You don’t like seeing your baby in pain because of the teething process? Learn how to make breast milk popsicles to soothe your little one’s sensitive gums!
Cold teethers, a cold washcloth, and frozen fruit are some safe alternatives to relieve teething pain. But, aside from these options, have you heard about breast milk popsicles? These are popsicles made from breast milk and are used to soothe babies or cool them on hot days.
In this article, you will learn when to use and how to prepare these popsicles, as well as some precautions needed during their preparation. Keep reading!
When Are Breastmilk Popsicles Recommended?
Breast milk popsicles are primarily recommended during a baby’s teething process. At this stage, the gums are swollen and painful, which ends up upsetting your little one. To alleviate the discomfort, it is recommended to apply something cold to the region to anesthetize it and give it a relaxing sensation.
This is why breast milk popsicles are a good option during this stage, as they are safer to use than ointments, gels, and other anesthetic medications. These popsicles can also cool your baby during hot days.
To prevent these popsicles from “competing” with breastfeeding, it is important to offer them only after 6 months of age, a period when swallowing is also more mature. In addition to being a more natural and healthier alternative, most babies love this frozen milk, which can be used as a teether to relieve gum inflammation.
How To Prepare Breast Milk Popsicles
The preparation of the breast milk popsicles is very simple. You will only need the following items:
- Freshly expressed breast milk
- Well sanitized ice trays or ice cream containers (without bisphenol A)
Fill the molds with breast milk and place them in the freezer. After they’ve frozen, unmold the popsicles, and that’s it! To make it even easier, you can unmold all the popsicles and place them in sanitized pots. That way, when your baby is uncomfortable during teething or the day is hot, you can simply take a popsicle out and offer it to them.
What Precautions Should I Take During Preparation?
Despite the advantages of breast milk popsicles, it is important to take some precautions when preparing them to ensure that they are safe for your baby. To begin with, it is essential to clean the molds that you are going to use very well.
This precaution must also be taken into account when expressing and handling breast milk. Also, avoid adding other ingredients to the popsicle, especially if your child is less than 6 months old.
Finally, remember that breast milk popsicles should not be used to feed your baby, but rather to cool them down or relieve the pain caused by teething. After all, the best food to nourish your baby will always be room-temperature breast milk.
In kinedu | learn, you can attend classes and learn other ways to relieve your baby’s teething pain, as well as watch dozens of other classes with experts on breastfeeding, introduction to solids, health, child development, and more. Download the app and start a 7-day FREE trial today!
