When your tiny tot is hitting new milestones, it is easy to worry about every little thing they do. Seeing your baby biting crib can seem rather disconcerting. Are they feeling hungry? Is their teething pain more than normal? Should you let your baby biting crib rail or is it unsafe? Read through this article to know all about your baby chewing on crib including some expert tips and tricks.
Baby Chewing On Crib: Should I Be Concerned?
Teething in babies is much more than drooling and fussiness. Once the uncomfortable stage of irritated and sore gums is gradually over, babies soon move to chewing as their little pearly whites start popping up. Some babies might start chewing even when their gums have just started to swell.
While some parents stress about crib damage or the crib paint chipping off with those distinctive bite marks, their baby’s safety should be their biggest cause of concern. Babies mouth everything to explore the world but it is important to take action at the right time to keep them safe during their teething stage.
Although it is absolutely normal for babies to chew on objects as they develop their teeth, it is not the safest thing they do. So, if you are a new parent concerned about your baby biting crib, fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to relieve their discomfort. Read to know about why babies chew on their cribs and what actions you can take to ease their teething experience.
Why Do Babies Chew On Cribs?
A baby chewing on crib rail finds it an effective solution to relieve pain that might be caused by incoming teeth. It is common for babies to chew their cribs to calm down their itchy gums. This further aids the eruption of teeth through their sore gum tissues.
Teething discomfort aside, most child development experts say that babies have a high concentration of nerves in their mouths. Chewing on their crib (and everything else later on) provides them with a lot of sensory input to learn new tastes and textures. Many toddlers also start chewing their cribs as a response to their anxiety from the new changes in their bodies.
Baby Biting Crib: Is It Harmful To Them?
Sooner or later, your baby chewing on crib rail can prove to be an unsafe practice as they might swallow the toxic paint used on the crib or the wood splinters can go down their throat. Moreover, this chewing habit can also make them habitual of biting everything they see as they might ingest something dangerous when you are not around. This chewing habit can also cause some unexpected damage inflicted on your other furniture items as your bub grows.
Toddler Chewing On Crib: How To Prevent Them From Doing So?
Although your baby chewing on crib is not the first time something like this is happening in the world, it is something you need to take seriously. To keep your baby safe while soothing their teething gums, here are a few things you can do if you see your baby chewing on crib rail.
1. Buy a Crib Without Lead Paint
When we talked about crib safety guidelines, we already expanded enough on why you need to switch to cribs that use lead-free paint. Here’s an even more detailed explanation about the same. Lead is a highly toxic material but its risks are even higher in children younger than 6 years. Imagine this for your 6 months old. Their body is the quickest to absorb lead more easily than older kids and adults.
Your baby gnawing on crib that uses lead-based paint can get lead poisoning in a snap. Fortunately, the latest ASTM and CPSC certified cribs are lead-free but the problem arises if you are using a hand-me-down crib for your toddler. There is nothing wrong with reusing baby gear or buying preloved items but you must check if the model has been recalled on the official website of the JPMA or CPSC.
If you are preparing for your baby or adding a crib to your registry list, always ensure you are buying a lead-free crib. This will ensure there are lesser safety risks even when you find your baby biting crib. Explore the Dream On Me’s extensive range of CPSC certified, baby safe cribs to find the perfect one for your little bundle of joy.
Dream On Me Alice 3-in-1 Full Panel Convertible Mini Crib
2. Install Silicone Guards
Suppose you’ve bought a new or preloved crib with lead-free paint. Are all risks gone? Is your baby completely safe now? No! Your baby can still chip off the paint or chew apart the wood. This can ruin the crib, making it difficult for you to reuse it if you want. And most importantly, your baby might hurt themselves with the wooden splinters.
Babies who cannot yet support their legs fully and stand comfortably without any additional help might also hurt their gums with the wooden crib rail in case they can’t get a proper grip while standing. While you cannot instantly stop your baby from chomping through the crib guard rails, you can definitely make them safer.
Consider installing silicone crib rail guards at the top of the crib to protect your baby’s gums against bumps and bruises, paint and splinters, and more. By encasing the railing of your baby’s crib smoothly, a silicone crib guard is completely safe against toxicity and allergies. Silicone crib guards are the best choice as they are soft and gentle on your baby’s gums but firm enough to protect the crib.
3. Give Them Teething Toys
Even though you know it is soothing for your baby to chew on their crib, it is important to stop them from forming a habit out of this. Because once all their teeth have developed, they’ll still continue to do it. This might harm others at home and even destroy the furniture. Hence, giving teething toys makes a world of a difference if you find your baby chewing on crib.
Teething toys offer the same comfort your baby gets when they gnaw on their crib rail. The only difference is that these toys are much smaller and safer to bite and munch on. The best thing about switching to teething toys is that they can also be chilled in the refrigerator to provide a relaxing coolness to your little munchkin’s delicate gums.
4. Lower the Crib Mattress
If your bub seems to not stop chewing on their crib despite all your efforts, it is time to lower the crib mattress in the lowest setting possible. This will raise the crib rails high enough for your baby to reach while ensuring their safety against the risks of falling off.
Dream on Me Synergy 5-in-1 Convertible Crib
Baby Gnawing On Crib: More General Precautions You Can Take
If you often see your baby biting crib, luckily there are many steps you can take to prevent them from doing so. Here are some general precautionary measures you should consider if your baby is teething and finding comfort in chewing their crib:
- Offer different types of teething toys. Sometimes, babies can be resistant to new things even when there seems to be no reason for that. Teethers are available in various shapes and sizes. Try giving your bub at least three to four teething toys to play with.
- Timely massage your baby’s gums to ease their teething discomfort. The gentle pressure from your fingers will help ease the pressure of the teeth erupting through.
- Although some people recommend clove oil or vanilla extract for the massage, many kids will resist the taste. A plain finger massage would also be effective enough. However, you can dip your fingers in cold water to give some extra calmness.
- If the drooling or discomfort seems unusual, consult your pediatrician for some over the counter medication to soothe the pain.
Frequently Asked Questions: Baby Biting Crib Rail
If you found your toddler chewing on crib, you might have loads of questions crossing your mind. Here are our answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about a baby chewing on crib.
How do I stop my baby from chewing on his crib?
To stop your baby from chewing on their crib, here are a few things you can do:
- Buy a crib that uses lead-free paint
- Install silicone crib rail guards to avoid your baby from biting the wood, chipping off the paint or swallowing any wooden splinter or chunks
- Offer a variety of teething toys
- If the drooling or discomfort seems unusual, consult your pediatrician for some over the counter medication to soothe the pain
- Freeze the teethers for about 30 minutes to offer more comfort and relaxation to the sore gums
- Gently massage your baby’s gums at least thrice a day
- Lower the crib mattress so that your baby cannot reach the top of the crib rail
Why does my baby chew on his crib?
Babies chew on their cribs as a way of relieving teething pressure on their swollen gums. They also do it as a response to early anxiety or explore new tastes and textures to get sensory stimulation.
Is it bad for a baby to chew on wood?
Yes. Babies chewing on wood, even if it is safe against lead-based paint, is still harmful as they might hurt themselves with a wooden splinter or the edge of the crib rail.
The Key Takeaway
While it is initially amusing to find those tiny bite marks on the crib railings or find your baby biting crib, you should try to stop this before it becomes a habit and poses potential harm to their health. Remember that precaution is the best practice while parenting!
However, don’t be too rigid and let your baby embark on their safe exploratory journey without being excessively obsessive. Make sure to keep the teething toys clean and germs free and always have a relatively easy-going attitude throughout this phase.