And sugar can cause tooth decay, even if your child only has a few small teeth (NHS, 2016b). As above, just ensure you are on watch to avoid them choking on the chunkier items.Īvoid rusks, because nearly all brands contain some sugar. Try carrot sticks, whole green beans or sugar snap peas, sliced pepper, breadsticks or bread crusts for babies over six months (Ashley, 2001). Why? Their firmness provides counterpressure to a rising tooth (Memarpour et al, 2015). To chew and bite down on have been proven to provide relief in around half of teething babies. And make sure you stay with them while they’re eating to watch out for choking. Just remember foods containing meat, or prepared in advance will need reheating for food hygiene reasons so might not be suitable (NHS Choices, 2015). Or try some fruit or veg straight from the fridge such as cucumber sticks, a whole strawberry or avocado mushed up. Cool foodsĬhilled foods can take the heat out of those burning gums (Ashley, 2001). A fruit or vegetable puree, or a soft risotto or macaroni cheese (blitzed or slightly overcooked for minimal chewing) could be just the comfort food they need right now. Anything they can slurp from a spoon with minimal contact with their gums. Much like us adults might eat nothing but soup after a painful procedure at the dentists, babies might just want to stick with soft foods and purees. Experiment and see what they seem most comfortable with the following types of foods. It is a case of trial and error here, there’s no right answer. If your baby goes on a feeding strike as they start to cut some teeth, the following should help. Which foods are best when they are teething? This guide shows you what to do if your baby is struggling to juggle tooth pain and munching. So our practical tips can apply whatever your baby’s age over six months, when weaning starts (NHS Choices, 2018). We know from parents we speak to that many encounter food fussiness earlier than the 16 to 22 month mark. Generally, these canines – the pointy ones either side of the front four – appear when your little one is 16 to 22 months old (NHS Choices, 2016a NHS Devon, 2018). Interestingly, some studies show children lose their appetite with teething only when their canines come through, not when their incisors or molars emerge (Memarpour et al, 2015). When will my baby’s teething affect their appetite? In fact, the science shows only around one third of teething babies lose their appetite (Macknin et al, 2000). Like with everything else, they’re all different. That said, not all babies lose their appetite when teething. So anything in your little one’s mouth could cause more pain. The gums swell and are tender to touch just before a tooth breaks through (Ashley, 2001). Just like us adults can go off our foods when we’re feeling under the weather, so can our little ones. So why do they start fussing all of a sudden? It will come as no surprise that teething causes a lot of discomfort (Eisenstadt et al, 2017). And guess what? You’re likely to start weaning your little one around the six-month mark – the exact same time many babies cut their first teeth (eyes roll again) (Lyttle et al, 2015). One symptom connected with teething is a decreased appetite for solid foods (Macknin et al, 2000 Lyttle et al, 2015 Eisenstadt et al, 2017).
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