For many parents, teething can be one of the most difficult stages of their baby’s development. Just when you feel like you’ve hit your groove and are on somewhat of a schedule, here come the baby teeth. Teething can cause all sorts of undesirable symptoms for your little one, like sore gums, constant drooling and difficulty sleeping. It’s enough to make even the most even-tempered baby cranky and irritable.

No parent likes to see their baby uncomfortable, and worse, feel helpless as to how to provide relief. While there is no magic cure for how to soothe a teething baby, there are some tried and true teething tips for soothing baby’s sore gums. Keep in mind, no two babies are exactly alike, so what works for a friend’s baby, may not work for yours. You may need to try different things to see what works best for you.

Rub Baby’s Gums

One of the classic symptoms of teething that causes the most discomfort for your baby is sore and tender gums. This discomfort often causes baby to be irritable and can affect their quality of sleep (and yours, too!).

A simple way to provide some relief to baby’s aching gums is to rub them. You can use a clean finger or a clean, wet washcloth to apply gentle pressure. This simple action can provide relief to baby’s teething discomfort and is one of the easiest tips for how to soothe a teething baby.

Provide Safe Items to Chew

You may notice that your teething baby chews on everything he or she can get their hands on. As we mentioned, applying pressure to baby’s gums provides some relief to their discomfort. When your baby chews on a toy or other item, he or she is essentially doing the same thing.

It goes without saying that you need to be careful about the items your baby puts in their mouth. There are many products that are designed specifically for teething babies. Be sure to read labels and inspect toys to make sure there are no small parts that can break off and all materials are safe. Also, be sure to clean teething toys and other items your baby uses regularly.

Items we love:

Chewable Charm Silicone Pacifiers

This bulb shaped pacifier is perfect for teething babies. The one-piece design ensures no breakage, and because it’s made from 100% medical silicone, it’s totally safe for little ones. Stock up on these colorful pacifiers so you’ll always have one within reach when you need it! You can also add a Chewable Charm pacifier clip, made from food grade silicone beads, as the perfect accessory.

The Saturday Baby Silicone Stacking Cups

These colorful multi-purpose stacking cups are a great toy for a teething baby. Not only do they help develop motor skills and promote brain development, but they are also made from 100% food grade silicone, so they are super safe for baby to chew on. Even better, they are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Chill Out

Some parents find that cool objects provide extra relief for their baby’s sore gums. Try giving your baby a clean, cold washcloth, or a chilled teething toy or pacifier to chew on. Chill teething toys in the refrigerator, not the freezer, which may make the object too hard or cold for your baby’s sensitive gums.

Feel free to get creative with the chilled teething objects you give your baby. You may find that changing up the object frequently keeps your baby from getting bored. Again, make sure any item you give is approved and safe to use for teething.

Items we love:

The Saturday Baby Silicone Spoon Set

Did you run out of chilled pacifiers, or is your baby tired of the same old teething toy? Try giving your teething baby a chilled silicone spoon instead! Made of 100% food grade silicone material, these pretty spoons are safe for your little one and easy to clean. Babies love them because they are the perfect size and shape for little hands and mouths!

Minito & Co. Teether Fruit Feeder

This fruit feeder is great for introducing your baby to new foods and promoting self-feeding, but it also makes a great teether. Made of 100% food grade silicone, both the handle and nipples are soothing on swollen gums and can help relieve teething pains. Try adding chilled fruit or another cold food to this feeder to help relieve teething pain.

Wipe Drool Regularly

Another simple thing you can do to prevent your baby from being extra irritable while teething is to wipe their drool regularly. Teething causes excessive drooling, which can cause a rash on baby’s sensitive skin. Irritating rashes can be prevented if skin is kept clean and dry as much as possible. Your baby may not enjoy having their face cleaned often, but it will be worth it to not have a painful rash on their face.

Items we love:

EliteBaby Muslin Swaddle Blankets

You can use any soft burp cloth or baby blanket to dry your baby’s face from teething drool. We love these lightweight muslin swaddle blankets because they are soft and comfortable and come in adorable patterns. They are also multi-functional, so you’ll always want one on hand to use as a burp cloth, sleep sack, nursing cover, or a comfortable blanket for nap time or tummy time.

We hope these tips help get you and your baby through the challenging teething stage. Bookmark this page of tips on how to soothe a teething baby and stock up on the items you might need along the way.