Crying, Teething and Oral Care

Finding calm & comfort

Every little gurgle, every happy coo, is a precious melody. But sometimes, babies communicate through cries, and for parents, this can feel like a difficult language to understand. Know that this is absolutely normal. Whether it's hunger, tiredness, or even the discomfort of those first little teeth, we're here to provide you with precious advice.

Decoding
their
cries

At the very beginning, it can feel like you and your baby speak different languages. But take heart, you'll learn to interpret their sweet signals! Understanding why your baby is crying is the first step towards offering the right comfort. Here's a little "baby dictionary" to help you decode their precious calls.

Hungry

Watch for restlessness, whinging, and body tension. If you gently touch their cheek, their head might turn, or they might immediately try to suck your finger.

Tired

Turning away, rubbing eyes and ears, or sucking fingers can signal tiredness. Whining and crying often indicate they're ready for rest, their body may become limp, and eyes close easily.

Overtired

This can manifest as refusing attempts to play, turning their head away, and sometimes even violent, shrill screaming with an arched back and tense body. A gentle cuddle can offer a sense of security.

Pain

Abrupt, shrill screaming and a very tense body are often signs of pain. For common discomforts like colic & tummy ache, a gentle massage or the "flying baby" position can offer sweet relief. If prolonged or for no apparent reason, always consult a doctor.

Temperature

Fussiness might mean they're too hot or too cold. Check the back of their neck (not just hands or feet) to gauge their comfort.

Boredom

When baby seeks attention, they might start whinging. They'll quickly react with eye contact and focus when you engage them, time for play and activity!

The power of
a soother

Whenever your baby has difficulty calming down, a soother provides invaluable service, especially when the non-nutritive need to suck is still present after feeding. It can truly simplify parents' lives by soothing, as its name suggests. When looking for the perfect soother, you want one that supports your baby's jaw development.

NUK Perfect Match Air Soother

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NUK Perfect Match Soother

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NUK soothers
shape

The original NUK shape, is made for healthy teeth and jaw development.* Our soothers feature a thinner & narrower teat neck to reduce pressure on the jaw and teeth and come in various sizes to perfectly adapt to your baby's palate.

Ideal for oral
development

Our NUK soothers are thoughtfully designed to ensure your baby's jaw grows optimally and teeth align better, with the tongue's movements restricted as little as possible.

Happy smiles:
gentle teething
comfort

Those first little teeth are a wonderful milestone, but they can bring moments of discomfort for your baby. Teething symptoms can include increased drooling, chewing on everything in reach, restlessness, and sometimes even a slight fever. It's a normal part of baby development, and there are gentle ways to offer relief.

Cool relief

Offering something cool to chew on can provide sweet comfort. Our NUK teething rings are designed with different materials and levels of hardness to reach all areas in the mouth, perfect for massaging and cooling.

Cleanliness

With all that chewing, keep an eye on cleanliness. Our NUK teethers are easy to clean and can even be cooled for extra relief.

NUK Teething
products

Discover our range like the NUK All Stages Teether (massages with different textures), NUK Extra Cool Teether (stays cold longer), and NUK Cool All-Around Teether (cools intensively and reaches all areas). These are your allies in soothing those little gums.

Baby's first
tooth

It marks a big step towards eating like the grown-ups and even making a great leap in speech and language development. Your baby's mouth is a marvelous world of muscles and nerves, and healthy palate development is incredibly important for this amazing oral journey. NUK is here to support every precious step!

Why healthy oral
development matters

The mouth and tongue are crucial for survival and communication. That's why ensuring healthy palate development is vital. You can support this by breastfeeding, and by choosing the right NUK teats and NUK pacifiers to exercise those muscles and satisfy their natural sucking reflex, setting the stage for strong, healthy teeth.

Caring for
new smiles

Once that first tooth peeks through, it's time for daily tooth brushing, always under your loving guidance.

Understanding colic & tummy aches

Colic is often defined as intense, unexplained crying for more than three hours a day, three days a week, for at least three weeks. While it's common (affecting up to 1 in 5 babies), the exact cause is often a mystery. Tummy aches can also be caused by swallowed air during feeds, digestive immaturity, or sensitivity to certain foods.

Home remedies for comfort

Warm bath: A gentle, warm bath can work wonders to relax little muscles.

Tummy massage: Softly massage baby's tummy in a clockwise direction.

"Flying baby" position: Lay baby tummy-down across your forearm, gently rocking them.

Swaddling: A snug swaddle can provide a sense of security.

Gentle movement: Rocking, swaying, or babywearing can often soothe them.

Burping: Always ensure thorough burping after feeds to release swallowed air. NUK bottles, with their anti-colic systems, are designed to minimize air intake for happier tummies.

The power of sucking

If your little one is struggling with discomfort, a NUK soother can provide immense colic comfort. Our NUK Perfect Match and First Choice soothers are orthodontically designed to support jaw development while satisfying their innate sucking need, helping them to calm down and find peace. It’s a gentle gesture that often brings big relief for tiny tummies.

When to seek expert help

If crying is prolonged, unusually intense, or accompanied by other worrying symptoms (like fever, vomiting, or changes in stool), please don't hesitate to contact your healthcare professional.

THE QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE

It's completely natural for babies to communicate through cries, and you're doing amazing! Crying is their language. Listen for clues: are they restless and trying to suck (hungry)? Rubbing eyes and turning away (tired)? Or perhaps arching their back (overtired or pain)? Understanding these little signals is the first step to offering the right comfort. Remember, your gentle presence is often the most powerful comfort of all.
Absolutely, a soother can be a wonderful little helper! Sucking is a baby's natural superpower for self-soothing. If your little one needs extra comfort after feeding, a soother can provide invaluable service. Our NUK soothers are thoughtfully designed to support jaw development while satisfying this innate need, providing a gentle "hug" for baby's mouth and bringing peace of mind to both of you.
Those first little teeth are a big milestone, but they can bring discomfort! Watch for teething symptoms like increased drooling, wanting to chew on everything, restlessness, or a slight fever. To offer gentle relief, try a clean finger massage, cool cloths, or our NUK teething rings, designed with different textures and cooling options to reach all areas of their mouth. Products like the NUK Extra Cool Teether provide sweet, intensive comfort, helping to soothe those busy gums.
The mouth is a marvelous world of muscles and nerves, vital for breathing, sucking, eating, and eventually speaking! Your baby's first tooth is a significant breakthrough, opening doors to new eating experiences and boosting speech clarity. Healthy palate development is crucial, supported from day one by breastfeeding and the right NUK teats and NUK orthodontic soothers. As soon as that first tooth appears, it's time to start daily brushing, always with your loving guidance, to set a strong foundation for lifelong oral health.
Witnessing your little one in discomfort, like newborn baby stomach pain or colic, can be incredibly challenging. Gentle home remedies like a warm bath, tummy massage (”the cyclist" or ”the flyer"), or ensuring thorough burping after feeds can often bring relief. Our NUK anti-colic bottles are also designed to minimize swallowed air. If discomfort persists, becomes severe, or is accompanied by other worrying symptoms, please don't hesitate to contact your healthcare professional. You are doing an amazing job, and seeking help is a sign of your strength and love.
It's completely normal for your baby’s crying to stress you and know that you are never alone! If nothing seems to work, remember to ensure your baby is safe, then step away for a moment to compose yourself if needed. Always reach out for help: contact a baby clinic, your healthcare provider, or a professional support line. There are always caring professionals ready to support you through these challenging times. Never shake your baby. You are strong, and seeking support is a sign of incredible love.

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Finding calm & comfort