7 tricks to survive teething symptoms

It is exciting to see your little one growing teeth but for your tiny tot, this milestone may be an uncomfortable time. During teething, which usually starts between 6-10 months, a baby becomes unusually irritable and they might pull their cheeks and ears. They also start drooling more than usual and chew on their fingers and toys more often. There are many tips and tricks you can use to help soothe the pain when your baby is teething. Try these seven strategies

Help your baby relieve his sore gums with these helpful tips and tricks:

1. Frozen teething rings can really help to soothe sore and tender gums. Let the teething ring thaw after taking it out of the freezer to avoid trauma to your baby’s gums.
2. Check the list of ingredients on teething gels and powders because some contain local anaesthetic which causes the mouth and lips to go numb. This may cause your baby to bite himself as more teeth start appearing.
3. If the tooth hasn’t erupted yet, you can soothe teething pain by rubbing your baby’s gums with a cloth or your finger for about two minutes. Wash your hands before doing this.
4. A wet cloth, cooled in the fridge to chew on is as effective as a teething ring.
5. Some babies like having something hard to chew on. You can give your older baby apples, carrots or other raw vegetables to chew on. Keep an eye on your little one just in case pieces break off, as they can be choking hazards.
6. Ice lollies, cool purified food and biltong can be given to older babies to chew on.
7. Teething can cause pain and keep your baby from sleeping and lead them to crying continuously. To soothe the pain, paracetamol and ibuprofen, given in the correct doses, can help with severe teething