Tips for Soothing Baby’s Sore Gums
Not sure what’s the best way to ease your teething baby’s pain? The Mayo Clinic offers these great tips for soothing your baby’s sore gums:
Rub your baby’s gums
Use a clean finger, moistened gauze pad or damp washcloth to massage your baby’s gums. The pressure can ease your baby’s discomfort.
Offer a teething ring
Try one made of firm rubber. The liquid-filled variety may break under the pressure of your baby’s chewing. If a bottle seems to do the trick, fill it with water. Prolonged contact with sugar from formula, milk or juice may cause tooth decay.
Keep it cool
A cold washcloth or chilled teething ring can be soothing. Don’t give your baby a frozen teething ring, however. Contact with extreme cold may hurt, doing your baby more harm than good. If your baby’s eating solid foods, offer cold items such as applesauce or yogurt.
Dry the drool
Excessive drooling is part of the teething process. To prevent skin irritation, keep a clean cloth handy to dry your baby’s chin. You might also make sure your baby sleeps on an absorbent sheet.
