How to Comfort a Teething Baby

One of the most frustrating parts of parenting a new baby is not knowing exactly what they need. Unfortunately for us, crying is their main form of communication. My one-year-old has been up multiple times a night for the last two months. She wakes up screaming and doesn’t stop until I nurse her.

Mamas, if you are exhausted, overwhelmed, and desperate for sleep or a reprieve from the crying, know that I am right there in the trenches with you. It’s exhausting to try 12 different remedies each time your baby starts to cry in hopes of figuring out the solution.

If your baby isn’t hungry or tired, then chances are they’re probably crying due to teething.

Signs your baby is teething:

• Drooling

• Chewing on objects

• Unusually fussy

• Tender gums

• Slight increase in temperature

If your baby has a temperature of 100.4 F or diarrhea, you should contact your child’s pediatrician. Mayo Clinic Staff says, “many parents suspect that teething causes fever and diarrhea, but researchers say these symptoms aren't indications of teething.”

Ways to help calm a teething baby:

1. Pacifier: Nonnutritive sucking helps calm a teething baby. An infant pacifier is a great option to help with this. The problem with newborn pacifiers is that the infant pacifier keeps falling out. It’s not a helpful teething tool if it keeps falling out! If you’re frustrated that your baby’s newborn pacifier keeps falling out then the Ingy Bingy Band is the pacifier wristband for you!

The Ingy Bingy Band is a pacifier wristband that velcros around baby’s wrist to help them self-soothe from as early as 4 months. Any infant pacifier attaches to this sanity-saving pacifier bracelet. This pacifier wristband saves you time and frustration because, your baby will always have access to their infant pacifier on their own at all times!

2. Massage your baby’s gums: There are many different tools out there to help you massage baby’s gums such as the baby banana toothbrush and teether and Nuby soothing gel.

3. Cold Teething Ring: The cold feeling provides relief on baby’s gums. There are specific toys that have water in them that will freeze when put in the freezer, but you can always just let your baby munch on an ice cube and wrap it in a paper towel if you don’t want to go out and buy something extra.

4. Teething toys: Teething toys are sure to make your baby so much happier! They help to soothe their sore gums and quench that desire for nonnutritive sucking. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but some great teethers include: RazyBaby Silicone teether, Z-Vibe

5.Tylenol: Baby Tylenol is usually a last resort for me because I don’t like to pump my little one with medications unnecessarily. However, when we went to my daughter’s one year doctor appointment her doctor recommended Tylenol before bed occasionally to help her sleep better. All this to say that it is pediatrician recommended and safe for your little one!

We know dealing with a fussy baby is exhausting. Always know that this is just a phase and it WILL get better eventually! Hang in there mamas!