Let's Talk About Teething

Ahh, teething. One moment you have a snuggly newborn who finally starts smiling and cooing; the next, you’ve got an angry, uncomfortable baby you can’t seem to calm. Teething can be difficult for both baby and Mama, and symptoms of teething can appear for months before the first tooth ever erupts. If you’re starting to see the symptoms of teething or are having a tough time managing your baby’s pain, there are a lot of things you can do. Keep reading to learn more about teething, teething symptoms, the best way to soothe a teething baby, and the best teethers you need to add to cart ASAP.

When Does Teething Start?

Like most things with babies and their developmental milestones, every baby is different. Some can start teething as soon as 4 months, while some start much later. The same goes for the order in which the teeth come through — most babies get the bottom front teeth first, followed by the top front teeth. But, others might not. Some babies may get their premolars first, looking like loveable little baby vampires for a few months! After all is said and done, a grand total of 20 baby teeth will eventually come in, usually around age 3.

Symptoms of Teething

As with everything else, the symptoms of teething will be different for each and every baby. Some babies might have an easy time cutting their teeth, while others might be very difficult to console.

Some of the most common symptoms of teething include:

• Swollen gums 
• Gums seem tender to the touch 
• Extra fussiness and crying 
• Rubbing their cheek 
• Ear pulling 
• A slight temperature 
• Consistent need to chew on things 
• Hands seem to always be in their mouth 
• Excessive drooling 
• Drool rash on the face, especially around the mouth 
• Coughing 
• Changes in appetite 
• Difficulty sleeping or extra awakenings

While a baby is teething, it can be easy to write off any odd symptoms they may be experiencing to teething. However, it is important to understand what is absolutely not a symptom of teething so that you can get your sweet baby the care they need.

Symptoms that have nothing to do with teething include:

• Diarrhea 
• Vomiting 
• High fever 
• Cough and congestion 
• Bleeding gums 
• Rashes on the body 
• Pus 
• Swollen face

How to Soothe a Teething Baby

Soothing your teething baby might take a little bit of trial and error, especially as it becomes closer to the tooth eruption. What might have worked last week might not work again today, as their gums might be extra sore.

Some things to try to help soothe your teething baby include:

• Prevent rashes. Before we even start talking about soothing their gums, let’s talk about preventing drool rashes. These things can be just as uncomfortable, so make sure you’re keeping your baby’s face clean and protected with a moisturizer, such as Aquaphor, to create a barrier and soothe their skin. 
• Gently rub their gums. Wash your hands thoroughly, then get in there, Mama! Rubbing your baby’s gums can not only soothe them, but it will also help give you a pretty good idea as to when that tooth is finally going to pop through. 
• Hand over a teether. As mentioned earlier, one of the main symptoms of teething is baby constantly wanting things in their mouths. As such, give them something that will help soothe their gums and help cut that tooth in. Innobaby has an entire line of safe, silicone, non-toxic teethers that double as an oral development toy! More on this in a bit. 
• Make it cold. Think of it like an ice pack on your baby’s gums! Pop one of our silicone teethers in the freezer for extra soothing powers. Be careful not to put any ol’ teether in the freezer, though. Other frozen teethers might break, leak, or become a choking hazard. 
• Try some medicine. When all else fails, there’s nothing wrong with some pain-relieving medication to help make your little one feel better and give them the relief they need. Chat with your pediatrician about what medications may work for your baby and what doses you can give.

What Treatments to Avoid

While on your quest to find what works best for soothing your poor teething baby, it is essential to understand what not to do. Here are some treatments to just completely avoid:

• Toys or teethers that are filled with liquid. Even though they may be marketed as teethers, it is best to avoid toys that are filled with liquids. You never know if they may burst open, tear, or spill. You don’t want a mess on your hands, for your baby to ingest some unknown liquid, or for a choking hazard to occur. 
• Breakable material. Certain materials, including plastic, can break and become a choking hazard. When your baby is teething and putting everything in their mouth, it is important to do some extra baby proofing and cleaning up to make sure they don’t grab anything they’re not supposed to be putting in their mouth. 
• Frozen solid material. Rock-hard frozen material can be a little too tough on a baby’s mouth and might cause bleeding or other issues with their teeth. If you’re looking to give them something that is cold, try one of our silicone oral developmental teethers, a frozen banana, or a frozen cloth—all with your supervision, of course.

Best Teethers for Teething Babies

Teething is such an ordeal. Baby’s gums are sore and aching, and you’d do anything to help them. Innobaby’s entire line of Teethers and Oral Development Toys are perfect for your little one’s tough time!

Innobaby’s teethers aren’t just great for teething pain; they’re considered “training teethers,” which means they’re great for a bunch of different reasons. They stimulate the muscles of the lips, tongue, and cheeks to improve oral motor skills, which aids in nursing, eating solid foods, drinking from cups, and speech development. The light and easy-to-grip handle also improves hand-eye coordination. Giving two to baby will allow for bilateral movement and stimulation of both sides of the brain, as well.

Innobaby holds its teethers to the very highest standards (Conform to Toy Safety Standard ASTM F963 and EN71) and uses the highest quality TPE available because Innobaby wants the best for your baby, just like you! Other teethers may be too small or break apart easily, but you can trust ours!

Winner of The National Parenting Center's 2013 Seal of Approval and named Best of April Box by Citrus Lane & Winner of Best in NY Baby Show 2013, these teethers are top-rack dishwasher safe, freezer safe, and BPA-, phthalate-, PVC-, latex-, and lead- free.

For more great parenting hacks and safe products for your baby, visit us at innobaby.com!