As much as we look forward to that first tooth, the process of having it come through may make your little one so miserable it can break your heart and shred your nerves all at the same time. Babies normally show signs of teething at around 6 months and although many may share the same symptoms, the process is unpredictable at best. One child may get through this potentially difficult time with no problem while another seems to be miserable every day.
Knowing some of what to expect is half the battle and can help to lower parental stress or worry. There are seven major signs of teething covered in this blog but it’s rare for a baby to have every one of them. Most babies don’t need a trip to the pediatrician for teething issues, but bear in mind some of these symptoms could be an indication of illness that has nothing to do with teeth coming through.
1. Drooling Excessively
The biggest reason babies drool is because it takes time for them to learn to swallow their saliva. In the meantime, their body creates extra to ease tender, bulging gums but new teeth aren’t the only reason for excessive drool. The act of chewing anything, even without teeth encourages the body to produce more saliva than they can swallow so it dribbles down their chins instead. The biggest danger here is chapped, irritated skin and the easiest fix for that is simple petroleum jelly.
Another reason for drooling may seem unbelievable but is true nonetheless. It is a necessary stage in growth and development because saliva has the special enzymes needed to digest solid food as well as helping to neutralize excess stomach acid. Baby’s intestinal lining needs all that drool for healthy development and it also helps to heal irritated esophageal linings that can become sore from spitting up so often.
2. Swollen Gums
In some cases swollen gums that include cysts or blisters could be an indication of illness or infection, not teething. In this case you should contact your pediatrician. However, if baby’s gums swell, appear red and you can feel a hardness in the swollen area, it is most likely due to normal causes and you will soon see a tooth in that spot. If you can’t feel a tooth, don’t panic or rush to the pediatricians office. Often, swollen gums come long before the tooth, and you can see them just under the surface for quite some time before you can actually feel them.
3. Tooth Visible Below The Gum
When teeth are ready to come through the gum you can often see them long before they actually pop through. You may not be able to see them right away, but your baby’s primary and permanent teeth began in the 3rd month of your pregnancy and are already partially formed below the gums at birth. Typically by the time your baby is 3 months old you can see them waiting and they may even appear to come closer and then recede a few times before they finally pop through. Babies are individuals and there really is no telling how long or soon it will be until what you can see just below the gum is ready to come through.
4. Irritability
This part of the process is a trial for both parents and child. In the womb, babies don’t know pain or discomfort and the teething process can mean both. Naturally this makes babies fussier than you’re used to and it’s worse at bedtime because being so uncomfortable interferes with their sleep. This definitely contributes greatly to the “cranky” factor. During the day babies may be distracted from discomfort with toys or activity. Toys that make noise or move in interesting ways are a big help in taking their minds off how bad they feel and physical activity also seems to go a long way in distracting them from what’s going on inside their mouths.
5. Trouble Sleeping
At night when the day quiets down and there are fewer distractions to keep your baby occupied, she/he may seem to feel discomfort more. They don’t understand why their mouth hurts. Sometimes all you can do is cuddle them while gently rubbing their gums so they can hopefully get enough relief to fall asleep. Once your baby is able to sleep that doesn’t mean the irritation has gone away. Babies already sleeping through the night may wake up earlier and nap time doesn’t seem to last as long because sleeping or not, those little gums are still tender.
6. Rejecting Food
Lack of interest in food is natural for anyone with mouth pain and that’s especially true for babies. Poor little things get so frustrated because they are hungry, but don’t want to eat with a sore mouth. This is a tricky phase, baby has to eat so all you can do is keep trying to tempt them with their favorites, or maybe try a few new ones. They may accept foods more easily that don’t require irritating sore spots by chewing. Cool treats that slide over the gums with no effort are one way to take care of nutritional needs and provide comfort at the same time. Babies have to have a healthy caloric intake and if they continue to resist food, it’s time for a visit to the pediatrician.
7. Biting
Teething babies tend to want to chew on or bite anything within reach. This tendency can be especially tough on mothers who breast feed. Putting pressure on sore places gives relief to achy gums but it doesn’t have to be your skin that provides it. The market for baby supplies is flooded with different items for baby to chew on. Or, you may have several items in your home right now that could safely be used use for “biting relief” as well as entertainment. Hard plastic serving utensils, or brightly colored Tupperware lids are a good idea. As long as there aren’t any small pieces that could break off, your baby can chew them up with no danger.
