Recognising the Symptoms of Teething
- Date: 2007-02-10 - Word Count: 753
Share This!
In most children teething starts at around 6 months of age. However, the first set of primary (milk) teeth take up to 2 to 3 years to appear. Teething can be a painful and distressing time for your child. Learning to recognise teething symptoms is the first step in finding the best remedy for your teething baby.
Each child is unique, so recognising teething symptoms can be somewhat problematic. Because each child experiences teething differently, parents and physicians often disagree as to the symptoms of teething and how painful it is. But, most times, teething symptoms manifest themselves in the following way. One ward of caution: what you may believe to be teething symptoms in your child, can be caused by other conditions, so be sure to always check with your doctor.
Irritability
Wouldn't you be irritable if something sharp was breaking through a tender area of your body? A classic, and most obvious teething symptom, is your child's irritability as the pain of the first teeth erupt through the gums. The pain and discomfort your child feels is usually the worst when the first teeth appear and when the large molars appear. Feeding at this time may also be painful and many babies fuss whilst being fed.
Drooling
Teething stimulates drooling, so you can expect your baby to drool more than usual during teething.
Coughing
A direct effect of drooling is coughing. The extra saliva can cause your baby to occasionally cough or gag. This is usually nothing to worry about. If your baby does not have a fever and seems well in herself, then don't worry. If you are concerned that the cough may not be a sign of teething, then you should consult your doctor.
Chin rash
Another well observed symptom of teething is chin rash. Some children drool excessively during teething and this in turn causes a rash to appear around the chin and mouth. You can help by wiping your child's mouth and chin periodically throughout the day.
Biting and chewing just about everything
A sometimes-painful experience for mother whom breastfeed. If you breastfeed you can expect to get bitten during teething. When this happens you should be able to quickly teach your baby that mom's nipple is not for biting. Babies gnaw on everything around during teething, as the counter-pressure from biting down on something, help to relieve painful gums.
Ear pulling and cheek rubbing.
Pain in the gums may spread to the ears and cheeks especially when the back molars begin coming in. Therefore it is natural for your baby to rub themselves around the ear and cheeks. However, bear in mind that pulling at an ear can also be a sign of an ear infection. If in doubt, consult your doctor.
Diarrhea
Most physicians and researchers dismiss diarrhea as a symptom of teething.
However, many parents notice slightly looser bowel movements when their baby is teething. A recent study done by the Children's Hospital in Australia found this to be the most common symptoms of teething but most medical professionals dispute its findings. It is believed that the most likely cause of this is the extra saliva swallowed, which then loosens the stool. Diarrhea can be a serious condition, so it lasts more than two bowel movements, see your doctor.
Low-grade fever
A fever is another symptom that doctors are sometimes hesitant to directly link with teething. Again, many parents will disagree with this and notice that their baby has a slight fever while teething. Always play safe and contact your doctor if your child has a fever, now matter how slight it appears.
Not sleeping
Teething pain can feel much worse at night time and may cause your baby wake up more often than usual. Lack of sleep will make your baby even more irritable during the day; therefore allow extra naps during the day if necessary
Cold like symptoms
Some babies will show signs of having a cold whilst teething. Runny noses, coughing and general cold symptoms are believed to come from babies having their hands in their mouth more often. If your baby has cold like symptoms don't take any risks; go and see your doctor.
During teething your baby may display all or none of the above teething symptoms. There are many teething remedies, which ones work best will be a matter of trial and error. Finally, start taking care of your baby's teeth from day one; it's never too early to take care of teeth, even if there are temporary milk ones.
Visit my-teething-baby.com for more advice on teething rings, teething side effects and lots of teething remedies for your little one.
Each child is unique, so recognising teething symptoms can be somewhat problematic. Because each child experiences teething differently, parents and physicians often disagree as to the symptoms of teething and how painful it is. But, most times, teething symptoms manifest themselves in the following way. One ward of caution: what you may believe to be teething symptoms in your child, can be caused by other conditions, so be sure to always check with your doctor.
Irritability
Wouldn't you be irritable if something sharp was breaking through a tender area of your body? A classic, and most obvious teething symptom, is your child's irritability as the pain of the first teeth erupt through the gums. The pain and discomfort your child feels is usually the worst when the first teeth appear and when the large molars appear. Feeding at this time may also be painful and many babies fuss whilst being fed.
Drooling
Teething stimulates drooling, so you can expect your baby to drool more than usual during teething.
Coughing
A direct effect of drooling is coughing. The extra saliva can cause your baby to occasionally cough or gag. This is usually nothing to worry about. If your baby does not have a fever and seems well in herself, then don't worry. If you are concerned that the cough may not be a sign of teething, then you should consult your doctor.
Chin rash
Another well observed symptom of teething is chin rash. Some children drool excessively during teething and this in turn causes a rash to appear around the chin and mouth. You can help by wiping your child's mouth and chin periodically throughout the day.
