Help, my baby is teething - how can I help?

The most important points in brief

• Your baby's first milk teeth will appear at the age of six to twelve months.
• This teething process is almost always associated with an uncomfortable feeling for your baby - the gums are often itchy, painful, burned or simply pinched.
• Increased salivation, a baby who chews on everything, swollen and red gums: some toddlers are very tormented by this phase.
• In this text we give a few tips on how you can help your baby through this period and alleviate the worst symptoms.

Some babies still laugh at us completely toothless when they are barely one year old, with others the first teeth break through as early as the sixth month of life. Parents do not always notice this, in some cases the first teething goes completely unnoticed because the little ones have no complaints. Often, however, babies suffer when the biting whites push through their gums. How can you help your toddler through this phase?

Just let the baby chew while teething

The child likes to bite on all kinds of hard objects when teething is sore. Unless these are dangerous, you shouldn't prevent your baby from doing so, as they will, to a certain extent, massage the gums. Damp washcloths, bread crust, pieces of carrots and, of course, teething rings are ideal. In this way, your baby can relieve the uncomfortable pressure and itching. However, you should not lose sight of your child as this increases the risk of swallowing.

Gum massage will also help your baby. There are special dental care finger cots for the little ones so that no germs and dirt get into the baby's mouth. But if you use a clean finger, nothing can happen either. It is ideal if you wet the finger cots or your finger with a cool, naturally unsweetened tea and use it to massage the gums. Chamomile tea or tea made from cloves are ideal here.

Violet root and teething gel

Some specialists recommend violet roots to help your child's teething discomfort subside. The hard, woody texture is obviously good for babies. However, you must keep an eye on the hygiene of the roots, as germs can quickly form on them. If roots crack, they should no longer be used. Intact violet roots, on the other hand, should be rinsed very regularly and poured boiling water over them.

Your baby will be happy about using a certain gel - namely teething gel - if the gums squeeze and throb, itches and hurts. Teething gel contains many plant-based active ingredients, such as myrrh, sage and clove, which are simply beneficial. Sage has a nourishing effect on the tooth and oral mucosa, while myrrh supports regeneration; Carnation, in turn, soothes your baby's gums. Of course, it does not contain sugar or alcohol. It is applied directly to the affected areas where the teeth break through. There is a brush attached to the inside of the lid that you can use.

What parents often mistakenly think when they are teething

Incidentally, many parents consider diarrhea, loss of appetite and blisters in the mouth to be typical side effects of teething - but that's wrong. If these symptoms occur in parallel and over several days, then regardless of the dental situation with your baby, you should visit the pediatrician.

And don't forget: physical affection and tenderness are always great for babies and of course also during the teething phase. So don't skimp on cuddling and distraction.