BABY
How to Help a Teething Baby
Your child will want to bite on everything to help the tooth through the surface.
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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PARENT PICKS
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BABY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Bestsellers
For centuries, grandmas and doctors have chalked up night waking to teething pain. There’s no question, teething can make gums throb—and make your child want to bite on everything to help push the tooth through the surface. But is this really pain, or just discomfort?
Common symptoms and signs a baby is teething include:
In truth, teething happens—on and off—for many months. So the pain can’t be so bad, or all kids would be up every night for months. Besides, most kids show no pain during the day. In short, teething is usually just an annoyance: A bit of throbbing that is easy to ignore during the day, but a bit more bothersome when lying flat in a dark, quiet room.
The good news is good, rumbly white noise is usually all you need to distract your baby and help her sleep right though crummy-feeling gums.
However, if you think discomfort is keeping your child awake, ask your doctor about giving a good dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen thirty minutes before bed (it takes a little time to work).
And, if you know that your child is going through teething, keep a few wash clothes in the freezer—whose corner was dipped in apple juice and then frozen—to let your munchkin chew on to help the throbbing while you’re waiting for the medicine to work.
Teething can be an uncomfortable time for your baby! The above tips should be able to help your teething baby find a little relief, but if the fussiness doesn’t subside or isn’t a side effect of teething, check out The Happiest Baby on the Block. Dr. Harvey Karp provides you with all the tips you need to help soothe your baby.
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
