21 Feb What We Learned From Serena Williams Biggest Challenge Yet: Soothing a Teething Baby
Serena Williams is known around the world for being one of the best tennis players to ever take the court. However, despite numerous wins and countless world-records, the tennis pro just recently faced her biggest challenge yet: soothing her new teething baby.
Williams’ daughter Alexis Olympia has just started teething and she is officially giving her mom a run for her money, unlike any tennis advisory ever could. Recently, Williams sent out a tweet, venting about her daughter’s teething challenges. “I almost need my mom to come and hold me to sleep because I’m so stressed. Help? Anyone??”
From the moment Williams sent out her tweet, countless other mothers started offering their own pieces of advice and tips and tricks. If there is one thing that we can all learn about Serena’s tweets it is that every new parent struggles with the different phases of their baby’s development—especially with something as painful and unpredictable as teething.
All new mothers can relate to the superstar’s struggle, but the good news is, there are a few different approaches new moms can try when it comes to helping their child get over the pain of teething.
Cooling irritated gums. Your baby’s gums are going to be very sore during teething. A cold washcloth a spoon or a chilled teething ring can be very soothing and provide some pain relief for our little one. However, you should never give your baby a frozen teething ring, the extreme cold can be harmful.
Massaging the gums. Rubbing your baby’s gums with a little pressure can help with their discomfort. Use a clean finger or a damp gauze pad and help with the pain.
Cleaning the Drool. When your baby is teething, they will likely drool a great deal. However, this excess drool can actually irritate the skin around their chin or mouth. Make sure you are always wiping away excess drool as it can make your baby even more irritated during teething.
Over the Counter Medications. In some extreme situations, especially where it prevents your baby from sleeping, you may consider over-the-counter medications. Baby Advil, Children’s Motrin, Baby Tylenol and other similar medications can help, you just need to talk to your pediatrician first.
No mom ever wants to see their child upset, especially about the pain that comes with teething. However, every child is different, and every child will respond to the challenges of teething in different ways. If your child is struggling with teething, make an appointment with Continuum Pediatrics at 817-617-8600 to schedule an appointment.