There is nothing more wonderful than having a new baby in your life, but everyone will admit that when teething begins so does a lot of sleepless nights. This usually starts around the time that you have fallen into a nice comfortable routine, which is why many parents may not understand why all of a sudden things take a turn for the worse. This is especially true for new parents.
Knowing the signs of teething can help you make this time an easier one for both you and baby. This is because if you know what to look for and realize teething is the problem, there are steps you can take to make your baby more comfortable. Your child may begin teething anytime after about three months but normally around six to seven months is the average. However, it is important to keep in mind that it is possible for the symptoms of teething to show up two or three months before the actual tooth begins to appear. Here are some signs to look for.
Crying – Crying of course, is one of the major signs when it comes to teething. Babies can’t tell you what is wrong but they can certainly let you know that something is hurting them. If they seem to be crying for no apparent reason, keep in mind that it could be from teething and look for other signs to help confirm this theory.
Not sleeping – It is common for a baby to wake up all hours of the night, but if your little one has had a regular sleeping habit that is now being interrupted, this could be due to teething.
Not eating – Refusing to eat is also another sign. If your baby appears hungry and tries to eat but then pushes it away this could be from teething. The motion of sucking on a bottle can cause pain when a tooth is trying to push its way through the gum. Therefore, the infant may be hungry but the pain discourages them from taking it.
Drooling and chewing – These are two symptoms that can also be caused by teething. The drooling can result in a little coughing and sometimes the infant may appear to gag from the pool of saliva caused by the drooling. This is normal and not anything to really worry about, as long as it does not become excessive. Your baby may begin chewing on objects and even their own fists because this can help to relieve the pressure of the tooth pushing through their gums.
Swollen gums – If your baby becomes cranky for what appears to be no apparent reason, check to see if their gums are red and swollen. As the tooth begins to push through you may even notice a tiny white speck in the gum, which is the tooth trying to make its way through.
Rash – If your baby drools a lot, then they may begin to develop a rash on their face and chin. Continue to wipe the drool off their face throughout the day and if necessary you can use a mild lotion to help with this problem.
Pulling on ears – Some infants tend to pull on their ears when they begin teething. This is because sometimes the pain from teething can travel up to the ears. Nevertheless, don’t take for granted that ear pulling is connected to teething because sometimes it could be a sign of something more serious.
Fever – Most infants will experience a low fever while teething although doctors do not like to link a fever and teething together. Most parents however, do notice a fever when their child is teething. If the fever last more than a couple days it could be something more serious so be sure and contact your doctor.
All babies respond differently when teething, some have very little pain and you may not even notice at first while others find this experience quite painful. If you begin noticing some of the symptoms above and discover your baby is beginning to teeth, then you will be happy to know there are some ways to make this experience a little less painful. Not everything will work for every child so you may have to experiment a little to find the best remedy for your baby.
Here are a few suggestions that may help provide some relief from the pain:
– Giving them a cold or frozen water filled teething ring can provide a lot of relief.
– Rubber teething rings also work well for many babies.
– Rubbing your finger across the gums to massage them can provide relief in some cases.
– Chilled baby food or a cold bottle of water may also help.
– Sometimes just holding and soothing your baby can calm him when he is crying from pain.
– If your infant is experiencing a lot of pain, ask your doctor about using Tylenol or baby orajel to help ease the pain.
