Your Teething Baby
If you are a mother of a 4 to 6 Month old baby, a mother of a newborn or even an expecting mother, this article is specially dedicated to you!
Teething is a normal process that every child have to go through, but for the mother it is a sort of tough period as she will have to deal with her baby’s discomfort and fussiness. So here we are, giving you a glimpse on what to expect and how to cross this period peacefully.
Most of the babies sprout their first tooth, usually the bottom middle teeth, between 4 and 6 months of age. Some might have it as early as 3 month old, while others might not show any teeth until later than 6 months. It varies from one child to another and it doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong.
While some children get through teething with no signs of discomfort, the majority of parents report that their children experience some common signs which include:
- Irritability
- Drooling
- Increased crying
- Night waking
- Refusal to feed
- Tendency to bite on things and fingers
- Gums around new teeth may be swollen and tender
Now, how can you help your teething baby feel better ?
- Give your baby something to chew on, like a cold firm rubber teething ring or washcloth that you have chilled in the refrigerator , not the freezer because extreme cold can injure your baby’s mouth and cause more discomfort.
*Of note, plastic teething rings with liquids have been given a bad name in the past few years due to potential bacteria growing in liquid and the possibility of baby cutting through the ring and into the liquid, so stick to the types made of firm rubber with no liquid.
- Massage the sore gum with your clean finger after dipping it in cold water to ease pain.
- If old enough to eat finger foods , you can give him a cold banana or berries or unsweetened teething biscuits to chew on. Just keep an eye on him and be mindful of choking.
- If your baby is older than 6 to 9 months, offer a slow-flow sippy cup of cool water to suck on and drink for comfort.
- Try to keep the usual bedtime routine as much as you can. Changing routine even for few nights may lead to sleep troubles.
*Don’t forget to clean teething toys and wash cloths after each use
*The American Academy of Pediatrics , the American Academy of pediatric dentistry and FDA warn about the use of teething gels and medications that you rub on your baby’s gums for their potential toxicity that might lead to serious or even fatal conditions.
References:
Guidelines on infants oral health care, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry , 2014
Sleep: what every parent needs to know, American Academy of Pediatrics , 2013.
Mama Doc Medicine: Finding calm and confidence in parenting, child health and work-life balance, Wendy Sue Swanson, 2014
Adapted from caring for your baby and young child: birth to age 5 , 6th Edition, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2015
