Teething is a complete nightmare for many mothers. You have to deal with your baby not sleeping, developing a rash or refusing to feed. The meals that your child used to love before now cause them to cry and scream.
Amidst your frustration, it’s critical to keep in mind that choosing the correct food for your teething infant can help relieve the pain and discomfort, aside from using a dummy or a teething toy.
There are some foods that can help you win mealtime with your fussy baby. Read on to learn more about these foods, and also the ones you should avoid.
Why Won’t My Teething Baby Eat?
Teething can make your baby feel sick and uncomfortable, taking away their appetite for even their favourite foods. Their gums are swollen, tender and painful which may make it difficult to eat.
Fortunately, not all babies will lose their appetite and stop eating when teething. And if you are one of the lucky ones, your baby might just be one of such babies.
Best Foods For A Teething Baby
If your baby is refusing to eat due to the discomfort from teething, the following foods could be of help. However, keep in mind that babies are different, even when they are from the same mother. You may have to experiment with these foods to see which works for your baby.
Soft Foods
Similar to adults who have just undergone a painful dental operation, babies may only want to nibble on pureed foods or soups while teething. You may have already started introducing your baby to different foods depending on how old they are.
If your infant likes meat, potatoes, carrots, or other fruits and vegetables, you could try blending them into a puree to make it easier for them to eat.
Basically, anything that is slurpable like a yoghurt or soft risotto will be a great choice for your baby.
Cold Foods
Cold foods can provide relief for your baby’s warm and swollen gums. Great choices include a ready-made pouch of yoghurt, cold fruits and vegetables or some cold soup.
Hard Foods
For some babies, chewing or biting down on hard foods could help provide some relief due to the counterpressure on the erupting tooth.
You could try using carrot sticks, whole green beans, sliced bell peppers, breadsticks or bread crusts if your child is more than six months old. However, ensure you keep an eye on them to avoid choking on chunky pieces.
Smoothies
Cold smoothies are a great way to reduce the swelling and inflammation from teething, while also providing your baby with adequate nutrients to get through the teething process. Some great fruits for your smoothie include strawberries, peanut butter or bananas. Try to avoid citrus fruits, honey or added sugar.
Teething Biscuits
These are great for teething babies and provide relief for their swollen gums. They also do not crumble but just melt away in your baby’s mouth. Thus, they are a safe “hard food” for your baby to munch on.
Foods to Avoid When Your Baby is Teething
- Frozen Foods: These can be too cold and cause your baby’s gums to sting. This could cause them more pain and discomfort.
- Citrus Foods: These are high in acid content which could also cause your baby’s gums to hurt.
- Spicy Foods: You should generally avoid adding spicy foods in your baby’s meals, especially when they are teething. Their gums are already swollen and warm, and the extra heat would only make the pain worse.
- Salty Foods: These could make your baby’s swollen gums swell some more, causing more pain and discomfort.
Take Home Message
The teething process can be a nightmare, both for you and your baby. However, even when you are on the verge of pulling your hair out, remember that this is just a phase and it will pass eventually.
Do not get worked up when your baby starts rejecting food they used to enjoy. Rather, focus on keeping them well hydrated and experimenting with new foods that may bring them relief now.
Before you know it, you will be dealing with a mouth full of canines and an insatiable appetite!
