Once your baby teethes, there’s no telling what the experience will be like. Some babies will outgrow it in an instant, and others will seem like all they’re doing is pulling their teeth. For some babies, the experience is prolonged and very painful, yet for others, it’s more of a minor inconvenience than anything else. You may be able to feel a lump on your baby’s gum before she comes in big or have no clue until the pearly white tooth appears.
Teething will usually begin around the sixth or seventh month. Some babies will start to have teeth at three months. Late growers may not even see their first tooth until one year of age. Generally, however, the dentition pattern will follow genetic patterns. If you got your first tooth at a young age, chances are your baby will too. Teething symptoms can precede the actual tooth by up to two to three months.
Your baby may experience any combination of the following teething symptoms:
1. Drooling: Teething stimulates drooling. Some babies will drool more than others. Letting your baby wear a bib will help keep him nice and dry if the drooling gets heavy.
2. A rash around the mouth area – Excess drooling can cause irritation to tender skin from the constant moisture from saliva. To avoid irritation, you may want to clean your baby’s mouth throughout the day. If the skin around your baby’s mouth becomes cracked and dry, use a mild skin cream, preferably one designed specifically for baby’s skin. Talk to your baby’s pediatrician for a specific recommendation.
3. Cough without a cold or other symptoms: Excess saliva is once again to blame and causes the baby to cough or choke at times. Sometimes a cough is simply a means to get a loved one’s attention. However, make sure your baby doesn’t have a cold, allergies, or the flu.
4. Biting: The pressure of biting fingers, toys or anything else helps your baby to relieve the pain of the emerging tooth.
5. Pain and irritability: The first teeth to come in usually cause more pain. The molars are also very painful due to their size, but these teeth usually won’t come in until after the baby’s first birthday. Babies usually get used to bread and can learn to live with it after a while. If you want to offer relief, you can do it with Motrin (if your baby is older than 6 months) or Tylenol. Baby Orajel can also be used as a topical pain reliever. Teething rings and teething toys can also offer relief to your baby. Be sure to check with your baby’s pediatrician for specific medication guidelines appropriate for your baby’s weight and age. The pain your baby experiences can cause him to wake up at night and pull on his ears as well. Keep in mind that these symptoms can also appear with an ear infection. If you are unsure at any time, it is always best to consult with your child’s pediatrician.
6. Strike eating: The baby will suddenly reject preferred foods if he has started on solids. Offer soft foods or anything the baby can tolerate during these times. If your baby refuses to eat solid foods for a while, this is not a big concern as the baby will get most of his nutrition from breast milk or formula. Your baby will sometimes seem to want to nurse all the time and may even become frustrated when the sucking pressure he or she creates causes more pain. If more than one or two feedings are missed due to this type of problem, be sure to consult your baby’s pediatrician for help.
7. Low Fever: Even though many doctors are still unwilling to associate teething with a fever, many experienced moms still believe that teething can lead to a low-grade fever (below 101 degrees in the rectum). Still, if your baby experiences a fever with or without teething, it should be treated like any other low-grade fever. Call your baby’s pediatrician if the low-grade fever continues for more than three days.
Once you’re sure your baby is teething, you can help him by offering him something cold to chew on, such as a cold teether or a frozen bagel or banana. Always use any remedy under close supervision. You can also offer a cold drink in a bottle or cup. Babies will also often appreciate cold foods, such as cold applesauce, pureed peaches, or cold yogurt. Again, children’s Tylenol can also be used, but check with your baby’s pediatrician first for the correct dosage.