Little Teether Teething Blog

Teething: Whether It Hurts and How to Treat It?

Finding out what is making your baby uncomfortable is a frustrating task. Limited communication means parents have to use a lot of trial and error before getting familiar with the common issues with toddlers. 

Teething is when babies grow their dentition. The effects of this development vary among children, but there are characteristics common to most of them during this period.

This article discusses the details and shares tips on how you can provide some relief for your irritated baby at this stage.

When Does Teething Start?

Babies start growing teeth anytime between 3 and 7 months after birth. 

Central incisors are usually the first set to come through the gums. These are the two front teeth found at the bottom. 

The ones at the top also follow a couple of weeks later. Two more will then grow below to complete your baby’s set of front teeth. 

Molars are next to develop to help the child grind food, with the pointy ones in the upper jaw following almost immediately. Kids usually grow all their primary teeth before age 3.

There are situations when some babies are born with teeth or grow them very early. Although it is rare, it happens and should not be a source of worry for the parents.

Does Teething Hurt?

Teething is painful, and your child’s reaction can be frustrating.

During this time, it is common for babies to be fussy. They usually lose their appetite and have trouble sleeping. Drooling is also more than regular.

It is necessary to know what to expect at this time and how you can help make your child more comfortable.

How Do You Treat Teething Pain?

The effects of teething are manageable in many ways. Below are some hints to help you soothe your child's pain at this stage of development.

• Massaging Gums

Rub your teething baby's gums with a clean finger for pain relief. If the teeth have not emerged well enough, you can also allow the baby to chew on your finger. It also has a massaging effect on them.

Breastfeeding mothers can dip their hands in cool water to knead the gums of their kids before nursing them. This simple technique reduces the likelihood of the babies biting their nipples. 

• Chewing Object

Consider giving your baby something to gnaw on when they are irritated.

Experts recommend a clean wet cloth, pacifier, or teething toy. The trick is to refrigerate them to make them cold but not freezing. You don’t want to give your infant something very hard as it may hurt them instead of soothing their pain. Remember to clean the object after your baby has used it each time. 

• Teething Biscuit and Cold Water

Teething Biscuits are specially made for babies at this stage to chew. Cooling them provides more relief for your child. You can also give your baby cold water in a sipping cup if they are old enough.

Methods to Avoid

Seeing your child in pain might influence you to try almost anything you come across that promises to be of help. 

Regardless of the situation, the following guidelines will help you ensure that you don’t harm them unintentionally.

• The chewing object you give to your baby should not be too small for them to swallow or choke on.

•  It is also good if the item can’t break into smaller bits. 

• Avoid using teething tablets or gels. Many substances are not safe for kids at that age.

• Never rub aspirin or alcohol on your baby’s gums or growing teeth.

• Without extra care, teething necklaces and rings can strangle your child.

How to Care for Your Baby’s Teeth

Excellent dental health at a young age can have long-term benefits for your child’s teeth. In infants, this process begins even before their first set of choppers emerge.

Be careful with how you care for your baby’s teeth. They are sensitive and delicate, so certain actions might end up causing more harm than good.

• Wipe your baby's gums daily with a damp cloth or gauze even before it starts teething. Ensure that this is clean before sticking it in your child's mouth.

• Clean your baby’s first set of teeth with a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste and a soft brush.

• Use more toothpaste when your kid becomes old enough to spit it out. Remember that a fluoride overdose can be harmful to them.

• Switch to brushing twice a day after all their teeth have come out. Do this usually after meals.

Conclusion

Taking care of a baby is a struggle, especially if it is your first time. That is why people use parenting tips from websites such as Fawn and many others to help make the journey easier. 

These sites don’t only provide guidelines to parents but also sell baby products at special discounts to help them cut costs.

 

Gina Solares

-Fawn Design

Babies love Little Teether’s food-grade silicone toys on their teething gums, as a sensory toy for tiny hands, and easy to hold, textured grippy silicone that is dishwasher safe! 

 

How to Raise Happy and Healthy Children

 

Raising happy and healthy children is a goal for most parents, but it can be hard to figure out the best ways to foster health and happiness in your kids, especially when electronics and social media work against those goals if used in excess. With the right knowledge and practices, though, you can develop a desire in them to make healthy choices.

 

The biggest influence on the behavior of children is the behavior of the adults in their lives. Simply put, your kids are going to follow the patterns they see you following, according to Psych Central and decades of science, so prioritize healthy decision-making in your own life. 

 

Here, Little Teether offers some tips you should consider!

 

Healthy Mind

 

The Child Development Institute points out that one of the most important things you can do to encourage your child’s mental health is to establish open lines of communication. Your kids have to know that they can talk to you and trust you. By building this trust when times are good, you are ensuring they turn to you when things get tough. Talk to your kids about stress management and give them the tools to handle times of crisis. Practice meditation together to help with focus and anxiety.

