Supporting your baby through the pain and discomfort of teething can be testing and knowing what teething relief remedy to try can be a minefield. With so many options, which do you choose? Below we’re talking through our top gentle teething remedies to help your teething baby get some relief from the discomfort of teething.

Breast Milk Ice Lolly

If you’re breastfeeding, a great natural option for teething relief is a breast milk ice lolly. To make breast milk ice lollies simply use an ice lolly mould from the supermarket and fill them with expressed breast milk, pop the moulds in the freezer for a few hours and once frozen give the lollies to your baby to gently chew on. The coldness of the frozen lolly will help to soothe sore gums from teething.

The ice lollies could take up to eight hours to fully freeze, so it can be a good idea to freeze a few so you have them on hand when your infant needs the relief. Make sure to choose ice lolly moulds that come with a stick so that you can hold the lolly for your little one. Not only are they great for the relief of teething pain, but also great to cool down babies on hot days.

Teething Necklaces

Teething necklaces have increased in popularity over the last few years, and for good reason; they allow parents to easily have something to hand to soothe their teething babies whilst also being designed to look nice. If you’re wondering what teething necklaces are, they are necklaces with pendants made from silicone beads, so your baby can gnaw on the beads to relieve teething pain whilst you cuddle them. You can buy teething necklaces in bright primary colours, or even in muted tones, so you can match them with your outfit if you want to.

Teething jewellery also doubles up as ‘fiddle beads’, something for your baby to twiddle while feeding, to keep their concentration, stop hair pulling and skin pinching.

Gum Massage

There is belief that teething pain may be caused due to the pressure of the teeth trying to break through your babies’ gums and countering that pressure with a gum massage can be helpful in relieving the pain. After washing your hands (and trimming nails if necessary), use one clean finger to gently massage your baby’s gums.

Using our teething gel whilst massaging your babies gums can add extra relief, it even comes with a soft brush applicator to massage the gel into your babies’ gums and relieve pain and discomfort.

Cold Food

Food straight from the fridge can be soothing for swollen and sore gums. Foods such as yogurt and pureed or mashed baby food can be soothing. If you’ve started baby led weaning and your baby is used to finger foods, you can use this to help them with teething.

Chop up firm foods such as carrot, cucumber, mango, or any food your baby really enjoys into fingers and keep them in the fridge. You can then take the cold food straight from the fridge for your baby to chew on for teething pain relief at snack time.

Cold Teething Ring

Keeping with the cold theme, if your baby has a teething ring that can be refrigerated, keeping that in the fridge so it is cold when your baby needs it could help provide some extra relief. Chomping down on a cool teething ring, that they can hold themselves, is a firm favourite of babies. Make sure that you only refrigerate the ring, however, not freeze it. Freezing may cause burns to your baby’s gums.

Cuddles and Distractions

There is no doubt that a teething baby needs your love and attention, perhaps more than at any other time. This is not the time for sleep training, leaving them to cry, or encouraging independence. Keep your baby distracted with their favourite toys, playing their favourite games with them, and singing their favourite songs. Pick your baby up and cuddle them as much as you can, and as much as they want. There is a scientific basis to this one too, cuddling helps you and your baby to release oxytocin and endorphins, feel good hormones with a natural anaesthetic effect. So not only do you get cuddle time, but you may also help to relieve their pain.

Register Your Baby at the Dentist

This one may not be front of mind when your baby is in so much discomfort, but once your babies milk teeth start to appear it is time to get them registered at your local dentist and booked in for an appointment. You can find your nearest dentist using the NHS Find a Dentist service.

Remember Teething is Temporary

While it may be tough, for both you and your baby, remember that teething is transient. It will pass. Although it may feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, this won’t go on forever. You need plenty of patience and ideally support from others too. Taking care of yourself whenever possible is important too, after all, how are you going to take care of your baby if you’re feeling wrung out yourself?

Take a look at our other teething tips articles for more advice on supporting your infant throughout their teething journey.