5 baby teething remedies to soothe your little one's aching gums

New baby teeth are tiny, but they can cause a lot of trouble coming in. Your baby may be extra fussy and have trouble sleeping and eating.

"Teething is essentially when hard, sharp teeth erupt in your baby's mouth through the gums. For babies, this can understandably be challenging and uncomfortable," says Chandani DeZure, M.D., FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician, associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford Medicine , and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board .

It's hard to watch your baby struggle with teething pain – and cope as their usual routine goes out the window – but "there are some tips and tricks that can soothe them and make the process easier for everyone involved," says Dr. DeZure. Here are five things to try:

Teething toys

It seems counterintuitive that your baby would want to chew with swollen, tender gums, but teething babies often gnaw away on everything from their own hands to crib railings.

Help them out by offering something safe and especially satisfying to bite. Choose teething toys that are solid, not filled with gel or liquid. (If your baby punctures the toy, they could get the liquid in their mouth – plus it can contain bacteria.)

Silicone and latex teething toys are good bets, especially if you'd like to avoid plastics (which may contain phthalates or BPA). These materials are softer than hard plastic or wood, which can hurt your baby's tender gums.

Because cold feels especially comforting on your baby's gums, for added effectiveness, place teethers in the refrigerator until they're cold.

While your baby may always want their teether close, never tie one around their neck – that creates a strangulation hazard.

You can also give your baby a cold, clean washcloth to chew on. Wet the cloth, squeeze out the water, and put it in the refrigerator. Fold it up and let your baby chew on it. (Hold it for them or keep an eye on them while they have it so they don't choke .)

Extra cuddles

When your baby's uncomfortable and upset, the things they generally find soothing may help. Tell them you know they're hurting, and take the time for extra cuddles, a warm bath , a walk outside – whatever your baby normally finds comforting. Here are more ideas for ways to soothe your baby .

Hard, sharp teeth erupt in your baby's mouth through the gums. This can understandably be challenging and uncomfortable. - Chandani DeZure, M.D., FAAP, board-certified pediatrician

Gum massage

Your baby will probably be happy to chew on your fingers as well as their own. Assuming they don't have other, sharp teeth to dissuade you, let them chew. Take it a step further by gently massaging their gums. Make sure your fingers are clean (dip them in cool water for extra benefit), and use small, circular motions.

Another option is to run something cold – like a metal spoon that's been in the refrigerator – over your baby's gums. The metal is hard, so don't press too firmly. Just use the spoon to provide gentle, cooling pressure on the gums.

Food to chew

Once your baby is eating solids , they might enjoy chilled foods on their sore gums. Cold mashed bananas, applesauce, or yogurt may appeal. Or try finger foods that are fresh out of the fridge, such as strawberries or melon slices, or a piece of cold banana. Many parents find that their teething baby enjoys chomping on cold fruit or veggies in a mesh feeder, too.

While they don't provide much in the way of nutrition, some babies enjoy teething biscuits. Watch your baby while they're eating biscuits, though, as chunks can break off – which could lead to choking.

If your baby is older than 9 months, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests offering them a slow-flow sippy cup of cool water to suck on and drink for comfort.

Pain relievers

If your baby seems very uncomfortable and home remedies aren't helping, ask your doctor about giving your baby Tylenol . (Just don't give your baby aspirin , which can cause Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal illness.)

"In most cases, teething symptoms don't require pain relievers," says Hyewon Lee, DrPH, DMD, a board-certified pediatric dentist and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board .

Also, if your baby has a fever or diarrhea , don't assume it's because of teething. "Your baby's doctor needs to assess your baby's symptoms to rule out other medical conditions, such as cold and infection," says Lee.

Things to avoid when your baby is teething

There's no shortage of advice about how to deal with teething. Some of it is helpful, but some can be dangerous. It's important to know what to avoid:

Teething jewelry

Necklaces and other jewelry aren't safe for babies and toddlers because they pose a choking and strangling hazard. And there's no evidence that amber teething necklaces , sold specifically to relieve teething pain, do anything to help.

"Amber teething necklaces aren't effective, nor are they safe. They're death traps," says Dr. DeZure.

Homeopathic remedies

Homeopathic teething remedies can be dangerous for babies and children, and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warns against them . FDA testing found homeopathic teething remedies contained belladonna and other potentially dangerous ingredients in amounts that far exceeded what the labels indicated.

Unsafe teething gels

Over-the-counter gels and creams that contain benzocaine or lidocaine (both used to numb the gums) are dangerous for babies and children. Benzocaine has been linked with methemoglobinemia, a condition that reduces the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen. In rare cases, lidocaine can cause seizures, heart problems, severe brain injury, and death.

Even gels and creams that don't contain these ingredients may be unsafe if swallowed in large amounts. Plus, most of these remedies aren't proven to relieve pain, says Lee.

Frozen items

While the cold might feel good, mouthing hard, frozen items can damage your baby's delicate gums. If you want to pop something like a teether in the freezer for quick chilling, take it out before it's solid. Or leave something that's frozen solid out for a while to soften before giving it to your baby.

Alcohol

This one seems obvious! But once upon a time, parents would rub brandy or whiskey on a baby's gums to numb them and relieve pain. Now we know that alcohol, which is quickly absorbed by the bloodstream, is never safe for babies or toddlers.