Teething Toddlers: Sensory Play & Distraction Strategies - innobaby

Teething Toddlers: Sensory Play & Distraction Strategies

TL;DR: If your teething toddler is struggling with teething and you need some new ideas, sensory play and distraction therapy are two great ways to help. This blog breaks down some great sensory play ideas, the best toys for teething aggression, and what else you can expect from your teething toddler.

Teething Toddlers: Sensory Play & Distraction Strategies

Teething doesn't just happen to babies; it happens well into toddlerhood, as well. Molars typically come in between 13 to 19 months, and second molars (often called "two-year molars") arrive between 23 and 33 months. (Source: Cleveland Clinic) Molars are a whole other ballgame compared to the rest of the teeth. They take longer to come in; they seem to hurt more, and it can throw off your toddler's mood, sleep, appetite, and more for days on end. Want to find new ways to help them? Keep reading for our favorite strategies, including the best toys for teething aggression and distraction.

Sensory Play for Teething Toddlers

Teething pain for molars tends to come in waves. Your toddler may seem fine and happy one second, then the next they are wailing with no way to keep them calm. The more they focus on the pain, the worse their panic can get. One of the best things you can do for your toddler, aside from helping them soothe their pain, is to distract them from it.

Sensory play is a great way to distract your toddler from the pain. Sensory play has a calming effect, allowing your toddler to relax when teething pain is high, and a way to curb tantrums before they begin.

Some sensory play ideas for teething toddlers include:

Water Play

Toddler on a step stool playing with cups and water at the kitchen sink as a teething distraction

If your toddler is on the struggle bus and you need to switch gears, start some water play! This can be as simple as propping them up in front of the sink with cups or handing them the garden hose outside.

Water play is calming, fun, addicting, and a great way to keep your toddler smiling through their teething pain.

Sensory Bins

Sensory bins are a great way to calm your child, distract them from teething pain, and have fun at the same time.

Mouth-safe teething sensory bin with silicone sensory toys, oral development teether, ice, and water

Because toddlers tend to have a higher oral fixation while they are teething, make sure your sensory bin is full of things that you are okay with them putting in their mouths.

Some ideas include:

Bubble Play

Bubbles have been proven to reduce stress and anxiety as well as calm not only the person who is blowing them, but whoever is watching them float by as well.

They are a great way to snap any toddler out of any tantrum, especially if the bubble wand is toddler-friendly.

Spike's toddler-friendly bubble blower wand and botanical solution can be used by your toddler all by themselves. They will have so much fun dipping, twirling, and blowing their own bubbles that they will forget all about those pesky molars!

Plus, we have two types of solutions: One that is indoor-friendly for bath play, super hot summer days, or lounging on the couch, as well as one that is designed for outdoor play that has a longer bubble floating time.

The Best Toys for Teething Aggression

Does your toddler have teething aggression?

Toddler biting is a very common behavior.

Children bite in order to cope with a challenge or fulfill a need. For example, your child may be biting to express a strong feeling (like frustration), to communicate a need for personal space (maybe another child is standing too close), or to satisfy a need for oral stimulation. Trying your best to understand the underlying cause of the biting will help you develop an effective response. (Source: Zero to Three)

If your toddler tends to bite you, friends, or siblings while they are teething, one way you can curb this behavior is by giving them something beneficial they can bite on.

Oral & Motor Developmental Set by Dr. Gigi (Pink Colors) - innobaby

Innobaby's oral development teethers are specifically designed to be durable, long-lasting, and easy to use for both children and adults. They can reach those far back molars, are super easy to clean (just pop them in the dishwasher!), and can even help with their overall oral development. The constant lip, tongue, and cheek workout will help them build skills for eating, speech, and drinking!

What Else to Expect

Checklist infographic of 9 toddler teething symptoms including disrupted sleep, drooling, swollen gums, and increased biting

Teething doesn't just cause pain in toddlers; it can disrupt their lives for days on end. Here are some examples of things to look out for:

  • Disrupted sleep
  • Disrupted appetite
  • Drooling
  • Low-grade temperature
  • Red, swollen gums
  • Strong urge to bite or chew
  • Increased biting
  • Increased tantrums
  • Dribble rash
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FAQs

What can I do about my toddler’s teething pain?

Molars are difficult to get through. Help your toddler soothe their pain, give them a distraction, and offer them something beneficial to bite on.
Why does my toddler bite so much?

If your toddler bites a lot, it could signal teething, a strong feeling such as frustration, or the need for personal space. You can satisfy their oral fixation by handing them something beneficial to bite on, such as an oral development teether.
How can I deescalate tantrums in my toddler?

Teething can bring tantrums, and a great way to deescalate and distract them is through sensory play such as water play, sensory bins, or bubble play.

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