My Baby Won’t Use Teething Toys

As your baby develops and gets older around the time their teeth start to come in, it can get a little stressful. When babies teethe, they usually go for the stuffed animals or the toys that they have laying around.

But sometimes, that’s isn’t always the case. Sometimes, babies don’t use their toys at all when they start teething. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It may appear to be bad because all your baby is doing is crying, not taking their usual naps, and chewing on their fingers.

It’s completely understandable if this leads to stress. Because as a mother, all you want to be able to do is get rid of any pain your baby is going through. And the whole point of teething toys is for your baby to use them to relieve their pain.

But, it’s not the end of the world. There are other methods you could try to help resolve this issue. It may take some time for your baby to get used to, but it’ll be well with it in the end. All you have to do is try different things to see what works for your baby.

Remember that this is a process and eventually you both will figure it out. But never doubt your workings and always keep a positive mind. Keeping a positive mind is the best thing you can do for both you and your baby.

Learning to accept

Sometimes, you have to accept things that you don’t want to. Learning to accept is the most important thing you have to consider as a mother. Because things might not go the way you want them to. But the worse possible thing you can do is blame yourself.

Just because things don’t go according to plan doesn’t mean that it’s your fault. It’s coming for babies to refuse to use teething toys during their teething process. So don’t think that you are the only mother going through this.

It’s actually a natural reaction for a baby to use their fists or fingers to soothe the pain. Your baby is going to use whether method they are more comfortable with.

You can try to force them to use teething toys, but if they don’t take a liking to them then it’s never going to work. Your baby is going to like what they like. And the only thing you can really do is try to make your baby feel comfortable as best you can.

Know the signs

It’s pretty obvious to know when your baby is teething. To help make your baby’s experience more soothing, make sure you look out for all the early signs of teething.

Because it’s very important to help soothe your baby’s pain in the earliest stages opposed to later on.

Listed below are some early signs:

• Increased drooling
• Trying to bite and chew everything
• Increased rubbing of the face
• Pulling of the ears
• Swollen and red gums
• A tooth visible below the gums
• Difficulty sleeping
• Refusing food
• Slight fever (no higher than 101 degrees)

Distracting your baby

Sometimes it’s easier to distract your baby when they’re teething. When toys or snacks can’t seem to offer any relief, there’s a lot of things you can do to help your baby.

One way to distract your baby while their teething is to help take their mind off the pain. Attempting to play a game with your baby or even talking to them can help take their mind off the pain.

Even giving them a bath can help shift your baby’s focus from any discomfort to their feeling. Do whatever it takes to make your baby happy and less worrisome. The more you distract your baby, the more smooth the teething process is going to become moving forward.

Ways to care for your baby’s mouth

There are many ways to care for your baby’s mouth. And it’s better that you start learning early on so you can already be familiar with certain methods. The only way you’re going to learn is to practice.

You can practice taking a damp washcloth to wipe your baby’s gums. Your baby’s first tooth starts to peek through around the ages of 4-6 months. So it’s important that you start practicing these methods ahead of time so that it’ll be easier for you later on.

So start practicing oral care with your baby as soon as possible. Even using a tiny spec of fluoride toothpaste and gently brush your baby’s teeth and gums with a soft-bristled toothbrush can be essential.

When to avoid teething toys

Not all teething toys are safe for babies. The FDA actually recommends staying away from a lot of teething toys that are on the market today. The teething toys that could be a danger to your baby are jewelry, bracelets, necklaces, even anklets.

Regardless if you’re wearing them opposed to your baby doesn’t change anything. Some of these teething toys are made from amber. Amber purportedly releases an anti-inflammatory called succinic acid.

Now, there is no evidence that this has happened, but would you be willing enough to take the risk? Regardless, teething toys made with amber, plastic, or beads pose a threat because they pose as choking hazards. And your baby’s safety is more important than anything else.

Conclusion

As your baby grows through development, there are a lot of milestones you have to endure as well as your baby. And teething is one of the many important milestones you and your baby have to get past.

Although it may be a challenge, it’s not something that you can’t overcome. While you might like for this teething phase to fast-forward, it does take time. You and many others must understand that this is a process.

They are many options other than teething toys out there for your baby. Cool wash clothes from the fridge can even be a great numbing tool to ease the teething pain.

The analgesic in breast milk has a natural soothing property and can even help with the teething process.

There are many methods out there that you can use. So don’t give up just yet. Be confident and continue to stay positive no matter what.