Biting and chewing just about everything
A sometimes-painful experience for mother whom breastfeed. If you breastfeed you can expect to get bitten during teething. When this happens you should be able to quickly teach your baby that mom's nipple is not for biting. Babies gnaw on everything around during teething, as the counter-pressure from biting down on something, help to relieve painful gums.
Ear pulling and cheek rubbing.
Pain in the gums may spread to the ears and cheeks especially when the back molars begin coming in. Therefore it is natural for your baby to rub themselves around the ear and cheeks. However, bear in mind that pulling at an ear can also be a sign of an ear infection. If in doubt, consult your doctor.
Diarrhea
Most physicians and researchers dismiss diarrhea as a symptom of teething.
However, many parents notice slightly looser bowel movements when their baby is teething. A recent study done by the Children's Hospital in Australia found this to be the most common symptoms of teething but most medical professionals dispute its findings. It is believed that the most likely cause of this is the extra saliva swallowed, which then loosens the stool. Diarrhea can be a serious condition, so it lasts more than two bowel movements, see your doctor.
Low-grade fever
A fever is another symptom that doctors are sometimes hesitant to directly link with teething. Again, many parents will disagree with this and notice that their baby has a slight fever while teething. Always play safe and contact your doctor if your child has a fever, now matter how slight it appears.
Not sleeping
Teething pain can feel much worse at night time and may cause your baby wake up more often than usual. Lack of sleep will make your baby even more irritable during the day; therefore allow extra naps during the day if necessary
Cold like symptoms
Some babies will show signs of having a cold whilst teething. Runny noses, coughing and general cold symptoms are believed to come from babies having their hands in their mouth more often. If your baby has cold like symptoms don't take any risks; go and see your doctor.
During teething your baby may display all or none of the above teething symptoms. There are many teething remedies, which ones work best will be a matter of trial and error. Finally, start taking care of your baby's teeth from day one; it's never too early to take care of teeth, even if there are temporary milk ones.
Visit my-teething-baby.com for more advice on teething rings, teething side effects and lots of teething remedies for your little one.
Related Tags: health, nursing, parenting, toddler, mother, baby, child care, maternity, teething, womens issues
Robin O'Brien is the founder and editor of http://www.breast-feeding-information.com and http://www.selfimprovementtechniques.com and http://www.winchester-tourist-information.com Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Baby Walker - Myths And Facts
First of all baby walkers was introduced in as early as 1851 which was a patented version previously - Choose Best Baby Walker For Your Baby
Baby walker is a device, used by infants who cannot walk on their own.Although it is designed for ch - Philips Avent Baby Monitor Can Put Your Mind At Ease!
The Philips Avent Baby Monitor is a very high rated audio baby monitor that you can use to monitor y - Week By Week Pregnancy Guide
First Trimester These are the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy. During this time, the mother's body g - Stroller Safety - 5 Things To Check Ahead Of Time!
So you're in the market for a brand spanking new stroller for your baby. You want your child to not - A Sit And Stand Stroller Is Great For Your Toddler And Baby!
A sit and stand stroller can be a great choice for parents that have both a toddler and a baby. Manu - Beautifully Designed Toddler Accessories To Add A Finish Touch To The Nursery
Every parent aims to create a beautiful, cozy, and comfortable space for their babies whether it's a - Baby Potty Chairs
Kids accessories and gifts for babies have changed a lot in recent years, and potties haven't been l - Baby Nursery Wall Décor
Custom painted baby nursery wall décor adds a lot of character and style to a room so that your baby - Baby Bibs And Other Baby Feeding Accessories
Feeding time can be a very stressful or a really enjoyable time to spend with your baby and it will
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Personalized Baby Blankets - 5 Quick Ideas for an Original and Cherished Gift
A baby is the pride and joy of any new parents. For the parents, life changes, and their focus shift - Playing And Childrens Educational Toys
What does play do for a child? Contrary to what some people think, play is not just a waste of time - The Da Vinci Kalani Crib Is Not Only Elegant - It Provides A Full Solution For Your Child's Sleeping
The Kalani crib by Da Vinci is stylish, elegant, yet very functional, this crib truly is a solid, st - The Wiggles Party Fun for the Toddler
Music is an essential part of a child's development so enjoy the music of Wiggles at your child's bi - Attending A Baby Shower? Top 5 Baby Shower Gifts For New Parents
Finding out that you are expecting for the first time can be one of the most exciting times in a c - Feng Shui Baby Names
There are various ways to pick a baby name. The ways vary from different Feng Shui schools. Feng mea - What NOT To Feed Your Baby
In this world we live in, we are so busy that buying food and microwaving it, is much easier than s - Baby Proofing
When that innocent baby comes into your life the main thing that stays in your mind is keeping him o - Baby Shower Fun Activities
There are many baby shower fun activities. It is the activities that really make a baby shower a gr - Preschooler's Educational Toys
The demand for educational toys is fast growing, as more and more parents see the value behind these