How Foods Fit In
You'll begin to introduce soft foods into your baby's diet between four and six months of age. Your pediatrician will probably have your infant start with cereal and then move on to pureed vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, peas, sweet potato, bananas, and peaches. While your baby may lose their appetite for a bit when tooth eruption is painful, continue the above practices to help alleviate their pain, and before you know it, your child will be back to eating.
Because you'll also be introducing more solid foods to your infant's diet, in addition to breast milk and/or bottles, it's even more important to keep your baby's teeth clean! Start with a soft wet washcloth or piece of gauze to wipe down your baby's gums, just as you would during the phase of breastfeeding and teething. If new teeth are present, now would be a good time to introduce a child-size toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste into your infant's oral care routine. Just use a small amount of toothpaste, no bigger than a grain of rice, across the (soft) bristles of a baby toothbrush and clean off any debris as gently as you can.
Breastfeeding and teething are both monumental steps of every infant's early development. They're unique journeys for each family, as parents will decide between breastfeeding and bottle feeding and will have their individual challenges with teething. But as long as you feel confident and informed in your decisions, and begin your child's oral care routine early, know that you're doing everything you can to promote a bright, healthy smile for when your child's full set of teeth come in!