Worried about how to fix crib teeth marks? Check out our guide for the best tips and tricks!
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Babies can turn into little woodchucks when they’re teething. If your baby took their teething to the crib rails, you may end up with horrible teeth marks all over them.
Teething is a tough process for babies, and those marks are just another reminder of it. But don’t worry! There are ways to fix crib teeth marks.
In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks that can help make them disappear, and also a few ways to prevent getting them in the first place.
Repairing crib teeth marks will depend on how deep they are. If the marks are not too deep, you can try ironing the rail to draw the dents out or sanding down the rails then touching up with matching paint. If the marks are a bit deeper, you will need to apply some wood filler to the holes first and then sand when dry and polish the rails.
Let’s take a closer look at the different methods for repairing crib teeth marks:
How to Fix Small Crib Teeth Marks
Small crib teeth marks can be fixed with different little tricks depending on your situation. Here are some tried and approved methods:
Trick #1: Ironing the Dents on The Crib
If the marks are not too deep and your crib is made of solid wood, this simple method will work wonders, especially on fresh teeth marks. The best thing about this method is that it doesn’t involve using any tools or products. All you need is an iron and a cloth.
Ironing the dents relies on the ability of solid wood to return to its original shape after being sprayed with water and heated. Here are the detailed steps to repair crib teeth marks using the ironing method:
- Spray the indented section of the crib rail with some water
- Place a cloth over the damaged section of the rail
- Set your iron to medium-high heat and place it on top of the cloth.
- press down with the iron for about 30 seconds. The heat will cause the wood to expand and the dent should start to disappear.
- check if the dent has been removed by gently pushing on it – if it has, then you’re good to go!
Trick #2: Sanding Down the Crib Rails
If your crib is made of composite materials or if you don’t want to risk ironing, another way to fix small crib teeth marks is by sanding down the rails and then touching them up with matching paint.
This method works best for small and superficial crib teeth marks and is a bit more time-consuming but it’s very effective. Make sure you have the following supplies before you start:
- Sandpaper in fine to medium grits (80/100/120)
- Paper towels
- Baby safe paint (in a matching color)
- A brush or roller
Here are the steps to repairing crib teeth marks using this method:
- Lightly sand down the entire rail with some fine-grit sandpaper to remove the existing finish, taking care not to sand too much so you don’t get uneven sections of the rail. Make sure that you have proper ventilation in the space where you’re working.
- Wipe down the rail with a paper towel to remove all the dust and debris.
- Check to see if the rail is free of indentations and even all around. If not, continue sanding with medium-grit sandpaper until the marks are completely removed, and brush off all sanding debris.
- Apply a coat of baby-safe paint to the rail using a brush or roller. Let it dry completely.
- Repeat until desired coverage is achieved.
Trick #3: Use Stain Markers on The Crib Teeth Marks
A cheap and easy way to cover shallow crib teeth marks is to use a stain marker of a very similar color. This wood patch kit on Amazon can give you excellent results for any color your wooden crib is.
The patching kits usually include all the materials you need for repairing teeth marks. They consist of several tubes of paint of different colors that you mix to get the matching color of your crib, applicator brushes and spatula, and a mixing jar. You can also get a wood putty stick with your patch kit for deeper chips on your crib.
You can also get a stain marker like these that will work great for small thin marks on the wood. A stain marker will work best for hiding teeth marks on darker colors of wood, and they usually come in packs of multiple colors so you can pick the closest color to your crib.
Trick #4: Rub Walnuts Over the Teeth Marks
This trick sounds crazy, but it actually works! If your crib is made of wood, you can try rubbing walnuts over the teeth marks to fix them. For this trick to work, the teeth marks should be very shallow. This trick also works great for all kinds of scratches.
The oils in the walnut help to push the dent out and make it disappear. Simply crack open a couple of walnuts and rub them over the marks until they’re gone. You might have to do this a few times to get the desired results, but it’s a cheap and easy way to fix shallow teeth marks.
Read Also : 13 Tips to Survive the Four Month Sleep Regression
How to Fix Deeper Crib Teeth Marks
If you have deeper crib teeth marks that you can’t seem to fix with any of the methods listed above, you will need more advanced methods to get rid of the teeth marks successfully.
To repair deep teeth marks, you will either need to purchase a repair kit that includes a wood filler, or get the following supplies separately:
- Pre-tinted wood filler.
- Spatula.
- Medium grit Sandpaper.
- Baby safe paint in a matching color.
- Wood stain in a matching color.
Here are the steps to repairing crib teeth marks using wood filler:
- Fill the teeth marks with wood filler using a small spatula.
- Smooth the wood filler with the spatula until it’s even.
- Once the wood filler is completely dry, sand it over with medium-grit sandpaper to remove any excess wood filler and create a smooth surface.
- Touch up with baby-safe paint and protect with polish.
Preventing Crib Teeth Marks
If your baby has just started taking interest in using the crib rails as a teether, one way to prevent crib teeth marks or at least control the damage is to put a guard or rail cover on the crib or wipe down the crib rails with lemon juice. This way you will save yourself the hassle of having to repair the crib teeth marks later on.
Use Crib Rail Covers
The most effective and affordable way to protect your crib rails from your baby (and your baby from teething on the crib rails and getting wood or paint chips ingested) is to set up a Teething Guard like this one that wraps around the entire rail of your crib and has soft filler to protect your baby’s gums.
Crib rail guards like this are a great way to prevent crib teeth marks and also keep your baby safe from any sharp edges on the crib rails. If you have been having trouble with your baby biting or chewing on the crib rails, a rail guard is a must-have item to protect both your crib and your baby.
You can also use clear plastic guards that go over the top of the rails or stick to the parts that get chewed on. This is a very discreet alternative to using fabric crib rail covers and it is equally effective.
Wipe Down the Crib Rail with Lemon Juice
This trick worked great for us when my daughter started teething and started chewing on the crib rails. All you need is pure lemon or lime juice and a soft cloth or paper towel.
Squeeze the lemon juice onto the cloth and wipe down the rails and parts of your crib that your baby usually chews on. The sour taste of the lemon juice will act as a natural deterrent against your baby biting or chewing on the crib rails. You will need to do this every other day, to keep the rails protected from teeth marks. It’s a little extra work, but it’s worth it to protect your crib and your baby.
Of course, this trick will only work if your baby is turned off by the sour taste of lemon juice, not if they actually love lemons! But it’s worth a try anyway
Bottom Line
There are several ways to fix crib teeth marks, and most of them are easy and affordable. If your baby is teething and has been chewing on the crib rails, it’s best to take action quickly to prevent any long-term damage. And remember, prevention is always better than cure – so use the tricks in this article to protect your crib from teeth marks in the first place!
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you! Thanks for reading.
The purpose of this article is informative and educational only. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. We do not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Babycious may earn compensation from affiliate links in this content.
