CARING FOR YOUR TEETHING BABY
Posted by the author on April 26th, 2011Teething can be a stressful event for you and your baby. That one, single,
minute, and oh so miniscule body part can be the cause of a huge amount of pain
and discomfort for your baby. Deciduous (temporary) teeth often start to show up
around 4-7 months. You may even be surprised that some babies are already born
with a tooth, which is attributed to excessive calcium intake of the mother. To
prepare you for the upcoming sleepless nights and fussy episodes, you must know
the average time when your baby’s primary dentition would emerge.
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WHAT TO OBSERVE ON A TEETHING BABY
Babies show different signs and symptoms while new teeth emerge.
Knowing your baby’s behavior may help you do some appropriate measures to help
lessen her discomfort.
> Your baby will be somewhat difficult to console. She will be more fussy than
usual, and it is due to the pain brought about by the emerging tooth. Some
babies are fussy when the first incisors and molars erupt. Others are fussy
with each teething process.
> She will be drooling excessively, sometimes constantly. The sensation of the
emerging tooth stimulates the salivary glands of your baby, causing
excessive production. The excessive saliva can sometimes cause a coughing
episode. As long as she does not have fever, you don’t have to worry about
it. However, if you touch her chest and you feel some excessive vibration
and hear some abnormal sounds while she breaths, you must consult her
pediatrician.
> Your baby may also have some facial rash due to the constant contact of
saliva on her skin.
> Your baby bites on everything she can get her hands on, and gnaws on it
endlessly. One favorite object would be your shoulder. Every time you carry
her during burping episodes your little one will gnaw on your shoulder
tirelessly. Sometimes, she may even coo because every time she gnaws, the
counter pressure eases the discomfort form her gums.
> She may wake up in the middle of the night several times due to the pain
and irritation caused by her emerging teeth.
> There are other symptoms like low-grade fever, diarrhea, and ear-pulling.
However, sometimes these problems are not related to teething, so it’s
better to have your baby checked by her pediatrician to be sure.
HOW TO EASE HER DISCOMFORT
You cannot stop your baby from teething, so what you can do is treat each
discomfort as it appears. This symptomatic approach will help lessen the
discomfort your baby would experience during the teething period.
> Give her a teething ring or a frozen face towel to bite on. The rough surfaces
will help massage the irritated gums, as well as center the sensation away
from the painful emerging teeth. The icy temperature will help constrict the
blood vessels, lessening the tenderness of the gums.
> If your child can tolerate it, give her an iced lolly of her favorite juice. This
works under the same principle of constricting the blood vessels to ease
tenderness.
> Massage the gums of your baby with a clean finger. Be prepared for some
biting to happen when you do. Some babies actually prefer their parent’s
fingers to teething rings.
> To prevent the rash from getting worse, wipe the drool gently with a very
soft cotton cloth. Do not use baby wipes for your baby’s skin is already
irritated. Your pediatrician may recommend the use of a topical cream or
ointment to help relieve the rash.
> There are some controversies over the use of medications to help your baby
go through the painful process of teething. You MUST consult first with your
pediatrician about giving your child pain relievers such as paracetamol. Give
her the medication according to the prescription and do not be tempted to
amend the dose yourself. Always consult your pediatrician before doing so.
Teething is always a milestone in your baby’s development. Hopefully, both
of you have enough tolerance and stamina to go through the whole process.
Remember that if some symptoms persists or gets worse, consult your pediatrician
immediately.