by Helium01

Created on: March 04, 2009

How to Ease Infant Teething Pain

There are many trials and tribulations of raising an infant but for some parents none come close in terms of frustration as the pain of teething. As a first-time parent you may not know what to do to help your baby through this developmental stage. Thankfully, there are many options when it comes to helping your little one receive her first set of teeth.

Before deciding on how to manage teething pain, it is important to determine whether your baby is actually teething or is fussy for another reason. Some teething symptoms to watch for include white blister-like bumps on your baby's gums where the teeth are about to emerge, as well as a runny nose even if your child is not sick. Once you have determined that it is teething pain that your baby is experiencing, there are several options in terms of management.

Infant Orajel

Infant orajel is carried at most pharmacies and large stores such as Wal-Mart. Orajel works by numbing the surface of the gums. Apply a small amount of orajel to your baby's gums that are beginning to show teeth.

Pain Medication

There are a variety of pain medications available for infant teething, including Tylenol, Motrin, and Teething Tablets. Tylenol helps to ease pain for up to four hours, while Motrin will offer pain relief for up to eight hours. Teething tablets also offer pain relief but involve giving your baby a tablet. You may find that Motrin is the best option in terms of pain medication because it offers a long duration of pain relief and is easily administered as it comes in liquid form.

Teething Devices

In addition to pain relief, there are a number of teething devices on the market. Teething rings offer your baby the chance to bite down which relieves the pressure on her gums that is causing discomfort. Similarly, teething devices that incorporate frozen foods can be used both for pain relief and as a source of nutrition.

Teething Necklaces

Even babies wear jewelry! Well, in this case your baby would be wearing what is known as a teething necklace. This necklace operates in a similar manner to a teething ring, allowing your baby the chance to relieve pressure on sensitive gums. Be sure if you do purchase a teething necklace that it is approved for infant use.

These are just a few tips to help you deal with the teething stage of infancy. Like most childhood ailments, teething is a stage that must be surpassed, and once finished will seem like a long-distant memory. However, in the present, it is important to keep your baby comfortable and manage pain as much as possible.

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