 

Interact positively with them, showing them affection and praising them when appropriate. Talk about emotions with your child, teaching them how to identify them early on. Show them how to handle emotions that might overwhelm them, like anger and fear. Reassure them that you are on their side and that whatever they feel, you can get through it together.

 

Purpose is essential to a person’s mental health, so let your children see you driven by your own sense of purpose. Pursue the dreams you always intended. If a degree is a goal for you, consider attending college classes online. Degrees in everything from marketing to accounting to nursing are available online, allowing you to work things around their own schedule. Watching your dreams become reality will show them that their dreams are attainable, too.

 

Healthy Body

 

Limit the number of processed foods and sugary drinks you keep in the house. Instead, focus on teaching your kids to enjoy cooking and eating healthy foods. Experiment in the kitchen together, letting your kids pick out recipes to try. Dabble in different cuisines from across the world, encouraging your children to try out new tastes and foods.

 

Encourage them to be active by planning family activities you can all enjoy. Take walks together after dinner or go swimming each weekend. Get their friends in on the activities when possible.

 

Participation in sports not only helps keep kids physically active, but it has also been shown to be beneficial to mental health. Enroll them in local sports clubs, or if team sports aren’t their thing, sign them up for martial arts classes or yoga classes.

 

Look for other, less traditional ways to get your kids active. Summer camps can be a great way to expose kids to fun new activities in short bursts. Alternatively, you can rent a vacation property to enjoy hiking, fishing, or just spending some time out on the lake. The more you can associate fun with the activity, the more likely your kids are going to want to maintain being active throughout their lives.

 

Raising happy and healthy kids is not an unattainable thing; it just requires work. Model the behaviors you want to see, keep an open line of communication, and engage with your kids in positive and active ways. By doing so, they’ll grow up to be the well-rounded, healthy individuals you've always wanted them to be.

 

-Emily Graham

Mighty Moms

Let's be honest, baby's first Christmas is kind of nice because you can get away with not spending too much money on them - they enjoy the wrapping paper and bags and boxes WAY more than whatever gift is inside. The problem is, as parents, we have so much trouble not OVER buying gifts for our kids (or am I the only one guilty of this?) I tend to try to keep it even between my three girls, making sure I don't spend a ton more or less on one of them. My oldest two make Wishlist's and know exactly what they want, (which makes it easy to know what to get for them), but my baby would be happy if I just wrapped up a roll of toilet paper! 

I've found that the best way to come up with gifts for baby's first Christmas, is to focus on keepsakes and sentimental things because they will likely be something that baby has for years to come, and will create sweet memories from their very first Christmas!

1. All my girls get a new Christmas Blanket every year. The options are endless with this. TJ Maxx has adorable and inexpensive blankets. I'm a sucker for Pottery Barn because they are the highest quality and do amazing personalization and monogramming. Even for a baby who doesn't care about gifts, they will love a comfy and sweet blanket! (This particular one is on sale right now!)

2. I'm a sucker for Piggy Banks. I love the concept. I love how special it becomes as kids get older. I love the process of explaining the importance of money to little ones. And I love how cute they have started making them. Again, these can be found several different places, but it would be so sweet to have one personalized for baby's first Christmas. Hopefully it won't be broken by baby's second Christmas. Ha! The one pictured is from Things Remembered, and they do amazing and quick personalization! 

3. A sweet frame to document their first 12 months of life is a MUST at some point - one where there is a slot for 12 pictures, one from each month. What better time to get it than Christmas? Mostly just because we need more things to wrap for baby so they can destroy the wrapping paper. Even if baby is only a month or two at Christmas, it's nice to have this before they turn a year so that you can start putting the photos in each month. There are some unique frames for this on Etsy (such as the ones pictured, but they can be found all over - Pottery Barn, The Land of Nod, Ross, Walmart, Target, etc. 

4. A Personalized Story Book. If you head to Putmeinthestory.com, make sure not to schedule anything for the next hour. This website is AMAZING and there are way too many adorable books to choose. Every kid loves this gift because THEY are the hero of the story. Their name is on every page and the book is personalized to them. It's so vital to read to babies when they are young, but this is also a gift they will love year after year! I truly believe that every kid needs this gift! 

5. Baby's First Christmas Ornament. This is a MUST. And just think, if you have 15 kids, your tree will be completely decorated just with these First Christmas ornaments. ;) The styles on these vary from ultra personalized to each individual baby, to very generic and classic. It may take time to find the perfect one for your sweet little one, but this is such a perfect keepsake. And as an adult, I STILL love looking at all my ornaments from when I was a kid. 

 

How To Save Money When Holiday Shopping For The New Parents In Your Life

 

WIth all the baby showers and celebrations for the baby, chances are the needs of the newest family member are already well taken care of. But Mom and Dad have had some major changes to their lives, and while they may not admit it, they could also really use a gift or two. Little Teethers would like to help you score discounts or cashback opportunities on your purchases you make for them “just because.” 

