Babies and ‘teething’ troubles
All babies experience the pain of teething at some point in their tiny lives. For some babies teething is a walk in the park but for others this means countless sleepless nights and intolerable crying. As a parent this means that undoubtedly the pain of teething will bring a strain on your own human resources and you may find that it’s as much a strain for you as it is for your baby. This cannot be helped but there are plenty of remedies out there that can make your toddler more agreeable and less painful for you!
At what age do babies cut their first tooth?
This varies from baby to baby. Some babies are born with teeth! If your baby was born premature then you may find that your babies gums may be less developed than a full term baby and this will indeed impact on the cutting of teeth. Some babies do not cut their first teeth till after they are a year old. The cutting of teeth has nothing to do with what they are fed. Teeth appear when they are ready and there is nothing you can do as a parent to speed up the process!
In general terms your baby will be around 6 or 7 months when they cut their first teeth. These teeth will either be at the front of their top gums or at the bottom. There will be four new teeth – two at the top and two at the bottom before the next set arrives.
The next set of teeth will appear at around 8 months. These are called side incisors. Four will appear in all – two on the top at each side and two on the bottom, again on each side.
A few months later at 10 – 14 months is when the back molars appear, then at 16 – 20 is when the pointy teeth canine) appear and finally at 24-30 months is when the rear molars appear. This accounts for the 20 teeth in all that will appear in your infant.
How do I know when my child is teething?
You will almost certainly notice a lot of drool and dribble from your child when he begins to teethe . This may cause a rash on his chin and so you may need to apply a barrier cream to protect it.
They will also want to place toys and anything they can get their hands on in their mouth for them to chew on so it is important for you to make sure that toys and other items are cleaned with soap and water and are not small enough for your little one to choke on.
Other signs of teething include a moderate to severe diaper rash and/or changes in stool consistency from swallowing excess saliva. Many babies experience sleepless nights and unusually fussy behavior and crying.
What can I use to help my child?
Teething toys are available from most large supermarkets. These tend to have some form of liquid inside which keeps the gums cool if it has been placed in the fridge or freezer. This provides some temporary relief for the little ones.
Teething gel is also available. Some can only be applied every two hours while there are others which can be applied as and when required. Check the box and see which one is suitable for your needs.
Tylenol or other forms infant paracetemol is a godsend during teething. These can be administered orally and be given every four hours. It is again important to check the label and seek medical advice if required. These relieve teething pain and may give you some respite.
Teething granules and biscuits are also available and can give your baby something with a bit of texture to chew on.
You can also wet the corner of a clean face cloth and place it inside the freezer for your child to suck on. Another similar idea is to place an ice cube inside a baby sock and then tie off the end of the sock. The baby can hold it and chew to her heart’s content.
There are many aids available to help both you and your baby get through this troublesome time. Just remember there will be plenty times during your child’s development when your little angel returns and this is something to treasure!
Ask other parents what helped them and when you know what is right for your child let other parents know. The best advice often comes from parents who have already been through the trial of teething.
Article Source: http://www.baby-names.tv/
Image Source: Bingbing on Flickr.com
I like the teething gel it worked good when i used it. I never tried any of the tylenol i used baby asprin instead.
Posted by amy@mold removal | July 12, 2009, 6:33 pmIf you choose to use teething toys made sure they are soft and have no printing on them. The cooling aspect will give some relief.
Posted by andrew@Cosmetic Dentist San Francisco | October 23, 2009, 12:50 pmThat’s a very informative post you made. I’m sure new mothers who care a lot for their baby’s teeth would find it very helpful.
Posted by Dayton Sedation Dentist | October 27, 2009, 8:42 pmI am quite lucky as my baby has never really had much trouble with his teeth cutting through. If I see he is in a bit of pain with them I use the teething gel Anbesol it also comes as liquid base too.
Posted by Emma @ Conservatories Surrey | November 26, 2009, 3:37 amGreat post for any first time parents
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Posted by Niculae Dumitrascu @ cosmetics | February 12, 2011, 1:32 pmAnother sign that a baby or a toddler is cutting new teeth is that it starts grinding its teeth. This can be very unnerving!
It’s a grisly sound and can be very worrying for parents. However, usually the grinding stops when the new tooth comes through. The baby is just producing pressure to counteract the pain of the new tooth.
Posted by Marcia@tandenknarsen kinderen | August 7, 2011, 1:58 pmDental health is so important to monitor as a parent. I loved this article and was glad that people are taking an interest in the dental health of their infants. http://www.arbuckledental.com
Posted by Arbuckledent | March 26, 2012, 8:48 pm