Teething is a normal part of your child’s development, but it can be hard on everyone when your baby is uncomfortable or in pain. Your baby might be extra fussy when they are teething. Eating may be more painful during these months, causing them to reject foods they once enjoyed. Choosing the right baby foods will ease their pain and make them feel comfortable. 

All this can be frustrating at times, but being prepared can help you overcome teething challenges. At the while, you can keep your little one nourished at the same time.

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According to the American Dental Association – you can expect your baby’s first teeth to erupt between 6 months and 1 year. In contrast, their complete set of 20 primary teeth shows up by age 3. As their teeth make their way through the gums, your little one might experience soreness that will leave them irritable. Fortunately, apart from teething rings, there are a few specific foods you can give your baby that will help soothe the tender gums and relieve pain.

Best Baby Foods for Your Teething Baby

It is exciting to see your baby’s first teeth coming in and take pictures of their new smile. But your baby’s mood may not be picture perfect. Their gums can become swollen and sensitive, making certain foods painful to eat.

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However, the good news is that there are a variety of comforting and nutritious foods you can choose from. These baby foods are easy for your baby to eat while they have teething symptoms.

Mashed baby foods

Chilled pureed or mashed baby foods might be perfect for your baby. If your baby already enjoys solid foods, putting them in the fridge before serving can help soothe sore gums.

Learn more about Corn Oil here. 

Soft foods

Pureed meat, plain yogurt, mashed fruits and vegetables are all excellent options because your baby does not have to chew them. Probably because some babies prefer the texture of soft foods. In this case, you will want to offer yogurt or pudding during snack time. The creamy foods would not irritate the already painful gums, and the cold temperature of the snacks will soothe the area.

Frozen baby foods

You can freeze fruits, veggies, or breastmilk in a mesh feeder. Fill it with frozen fruit or give your baby frozen pureed veggies to soothe your baby’s sensitive gums. You can also freeze breastmilk in ice cube trays and put the frozen cubes in the mesh feeder. This is a great option if your baby has not started eating solid foods yet. 

Hard vegetables

Carrots, cucumbers, celery sticks, and other hard vegetables are a good option as they have been chilled in the refrigerator. These chilled veggies feel good against aching gums as your baby gnaws on them.

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It is important that you peel the carrots and cucumbers first. Also, parents must watch their toddlers closely in case a piece of the vegetable breaks off.

Teething Biscuits

In addition to relieving gum pain, your baby can chew on teething biscuits as it could also be a yummy snack for most babies. The biscuits can be a cracker- or cookie-like and are designed to break up and dissolve easily to reduce choking risks. Of course, as a parent, you should still keep a close eye on your children as they munch on these crumbly foods. Moreover, you can prepare these with oat flour, banana, and coconut oil at home.

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According to the American Dental Association, you can expect your kid’s first teeth to erupt when they are between 6 months and 1 year. Moreover, their full set of 20 primary teeth shows up by the age 3. As the teeth make their way through the gums, your little one may experience soreness that leaves them irritable. Fortunately, in addition to teething rings, there are a few foods you can give your child that will help soothe the tender gums and relieve pain.

Healthy Foods for Your Teething Baby

Children need only breast milk or formula during their first 4 to 6 months, but most are ready for other baby foods by about 6 months. Note that offering healthy foods is critical for all-round development because babies grow rapidly between 6 and 9 months. Try giving your child the best start possible by introducing appropriate, healthy foods.

1. Vegetables and Fruits

As you may know, vegetables and fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that support optimum development and prevent illnesses. It is recommended that you offer 2 to 3 tablespoons of mashed, pureed, or strained vegetables at 6 to 8 months. 

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Carrots might be a good choice because they are rich in vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant that helps grow your baby’s vision. Between 6 to 8 months, you can offer mashed or strained fruits. But introduce citrus fruits at the end. Bananas would make a good first fruit because this soft food is bland and easily digested by most babies. 

2. Cereal and Meats

Rice cereal is perhaps the best first food for a 6-month-old as it is easy for your baby to digest. Pick an iron-fortified cereal. Studies confirm that 4 percent of 6-month-olds and 12 percent of 12-month-olds are deficient in iron.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, iron deficiency can have long-term health consequences. When your child is 7 months old, add strained or pureed meats, as they are rich in iron and protein. You can prepare home-cooked meat as well. 

Learn more about Corn Oil Benefits for Teeth and health here.

3. Other Foods

Between 8 and 9 months, you can add yogurt and cottage cheese to your child’s diet food. These products will provide a healthy dose of calcium. This is also a good time to introduce cereals and breads. 

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By 9 months, most babies can pick up small pieces of crackers, bread, or cereals for finger feeding. At this stage, fruits and veggies no longer need to be pureed or smashed. But you should cook the vegetables in small pieces. The finger food you offer or the fruits should be soft, peeled, and have small pieces. By 10 to 12 months, your child can eat the same foods as the rest of the family, although they should be cooked or soft in small pieces.

4. Foods to Avoid

You should not give 6-to-9-month-old common allergic foods, including egg whites, shellfish, peanut butter,  and cow’s milk. Hold off on these foods until your child turns one year when their immune system is more fully developed and less prone to food allergies. 

Also, avoid foods that could get caught in your child’s throat and cause choking. Such food items include hot dogs, grapes, nuts, uncut meats, raw carrots, apple slices, and popcorn, common choking hazards for babies. You should never give honey to a child younger than 12 months because it can cause botulism. It could be fatal in babies. Consult with your pediatrician if you are unsure of the best baby foods for your little dinner.

Physical Symptoms of Teething

Yes, teething has lots of physical influence on your baby.  Teething might be causing her to drool more, leading to rashes on their cheeks and neck.  You may notice that kids are fussier than average and try to chew on their fingers or toys. It is all related to the painful pressure the teeth are causing as they try to push through their gums.

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Teething can also cause your baby to have diarrhea. Or even to develop a low-grade fever.  Of course, teething can also impact their attitude, turning your happy little kid into a fussy, cranky mess.

Finally, teething can impact sleep. If your baby feels uncomfortable, they tend to wake more frequently and sleep less.  So if your little one’s teething, you should be prepared to wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of your weepy baby.

How Teething Affects Appetite (for Breastmilk, Formula, and Solids)

It is indeed true that teething can have a negative impact on your baby’s appetite. If your baby is teething, they tend to eat less solid food and start taking in less breastmilk or formula. You may also notice that your baby is not eating their usual amount of food at each meal or might even skip the entire meal. You may also find that they turn away from baby bottles or the breast milk before they have a complete feed. Sometimes they even reject the bottle or breast altogether.

All these symptoms can be alarming; after all, our baby needs to eat. But in general, this little “hunger strike” is not anything to get worried about. Most babies adjust relatively quickly to the pain experienced during teething. Some take a few hours, while others take a few days.

So relax. It will take a while for your baby’s appetite to return to normal soon. In the meantime, continue offering them solid foods and formula or breastmilk as you usually would.

Sometimes, the problem can become more severe for your baby. If your baby goes several days without eating anything, or if you suspect that they are becoming dehydrated, then contact your baby’s pediatrician.

Teething Recipes for Your Baby

As you might be aware, teething starts around 8 to 9 months. It is when your little one may drool and become irritable at times. 

It is when your infant starts to learn eating techniques like chewing and biting. Once your babies start teething, they want to nibble on anything that comes in their way. It is time when they start munching on hard objects. Therefore, it is vital to supervise babies during this time carefully.