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Brushing Your Baby's Teeth

May 20, 2020

The thought of people buying toothbrushes for babies has always felt very counter intuitive... especially seeing as babies don't even have teeth for quite a while. But what a lot of people fail to remember is that toothbrushes aren’t always just for teeth, and that establishing oral hygiene for your little one early on is extremely important. In other words, toothbrushes for babies do serve a purpose!

When to Start

You can begin working on your baby’s oral hygiene routine before their first tooth even begins poking out. Try easing into it by using a dampened cloth with warm water to wipe down their gums after feedings. This will help fight bacterial growth that can occur in their mouths. Once you begin to notice their teeth surfacing, or as early as you and your baby feel comfortable, you may introduce them to an actual toothbrush (a baby one of course).

How To

Remember that your baby might not be as excited about reaching this mini milestone as you are... Their mouths will be in some pain and they may be very fussy and irritated about what’s going on. Try creating positive associations with their teeth brushing time by singing a song while they brush. Brushing your own teeth at the same time as them is also a great way for them to see how it’s done, no matter their age. Using a toothbrush that doubles as a teether, which they are more familiar with, is also helpful. Most importantly, always remember to be calm and patient with their pain.

The Right Toothbrush

Like with most things in life the two most important components of choosing your little one’s first toothbrush are safety and comfort. Below is a checklist of the most important components to consider at when choosing your baby’s first toothbrush:

Soft bristles to prevent gum irritation
Single piece construction to avoid bristles coming loose (hazard)
Shield to prevent over insertion
Soft material in case of biting
Large handle for easy gripping

Establishing Sleep Rituals for Your Little Ones

March 05, 2020

We don’t know about you, but we’re pretty sure that bedtime is the best part of the day... especially as a parent! Many people fail to realize that sleep is by far one of the most important aspects of a person’s overall health, especially that of a baby's. And let’s face it, if your baby isn’t sleeping well, then neither are you. This is just one of the many reasons why establishing a sleep ritual for your baby is essential.

Why a Sleep Ritual?

A sleep ritual is just like sleep training, only the word ‘training’ makes it sound way more intimidating than it truly is. Trust us when we say that it’s easy and a parenting must-do. The key is simply remaining consistent and making sure your ritual is what works best for you and your family’s schedule. It is recommended to begin implementing a ritual around the age of 4-6 months. Creating a sleep ritual will signal to your little one when bedtime is nearing and help their body begin winding down, making the sleep process quicker and easier for the both of you. Whatever you begin to implement right before bed will overtime become associated with sleep for your little one. So that lullaby you sing, book you read, or teddy you bring out, can be used during the day also to help them wind down for a nap. Their bodies will begin to recognize that sleep always follows these activities.

Sleep Soundly

Aside from the typical lights down and special blanky, there are some natural ways that promise to help put one’s body in a state of relaxation. If your baby is colicy and needs a little more than just a lullaby, or you just want to be sure they get the best night of sleep possible, try incorporating lavender into your ritual. Lavender aromatherapy helps lower heart rates and can even reduce colic symptoms in babies. Remember that if your little one struggles with sleep that you should never turn to sleep medicines unless they are of the proper age or you have consulted with a doctor.

Don’t be worried if your first attempts at a ritual don’t work right away- trial and error is OK. But once you find what works, stick with it. Make sure to perform the same pattern of events, at the same time each day, putting them to bed at the same place.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/essential-oils-for-babies

https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/baby-sleep-schedule.aspx

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Benefits of Aromatherapy

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Practical Tips for Keeping Baby’s Teeth Healthy

July 25, 2014

According to most pediatricians, maintaining baby's oral health early is very important for establishing good dental habits later on. Once the teeth begin coming in, start taking care of them right away. Many parents think baby teeth aren't important because they're eventually replaced by permanent ones. But these first teeth preserve the spacing for the permanent ones and help Baby chew and talk. If they're not cared for properly they can decay, leading to a gum infection called gingivitis, which can affect the spacing of permanent teeth. Here are some tips for keeping baby's teeth clean:

1. Start cleaning your child's mouth even before her teeth come in. Wipe the gums off after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth or a dampened piece of gauze wrapped around your finger.

2. The first signs of cavities in baby teeth are discoloration and minor pitting. Putting Baby to bed with a bottle of milk (or worse, juice) is notorious for causing cavities. Don't leave your infant with a bottle for long periods of time, especially if you notice he's no longer feeding and is just using the bottle for comfort.

3. Most infant foods easily wash off Baby's teeth with just a drink of water after meals. But it's good to introduce a toothbrush as soon as possible, so baby can get used to having it in his mouth. You probably won't need to use the brush to actually clean Baby's teeth until he's eating only table foods (and has a significant number of teeth), at around 18 months. However, you'll want to gently clean your child's teeth with a toothbrush and some bicarbonate of soda if your toddler has eaten sticky, sugary foods.

4. Begin using a pea-size amount of non-fluoride toothpaste once Baby is about 2. Wait until at least 3, when your child is old enough not to swallow the toothpaste, before introducing the fluoride kind.

5.The American Dental Association recommends that Baby get his first dental exam at age 1, but most pediatricians agree that the first visit can wait until age 3, as long as you practice good home care.

MyRaZbaby is proud to offer our Raz Silicone Toothbrush, available in four colors, that are specially-designed for safeguarding your little one's health. For more information on our Innovative Baby Products, contact us by calling 1(877) 298-6622.