Teething Talk

Little man showed signs of teething since he was 3 months old. But sometimes I have a hard time knowing if his symptoms are because of teething or if he is actually sick. So I decided to do a little research and learn more about the teething processes. Expecting mamas, and mamas of newborns... this one is for you.

Teething Timing: 

*Babies can start teething anywhere from 3 months to 15 months
*They push through new teeth until they are 18 months old
*By the time they are two, they usually have their first set of teeth (including molars)

Signs of teething:

(signs of teething occur four days before a tooth erupts and three days after the tooth has broken the surface)
*Drooling- symptom of your baby's teeth starting to push toward the gum's surface (a process that can start months before the first tooth's eruption.)
*Facial Rash- Thanks to all of the drool, babies often have bumpy red rashes in their cheeks and chins. Wipe your baby's lip and chin often to minimize rashes
*Fever- baby's get a mild fever while teething but experts say that any fever of 101 degrees or more has nothing to do with teething.
*Diarrhea- There is a debate as to whether teething causes diarrhea or not but many parents report loose stools while their baby’s teeth are erupting.
*Irritability- can be more intense at night when distraction is absent.
*Ear pulling- the pain that teething causes in the jaw can transfer to the ear canal and the baby will often pull at his ears in hopes of helping the pain.
*Refusing Food
*Sleep Problems

What Do Teething Infant Gums Look Like?

They may be swollen and red or even bruised. There may be little white dots on them, or you may see small openings where in a day or two will be a tooth.

Teething Time Line:

First come the two lower middle teeth; next, the four upper middle teeth arrive, and after that come incisors, the furthest forward molars and finally the back molars. The first teeth may be the easiest for many babies because the teeth are sharp and thin, so they make it through the gum tissue with less trouble than the broad molars do.

Fun Facts- (if only teething was fun!)

*Teeth actually start developing while your baby's in the womb, when tooth buds form in the gums.
*Once a baby starts teething, everything goes into their mouth.
*Teething is one of the most common causes of frequent night waking during the second six months and through the second year.
*The first tooth can come in anytime between 3 to 15 months, with an average age of 4 to 7 months for most infants
*By age 3, your child should have a full set of 20 baby teeth, which shouldn't fall out until his permanent teeth are ready to start coming in, around age 6.

Do's

*Use a teething aid, such as a wet washcloth, teething rings, etc.

*Massage or rub your baby's gums

*Give your baby a mild pain reliever that is labeled for his or her specific age. For example, acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) may help relieve your baby's discomfort.

Don'ts

*Don't blame serious symptoms, especially a high fever or irritability, on teething
*Don't overuse teething gels and teething tablets, since they shouldn't be needed for the average teething child
*Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20, because it has been linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious disease.

If you have any teething tips for those in need (me) please feel free to leave a comment!!