How to Stop A Baby Chewing Paint Off Crib: Is It Dangerous?

Last Updated on May 31, 2023

It’s alarming to see a baby chewing paint off a crib, especially if parents are worried about crib paint or damage. However, parents should not be alarmed if they discover tiny tooth marks on the crib rails. Babies use their mouths to figure out what’s going on around them.

It’s known as the rooting reflex, and anything that comes into contact with their face or lower lip triggers it. It’s a harmless instinct. When your baby forms their initial set of teeth, they’ll chew on anything to relieve the pain. So, if you see this behavior in your child, protect them and your belongings. 

Why do babies bite on their cribs?

The most frequent reason for baby chewing on crib paint or other surfaces is teething. The first teeth sprout in a baby at the age of 5-10 months, and the teething stage would last until the child is two years old. Teething may be uncomfortable for babies.

They have aching gums, so they chew on everything to get it into their mouth, including objects, toys, clothing, and, in this case, the crib rails. Babies bite on various substances to soothe their painful gums, which helps the teeth cut through the gums.

To keep your baby safe when they’re teething, here’s what you should do if the baby chews on crib:

• Make use of extra-large silicon shields. This not only protects the furniture but also makes it challenging for newborns to get their chompers around it.

• You should provide a more acceptable food item for the child’s consumption. Children will have a lot of fun exploring and soothing themselves with a wide range of different shapes and textures of safe teethers (no small components to fall free).

• Directly massaging a child’s gums not only allows a parent to see exactly where their child’s jaw hurts while also relieving their discomfort. Teething pain is made more bearable with the use of this remedy.

Is Biting on a Crib Dangerous?

During the first 2-3 years of a baby’s development, they explore the world by chewing everything. They learn by examining the feel of things and chewing on them. The Ontario Poison Control Center said baby biting crib paint is mainly harmless but advised parents not to use a used crib that may have been coated with lead. Due to changing rules, most new cribs come with lead-free paint or stain, and you should take caution if the infant chews on the crib often. 

Also read: Crib for tall baby

How to stop baby from chewing on crib?

Here are some steps on how to stop your baby from chewing on crib paint.

Purchase a crib that is free of lead paint

If you see your baby chewing paint off crib, the first thing you should do is make sure the material is free of hazardous poisons. Many previous crib models went through procedures that employed a lot of chemicals and were using lead-based paints or sealants, making them dangerous for babies to eat. As a response, replacing your current crib with one that is more natural and meets modern safety standards is vital for your child’s safety.

Set up silicon guards

If your baby chewed paint off crib, the next step is to wrap soft protectors around the rails and bars. For this reason, silicon cushioning is typically the most popular option, as it is flexible enough to be gentle to your baby’s developing teeth while being firm enough to protect the crib. These cushions are also often oversized, making it difficult for newborns to get their lips around them, making them less likely to be chewed on.

Cover crib railings

Prevent the baby biting crib railing by covering it with non-toxic rail coverings. The crib rail guard protects your crib rails from tooth marks and drools from yellowing. There are many other crib rail coverings on the market. Find ones manufactured with baby-safe materials free of PVC, lead, phthalate, and BPA. Look for rail covers that are soft and breathable, thick enough to accommodate a teething infant, and comply with CPSIA regulations.

Do you need advice on how to choose the right crib?
Take a look at these great resources:

• How to choose a crib for tall babies – A buyer’s guide
• 5 of the best cribs for small size rooms
• What to consider when buying a crib for twins?

Get some teething toys for your baby

To keep your baby from chewing crib paint and other items, make sure you have lots of teething toys on hand. These teethers are very effective and safe for baby gums and developing teeth since they are non-toxic. Depending on your baby’s individual needs, there are various sorts of toys to pick from, so you may try out a few different ones to see which one they like. A gentle and non-toxic teething method is one of the most effective ways to alleviate your baby’s teething desire.

When selecting teething treatment items for your child, avoid topical creams containing the gum-numbing chemical benzocaine, which may have uncommon but potentially fatal adverse effects. According to the FDA, homeopathic or “natural” teething remedies containing belladonna are likewise dangerous.

Provide a variety of foods with different textures

Along with teething toys, ensure that your baby’s meals and snacks provide a range of textures. The intense strain on the jaw is provided by foods such as crunchy almonds, carrot sticks, pretzels or by eating bagels with dried fruit or dried berries. It will likely lessen a baby’s desire to chew on their crib or other objects.

Feed your baby with frozen vanilla

Teething is when the baby becomes irritable and dislikes eating or being fed anything. As a result, your baby’s health is affected the most during the period of teething.

All you have to do is give your baby a tasty frozen treat to address this problem. Popsicles are one of the most acceptable ways to soothe your baby’s gum inflammation and soreness with these frozen delights. A handmade frozen dessert is considerably more beneficial to your child’s health. Try to include a tiny bit of vanilla extract in the frozen meal since vanilla might relieve teething pain. Be sure, though, that you don’t use too much vanilla extract because it might be hazardous to your child.

FAQs

Wrapping Up:

Thanks for reading our blog post on how to stop a baby chewing paint off crib. We hope you’ve found this guide helpful and informative.

To sum up, we just want to mention that it can be alarming when you walk into your baby’s room and see them chewing on the paint off their crib. Not only is it a choking hazard, but it can also be dangerous if they ingest any of the paint chips.

Fortunately, the things that we’ve discussed in this blog post will keep your baby safe and stop him from chewing on the crib.

However, babies like to chew on things as they explore their environment, so if you aren’t watching closely, they may start gnawing on the paint. If you notice them starting to chew, immediately distract them with another thing.

Please share this article with your friends and family as it may provide some much-needed help. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are more than happy to assist in any way possible.

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