Teething and Its Signs

 

Welcome Back Everyone!

DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed physician so please check with your doctor before you try any of the remedies or advice in this article. 

My daughter has been having a rough time with teething. About a week and a half ago she was fussy for three days straight. At first my husband and I thought it was gas or her constipation had some back. So we started doing our usual check list. We changed her diaper, we checked her tracking sheet for when she ate last, when her last nap was, and gave her 3oz of pear juice mixed with 1oz of water. She was still crying. We also noticed that she was wanting to be held a lot more than usual and her naps were becoming shorter and shorter. We called the doctor's office and they asked us how much is she sleeping? How much she is eating? Peepee Diaper? Poopy diaper? the whole nine yards. We answered she was still eating her normal amount but not wanting to breast feed. The on call nurse told us to take her temperature and it was normal. 

So the nurse told us to look for a bump on her bottom gums where two of her teeth would be. There was a huge bump. She said that she was teething. You could imagine how stupid we felt. Of all the things that we were looking for we never thought that she could be teething. She is old enough. It completely skipped our minds. 

Some signs of your baby teething are drooling, irritability, tooth visible below gum, swollen or bulging gums, trying to bite, chew or suck on anything and everything, rubber his/her face, difficulty sleeping, turning food away or grabbing his/her ears. These are typical signs so keep an eye out.   

 There are very simple way to treat or ease the pain of teething which include:

1. Cold Things.

In the same way that ice works on a sprained ankle to numb pain and reduce swelling, cold compresses and food soothe sore gums. Try a refrigerated pacifier or teether. (Don't store the teether in the freezer because when frozen it can get hard enough to damage a baby's gums.)There are a variety of refrigerated teethers, including some with plastic handles so your baby's hands won't get cold. Liquid-filled teethers work well, but watch for leaks. Firm rubber teething rings are a good alternative. Whichever kind you choose, keep an eye on your baby to make sure she doesn't choke as she gnaws away on it. If your baby has started solids, offer her chilled (not frozen) fruit in a mesh pacifier.

2. Pressure. Teething babies love to feel pressure on their gums because it helps distract their brain from the sensation of teething pain. If your baby rejects cold items, chewing on a teether at room temperature may do the trick. Some teethers even vibrate. If one type doesn't work for your child, just try another until you find one that helps. Or give this strategy a go: Gently rub your baby's gums with a clean pinky finger.

3. Pain Killers.
If nothing  is working and your baby needs relief, your doctor might recommend trying an over-the-counter painkiller like baby tylenol. (Note: Don't give new medicines to a baby without first checking with a doctor. Ask the doctor for the proper dosage whenever giving acetaminophen to a child younger than two years of age.) For babies at least 6 months old, baby motrin is an another option for reducing inflammation in your baby's gums. But bear in mind that the drug can irritate the stomach, which may be problematic if your baby's already refusing to eat (which some teething babies do).
Aspirin is off-limits for anyone under 19 years old. Don't give it to your baby or even rub it on her gums. Fever, vomiting (other than spitup), and diarrhea aren't normal symptoms of teething. If your baby has a persistent fever, gets worse, or seems sick, call the doctor.

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