How to feed a teething baby can be a tricky task. Sometimes a teething baby won’t eat. In this case, you want to feed them good foods that will help relieve their teething while also being nutritionally sound.
Parents commonly turn to soft foods like yogurt or frozen foods like fruits, but there are many more options out there. The best food for teething baby may be something you never even considered!
To help make it easier to come up with teething foods for your little one, we have rounded up our top ten picks.
- What Should I Feed My Teething Baby?
- Types of Foods Best for Teething Baby
- 10 Best Teething Foods For Babies
- #1 Baby Yogurt Is Soft and Cool
- #2 Fun Textured and Cool Cottage Cheese
- #3 Chilled Purees for Tiny Ones
- # 4 Easy to Chew Eggs
- # 5 Frozen Fruits for the Win
- #6 Fruit Slushies Are a Fun Treat
- #7 Hard Veggies to Gnaw
- #8 Teething Biscuits For Chewing
- #9 Breastmilk Popsicles Offer Cooling Comfort
- #10 Frozen Veggie Cubes in a Mesh Feeder
- Simple and Tasty Teething Options
What Should I Feed My Teething Baby?
A teething baby not eating isn’t uncommon. When your child is going through teething their gums may be red and sore. Chewing can relieve the pain or it can further irritate their gums. For little ones who are nursing or taking a bottle, the suction created when eating may be very uncomfortable.
Many parents wonder, do babies eat more when teething? Or do babies eat less when teething? Unfortunately, there isn’t really a clear answer.
The best you can do is provide them with healthy foods that will nourish them while easing their discomfort. However, while doing that, be sure to help them maintain a good dental hygiene through brushing the teeth.
Types of Foods Best for Teething Baby
What makes a food a good food for teething babies has a lot to do with the food’s texture and temperature, as you will see below. Teething and eating don’t have to be complicated, just choose healthy food from one of the following categories!
Cold Foods
Cold foods can be a soothing option when looking for teething foods for 6 month old. Because infants this young cannot have frozen foods, cold soft foods like yogurt are a great choice.
Cold foods can help with pain relief without posing a choking hazard. The low temperature of the food will feel good on their inflamed and irritated gums.
Hard Foods
Surprisingly hard foods can work great as food for teething toddlers. Even younger children may enjoy them as long as they are age-appropriate.
Hard foods help to relieve pain by giving your child something to gnaw on, much like a silicone teether toy. Biting down on the food may relieve pressure and help to work the tooth through the gum quicker.
Frozen Foods
Frozen foods are excellent baby teething food because they can offer cooling comfort. Just like you would put an ice pack on a bump, frozen foods act as an ice pack for your child’s gums. They can help to numb the area and relieve teething pain.
Just be sure you pay close attention to your child’s age and the corresponding recommended food consistency. Frozen foods are good for teething but they can pose a choking hazard to smaller children. You may need to chop them up into small pieces or place them in a mesh food teether for your baby.
Mushy Foods
If your baby is in pain, eating may be the last thing they want to do, leaving you wondering how to feed a teething baby. Mushy foods can be a great go-to especially if you’re searching for foods for 1 year old with few teeth. They don’t require a lot of chewing and therefore shouldn’t cause a lot of pain.
They can be easily swallowed and won’t hurt sore gums when your child bites down on them. Mushy foods can be wonderful for a variety of ages, from baby teething up to toddler teething.
If you find yourself searching for “what can I give my baby for teething” that isn’t food-related, we suggest you check out our other article on all things teething! We cover everything from natural remedies, to medications, and toys like teething straws.
10 Best Teething Foods For Babies
#1 Baby Yogurt Is Soft and Cool
Baby yogurt is a soft food that won’t hurt their gums, making it one of the easiest teething foods for babies. The cool temperature should also provide relief. Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium for growing teeth and developing bones.
#2 Fun Textured and Cool Cottage Cheese
Much like yogurt, cottage cheese is both cool and soft. Instead of being smooth, the lumps in cottage cheese provide a fun texture. Low-sodium cottage cheese is a healthy choice, full of protein and good fats.
#3 Chilled Purees for Tiny Ones
If your child is just starting solids, you can keep presenting them with their regular purees. However, popping them in the fridge to cool before giving them to your child can help ease their pain.
Fruits and veggies all make excellent chilled baby teething snacks in puree form for kids as young as six months. Almost anything can be a great choice of teething foods for 6 month old as long as it’s pureed.
# 4 Easy to Chew Eggs
Struggling with what to give a teething baby? How about eggs? Eggs are a wonderful breakfast food that can nourish your little one with vitamins and minerals as well as protein.
They are easy to chew and shouldn’t irritate inflamed gums. Eggs are also very versatile so you can prepare them however you like and throw in additions to suit your baby’s tastes.
# 5 Frozen Fruits for the Win
Fruits are always a big hit with kids. When you freeze them they will numb your child’s gums as they chew. However, make sure you are preparing frozen fruits properly for your child’s age.
This means slicing them up or placing them in a mesh frozen food teether. As always, make sure to watch your child while they’re eating the frozen fruits.
#6 Fruit Slushies Are a Fun Treat
If your child isn’t ready for a frozen piece of fruit, but would still like the coolness and the flavor, try fruit slushies. You can place frozen fruit in a blender and then blend until you reach your desired consistency. Add in a little liquid if you would like it to be thinner. Then just place it in a cup and add a straw if necessary. Your one can sip away their tooth pain.
#7 Hard Veggies to Gnaw
Hard veggies are great food for teething toddlers. They can act as a natural version of silicone teething toys. To use hard veggies as a teething food or teething toy alternative, your little one must be of appropriate age.
The veggie should be washed and peeled and sliced, and you must watch your child closely to make sure they do not bite off too large of a chunk. Cucumbers and carrots make great natural teethers.
#8 Teething Biscuits For Chewing
Is your teething toddler not eating? Maybe try tempting them with a teething biscuit. These cookie-like crackers are great to bite down on.
This can help push the tooth through the gums quicker and ultimately relieve their pain. You can make your own teething biscuits or purchase them at nearly any grocery store.
#9 Breastmilk Popsicles Offer Cooling Comfort
A homemade teething pop, breastmilk popsicles are a delightful choice for teething kids of all ages. All you need to do is pour milk into a popsicle mold and add a stick!
Breastmilk popsicles are full of benefits, like nutrients, a comforting taste, and cold relief. Be sure to follow all milk storage guidelines, including not letting the popsicle sit out too long, since the breastmilk should be used within 2 hours being left at ambient temperature.
#10 Frozen Veggie Cubes in a Mesh Feeder
Looking for something other than fruit when it comes to frozen baby food for teething? We suggest frozen veggie cubes!
You can freeze any pureed veggie and then place it in a mesh teether. This is a perfect option for many children, even those that are just starting solids. Sweet potato, pumpkin, and carrot are great choices.
Simple and Tasty Teething Options
Hopefully, this list provided you with some great ideas for what to feed a teething baby! Many of these choices are really versatile so you can tailor them to your little one’s tastes and preferences.
Teething doesn’t last forever, so hang in there! If you have any awesome ideas to share with fellow parents add them to @babyjourney0183 on Pinterest!
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