Infants: Teething

In many infants, the process of teething is painless, causing only some increased drooling and a desire to chew. However, some infants develop tender, swollen gums, may not sleep or eat well, and may run a low fever (under 100 degrees). A fever above 100 degrees or diarrhea suggests problems unrelated to teething.

Here are some recommendations to keep a teething baby comfortable:

• Wipe the drool off your baby’s face with a soft cloth (to prevent rashes).
• Rub the baby’s gums with a clean finger.
• Let your baby chew on a wet washcloth that has been placed in the freezer for 30 minutes (wash it after each use). Alternatively, use a cool spoon or rubber teething ring (take it out of the freezer before it gets so hard that it bruises the tender gums).
• Never tie a teething ring around a baby’s neck – it could get caught on something and strangle the child.

Homeopathic teething tablets are a good option. Many parents tell me they have used them successfully to relieve the minor discomforts of teething in their babies.