From the Research
Non-Pharmacological Methods for Teething Pain in Infants
- Non-pharmacological interventions for pain management in infants include sucrose/glucose solutions, non-nutritive sucking, breastfeeding, olfactive stimulus, auditory stimulus, and sensory stimulus (skin-to-skin care, kangaroo/maternal holding, heat, therapeutic massage, swaddling/facilitated tucking, and acupressure) 1
- These methods have been shown to decrease behavioral and physiologic pain responses in newborns 1
- Other non-pharmacological methods that have been found to be effective in reducing pain in infants include oral administration of sweet solutions, breastfeeding, and kangaroo care 2
- Non-pharmacological interventions are considered safe, effective, and can be easily applied in daily practice 1
- Some studies have also investigated the use of distractive play, music therapy, virtual reality, hospital clowns, and hypnosis as non-pharmacological treatments for pain in children, although these may not be specifically targeted at teething pain 3
- It is worth noting that while these methods may be effective, further research is needed to fully understand their effects and to develop tailored pain treatment plans for infants 1, 2
- In the context of teething pain, pharmacists often recommend non-drug options first, and then over-the-counter medications if needed, although there is a need for further education on the potential harm of certain products, such as benzocaine-containing products 4