Teething Time!

For some babies teething is a breeze, for others it is an ongoing nightmare filled with Bonjella, rosy checks, night (and day) time crying, and enough saliva to solve the nation’s water shortages!!
All babies are different, but most parents expect to see their child’s first pearly white pop up as early as 3 months as they continue teething until around their third birthday.

By the time they are 12 months old; most babies have their top and bottom 4 front teeth. However the pain and grizzling generally appears when the molars decided to break through at about the 1 year mark.

The first thing to understand is what is happening!! Basically the skin over the tooth can become red and swollen, and the gum may feel hard. Some babies find this painful and uncomfortable. This is where the compulsion to put their whole fist along with any other object which isn’t tied down into their mouths to chew on and rub against their gums.

For some children teething also causes a loss of appetite, irritability or excessive dribbling (which can cause a facial rash). Your child may be restless when awake, and have difficulty sleeping.

There are a few ways that you can help your child through these painful toothy days including;

• Gently massage or press on your baby's gum with a clean, wet finger. If this obviously upsets your child, try one of the following,
• Give your baby something cold to suck or chew on. Some yoghurt or fruit straight from the fridge can also be soothing.
• Prevent skin rashes on the face by wiping away dribble with a clean cloth and applying a protective barrier cream.
• Rub a teething gel on to the gums if the child is very upset. Use as directed on the packet. Teething gels can be bought over the counter at your local pharmacy.
• Occasionally, children may require paracetamol or ibuprofen to control pain. Use strictly as directed on the bottle. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before doing this.

A very popular teething toy - Sophie the Giraffe has been around for more than 50 years. Born in France in 1961, Sophie quickly became a "must have" in baby's essentials. Designed to stimulate the senses and soothe teething gums, most important is that Sophie is made from flexible, renewable, natural rubber and non-toxic paint which mean that she is safe and all-natural. With a price tag between $30-40, Sophie is a toy that you don’t want to be losing and dropping all about town! To make sure you only have to buy Sophie once, secure her by using a Simply on Board Toy Strap which you can purchase from our online store. They’re easy to use; just attach one end to Sophie (or any other toy, sippy cup or dummy) and the other end attached to the car seat, stroller or baby carrier to ensure that loved items are never lost again!