Teething is the normal process in which your baby’s first set of teeth (primary teeth) break through the gums. Teething usually begins at around 6 months of age, but it is different for each child. Some children begin at 3 to 4 months, while others do not start until age 12 months or later.
Your child may be irritable and uncomfortable from the swelling and tenderness at the site of the erupting tooth.
Teething may cause a mild increase in your child’s temperature.
The following signs/symptoms can help you notice when your child begins teething. Though the signs and symptoms aren’t the same for every baby, but they may include:
- Swollen, tender gum
2. Fussiness and crying
3. A slightly raised temperature
4. Gnawing or wanting to chew on hard things
5. Lots of drool which can cause a rash on their face
6. Coughing
7. Rubbing their cheeck or pulling their ear
8. Bringing their mouth to their mouth
9. Changes in eating or sleeping patterns.
Now that you know some of the signs and symptoms of teething, you may need to try different things to help your little one feel better. Here are some of the things to do to help soothe a teething baby
- Something cold in your baby’s mouth, like a cold pacifier, spoon, clean wet washcloth.
2. Try offering a hard, unsweetened teething cracker.
3. If your baby is older than 6-9 months, you can offer cool water from a sippy cup, too.
4. Massage the gum by gently rubbing them with your clean finger. If the teeth haven’t come in yet, you can let your baby gnaw on your finger. If your nursing your baby, try dipping your fingers in cool water and massaging their gums before each feeding. That may keep them from biting your nipple while nursing.
When teething results in your baby having a fever, don’t hesitate to visit a doctor.
Treatments to Avoid When Your Baby is Teething:
Never put anything in your baby’s mouth that isn’t specifically approved to soothe teething. Even some products described as teethers or teething aids aren’t safe choices, including ones:
- Filled with liquid that can tear and spill
- Made of breakable material, like plastic, that can possibly lead to chocking,
- That are frozen solid – these can be too hard on a baby’s mouth.
Another reason to be aware of the material used to make the teethers is that some can be made from harmful substances, like lead.
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