ensure they are safe and in keeping with current recommendations. (For example, if chilling items to relieve pain, make sure it is only cooled by refrigerating and never in the freezer which could harm sensitive skin.)
Dr. Nina L. Shapiro is the Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology and a Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. A graduate of Harvard Medical School and Cornell, surgical internship at Boston’s Beth Israel, residency at The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. www.drninashapiro.com
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