It’s blamed on everything from bad moods, to poor naps, to not taking bottles to ouch! Stopping breastfeeding prematurely…
Teething is a scourge. Yeah, I guess they need teeth to chew stuff. But it comes along just when you were getting the hang of the “baby thing.” I had the great misfortune to have my baby get two teeth when he was merely three months old. That is smack in the middle of an all-liquid diet. Yes, he bit me. No, he didn’t get back-handed. Yes, I kept nursing. No, I didn’t get a medal. Here’s what you need to know:
Signs Baby is Teething
- A sharp white razor appears.
- A sharp white razor clamps down upon your nipple.
- You scream.
Signs Baby is Teething Before Teeth Appear
- Moodiness (for no known cause).
- Drooling like a St. Bernard.
- Red, swollen gums.
- Chewing on fingers, toys, hands, twigs, cigarette butts? (Okay, fingers primarily, but seriously: keep sanitizer close).
- Your pediatrician tells you.
- Your baby is between 4-7 months old (though it happens earlier and later–ask your mom when you did it. There’s a hereditary link. I come from a long line of early teethers, apparently.).
What To Do About Teething
- Give baby something to chew on. Specifically, Sophie the giraffe. That thing is baby crack.
- Give baby cold teething rings (can put them in freezer or fridge). Of course, baby has to be old enough to hold things. We bought them for W and they just laid on his chest because he still wasn’t grabbing yet. This makes me chuckle looking back….
- Give baby cold food, like applesauce.
- When age-appropriate, pain relievers, like Tylenol or Advil work (and they are some of the only things that work consistently).
- Numbing agents (though some doctors recommend against it since tiny babies just lick it off–this was the case for me).
- Wait it out. The first two hurt the worst, or so I hear. It’s probably because your baby doesn’t know what’s happening.
Side Effects of Teething
- Doctors say there is no correlation, but many parents report the sniffles or diarrhea during teething. (I realize this might not be caused by teething itself, but gastrointestinal issues often accompany pain. Also, the increased chewing ups the chance of chewing on delicious bacteria or viruses. I personally have seen this correlation, even if it’s not causation, docs.)
- Grumpy mood.
- Difficulty sleeping (see: grumpy mood).
- Refusing food (bottle or breast–this can become a problem and lead to night waking due to hunger. Then you don’t know if he’s not eating by day because he’s full from the night feeds or if his gums hurt. This horror happened to me!)
- Bitten mothers.
- Sad, sleep-deprived families.
How to Mitigate Teething Issues
The food refusal/biting/sleep-disruption discussion is for another post. In the meantime, remember that it will pass. Your little baby doesn’t feel good, so snuggles abide. Try to relieve discomfort. Also, distractions! Babies are people, and doesn’t your headache or cold feel a little better when something or someone makes you smile or laugh? Babies think you’re a real comedian when you hide behind your palm or make a stupid face. Give it a try. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always alcohol (for you, not the baby. What are you, a great-grandmother with a finger of whiskey?).
Q: What did you do about teething? Any tips to relieve your baby’s discomfort?