How to Help Your Kid Feel Better When Their Molars Are Growing In

Feb 4, 2022

Kids grow so fast, especially in the first years of their lives. Those years are full of milestones and special moments. Of course, some moments are a little more trying than others. Your child cutting their teeth can be one such moment. Molars can be especially uncomfortable to grow in, which can leave you feeling helpless unless you have some ways to help them feel better.

Homemade Smoothies and Fruit Popsicles

Fruit smoothies and popsicles may seem more like treats than anything else, but they serve another purpose too. Their cold temperatures can be soothing to sore, achy gums. You can make your own fruit smoothies at home, allowing you to have complete control over the ingredients. You can make your own popsicles too. Just puree some fruit, add it to molds with a popsicle stick, cover them, and freeze them. Theyโ€™ll be healthier than what you would get at the store and provide relief at the same time.

Pain Relief

Depending on the age of your child, you may be able to give them some form of pain medication. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be a good option, provided your child is at least six months old. Ideally, you should check with their doctor if theyโ€™re younger than two years old or weigh less than 12 lbs. Just make sure you pay attention to dosages and the frequency with which you administer it. Keep it stored out of reach too.

Massage

As strange as it might sound, massaging your kidโ€™s gums may help relieve some of the pain caused by molars growing in. Itโ€™s for the same reason that kids who are teething tend to chew on everything. The downward pressure helps counteract that of the molars, offering some relief. To massage the gum, rub it with some wet gauze or a freshly cleaned finger. If your child is old enough, they may be able to do this themselves.

Seeing those cute little teeth poking through can be exciting, but itโ€™s not always a pleasant experience for the kid, especially when it comes to their molars growing in. Whether theyโ€™re cutting their very first set or itโ€™s a later set of molars, itโ€™s nice to have a few different things you can try to help ease their discomfort. What soothing methods have you found successful?

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