 

Creature Comforts

• The new parents probably won’t be able to go to a restaurant for a long time. But you can bring the restaurant to them with a meal delivery service. 
• The next best thing to bringing the restaurant to them is bringing them everything they need to make dinner. A meal-kit delivery service makes making dinner easy and fun. It saves the trip to the grocery story and gets them to try new recipes.

 

Around-the-House Helpers

• Add functionality to their home or apartment with smart devices.
• If they haven’t caught on to the Instant Pot craze, you can enlighten them. In addition to easy one-pot meals, they can use it to make baby food or to sterilize baby bottles.
• You might also want to make a solid investment in the look of your backyard by hiring a professional landscaping service. To save money, just search for Angi “landscapers near me.”
• They’re home so much they are probably Netflixed out. A yearly subscription to Amazon Prime can be bought with one easy payment. You’ll expand their streaming library and get them free shipping from Amazon as well.

 

Just for Them

• Get them a wine subscription as a perfect pairing to the meal delivery service.
• Everyone bought clothes for the baby, but Mom will need new clothes too. She’ll feel beautiful in a maternity and nursing nightgown, and you’ll have gotten it from a retailer who gives back to organizations that help moms.
• When Mom and Dad need stress relief, the spa time you got them will be just what they need. 

It may not seem like much, but one of these caring gestures can bring that overworked new parent a bit of relief throughout the year. They’ll never forget their first year with the new family member, and while they may not show it, all the little things you do to help can make the experience that much richer. 

 

Emily Graham - Mighty Moms

Photo via Pixabay

 

When it comes to traveling with little ones, vacations can feel too challenging to plan. But it doesn't have to be! With a little savvy, you can easily put together a wonderful trip for the family, and avoid putting a hole in your wallet. Here are some tips, presented by Little Teether.

A Plan for the Kids

When you've got young ones to amuse and you know you're going to be on the road for an extended period of time, make sure you have a list of ideas to occupy them. Put together a bag filled with toys, coloring books and crayons, their tablet and any other item that can help them stay distracted. Don’t forget to grab some snacks and water so you don’t suffer an afternoon meltdown because your toddler is hangry. 

Take Stock of Your Ride

If a road trip is on the agenda, Popular Mechanics explains you’ll want to have your car serviced a few weeks before your trip. In addition to maintenance, you’ll want to review your auto policy to see if you’ve got enough coverage. If you need to bump it up, hunt around for a few quotes to get policy comparisons to see if you can find a deal. Note that certain factors like where you live and your driving record will determine your premiums. 

 

Once you’ve got the major details associated with your car worked out, put together an emergency kit and go ahead and throw in an atlas, just in case your GPS can’t connect. The last thing you want is to be lost in an unknown city with a bored toddler in the backseat. 

Explore Online Discounts

When you're planning a family trip, check online to see if you can find any good discounts. Many websites offer access to deals where you get a little bonus thank you via discounted prices or cash back for things like flights, hotels, concerts and more. With a promo code or coupon handy, you could book a trip to Disney or Universal Studios and save on bundled prices without having to search super hard for the best deal. You can keep the kids happy with fun attractions, and you’ll keep your budget happy with the savings you enjoy. 

Travel During The Off-Season

If your children are really young and don't have a school schedule to abide by yet, Mint suggests trying your hand at traveling to destinations during their off-season. Many locations offer lower prices when they're not making a killing off of tourists. Not only will you avoid the higher prices on things like amusement parks, but you'll have less of a crowd to deal with and be able to enjoy a more personal family vacation. 

 

Have a Souvenirs Plan

We’ve all seen moms and dads in gift shops with a screaming kiddo, and we all know the feeling that accompanies this situation. To avoid this situation, plan ahead. Try buying trinkets before you leave and stash them in your bag, or do your best to set expectations before any excursions where you anticipate a glut of souvenir shops. Not always easy with a toddler, but worth the effort. Another option is to start a small souvenir fund. You can even ask your kids to help you remember to add change all the time and watch it add up. 

Credit Cards Are For Emergencies

It's nice to have a credit card to fall back on when you want to spend money on something you think you've earned, but when you're on vacation it's important to make sure you don't overspend and blow through your budget. Try to pay with your debit card or cash only so that you don't return home with a bill that charges you interest and stresses you out. Nobody enjoys paying more than they've actually spent. Try to only use your credit card for an emergency.

Don’t Rule Out a Staycation

If traveling simply isn’t in the cards right now, or you simply don’t have enough room in your budget for an extended getaway, don’t rule out a staycation. Chances are, there are many places and activities that your family hasn’t experienced around Phoenix, giving you a great reason to stick around town. And if you want to jazz things up, rent a local vacation property near some of the places you’d like to visit (the Phoenix Zoo, for example, is just one of the many places around town worth visiting). You’ll get to enjoy staying somewhere else while sticking close to home.

 

Don’t let the idea of traveling with small children throw off vacation plans. You can tackle this challenge head-on, and now you’ve got some ideas to make it happen. 

 

Emily Graham - Mighty Moms