Wondering if your little one is teething? This blog may give you some helpful tips to sooth that pain away for your baby.
Sore and red gums, dribbling more than usual, red cheeks, gnawing/chewing on things? Your little one could very well be teething ...
Your baby will usually cut their first tooth within the first year, but all babies are different. Some are born with teeth, as was the case with my friend's niece. Others start before 4 months, some after 12 months, but most babies seem to start teething at around 6 months old.
As a parent this can be quite a challenging time in your baby's development. Your usually happy go lucky, contented little angel can quite suddenly become unpredictable and it's heartbreaking to see them in any discomfort. However some babies teeth do emerge without any pain or discomfort at all.
As well as the symptoms mentioned above, you may also notice that your little one has diarrhoea, is more unsettled than usual and is well... generally pretty grumpy really, but who can blame them eh? None of us enjoy toothache, right?
Teething can be distressing for some babies, but there are a few things that you can try, to help ease any discomfort. What works for one baby may not work for another though, so you could end up trying a few things until you do find what works best for your little one.
♡ Teething rings - Giving your baby something to chew on safely will hopefully ease discomfort and can be a distraction from any pain they are feeling. Some rings can be cooled in the fridge first, but not in the freezer as the extreme coldness could damage your baby's gums.
♡ Teething gel - If your baby is old enough, you could try rubbing gel on to their sore gums. Some gels contain a mild anaesthetic.
♡ Teething granules - If your baby is old enough, slowly empty the sachet of granules into their mouth (it may be easier to use a spoon), allowing the granules to dissolve.
♡ Plenty of cuddles - Distracting your baby from any pain with a toy etc may also help.
♡ Healthy snacks - If your baby is chewing on their (and your!) fingers, or toys etc and if they're old enough, you could try giving them healthy snacks to chew instead, such as raw fruit or vegetables, breadsticks etc.
♡ If your baby is dribbling a lot, gently wiping their mouth regularly will help to prevent a teething rash.
♡ If your baby is in pain, and has a slightly raised temperature then you may be able to give them a painkilling medicine that is specifically for babies and young children.
As a rough guide, your little one's teeth may emerge in the following order:
♡ Bottom incisors (bottom front teeth) - usually the first to emerge, at around 5 to 7 months
♡ Top incisors (top front teeth) - at around 6 to 8 months
♡ Top lateral incisors (either side of the top front teeth) - at around 9 to 11 months
♡ Bottom lateral incisors (either side of the bottom front teeth) - at around 10 to 12 months
♡ First molars (back teeth) - at around 12 to 16 months
♡ Canines (towards the back of the mouth) - at around 16 to 20 months
♡ Second molars - at around 20 to 30 months
Most children tend to have all of their milk teeth by the time they are 2.5 years old.
As soon as your baby's first milk tooth comes through you can start brushing with a smear of fluoride toothpaste and a baby toothbrush - Please see my separate blog for tips on brushing and caring for your baby's teeth (coming soon)
Teething can be an upsetting experience for you and for your baby causing sleepless nights for you both. It may feel that it's never going to come to an end.. but it does!
It's worth remembering that the first milk tooth is usually the trickiest and although I can't promise that the others will be a breeze, it will almost certainly get that little bit easier with each tooth.
SO MUMS... Hang on in there, it'll all be worth it when you see your little one's beautiful 'toothy pegs'.
I do hope that this article has been helpful in some way.
How is/was your teething experience? What made it more bearable for you and your little one? Please do feel free to share any additional advice, teething stories etc with me.
'Til next time,
Annie x
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