Phoebe Chebet

A Parent’s Guide to Baby Teething Symptoms and How to Manage Them Teething can be a painful and frustrating time for your child and you as a parent. According to Weebly, the different stages of tooth development can be uncomfortable for the baby, and the symptoms they might experience can be quite disturbing. You want to help your child through the pain, but worry about how this event could affect your baby. Knowing what’s normal, what to look out for, and how to handle it best can be tough. This guide will help you understand what teething means, how your baby feels when teething, and how to cope with anything that happens. When Does Teething Begin? The first teeth that erupt are usually the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. These two teeth almost always appear between 6 and 10 months old, so talk to your pediatric dentist or family doctor if your baby doesn’t have teeth by then. Most children will have a full set of 20 primary teeth by age 3. What are the Baby’s Teething Symptoms? As a parent, you might be looking for ways to protect your baby from the discomfort and pain associated with teething, but when it comes down to it, there’s not much you can do to prevent this milestone of the human body. You can, however, ensure that your baby is as comfortable and soothing as possible during these stages. With the right knowledge and proper care, you can help your baby get through this phase of life quickly and painlessly. To ensure that you’re providing your child with the best care possible during this time, here’s a list of common symptoms of teething: Drooling/Extra Saliva Swollen gums/bleeding gums Fussiness/Irritability Biting/chewing on everything in sight A mild temperature (38C and above) Some babies also become clingier, cry more, or demand more attention than normal. Remedies During Teething? Teething can be hard on your baby (and on you). Luckily, there are ways to relieve their pain and help them through this difficult stage as comfortably as possible. Here are some of the most popular ones: Massaging their Gums with Your Fingers Gently massage the sore area in small, circular motions. According to Smile Keepers Dental, the pressure can help to relieve some of their discomfort. Use a clean finger or moist gauze pad to rub your baby’s gums. The pressure is soothing and will distract them from the pain. Giving them Something Cold You can give them a frozen wet washcloth or a cold spoon to put in their mouth. It will provide some relief for the baby’s sore gums. Just ensure that it’s not too cold — if it seems like something that would hurt your mouth, it’s probably too cold for your baby. Ensure the cloth isn’t too wet because you don’t want them to choke on dripping water! Applying Pressure to their Gums You can have them bite down on toys (like teething rings) made of firm rubber or plastic, similar to the texture of your gums. Be sure to clean them before and after each use, though! Also, the baby biting down on very solid, raw fruits or vegetables (try apples, cucumbers, carrots, celery) can ease the pain. Use an Over-the-counter Pain Reliever According to Capital Dental, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are pain relievers formulated for babies. There are also many over-the-counter pain relievers available at your local drug store, which can significantly help reduce the pain of teething. However, there is some debate over whether or not children should be using these products. If you are thinking about using an over-the-counter pain reliever for your child, make sure that you consult with a pediatrician first to learn about the potential side effects that could occur when using each type of pain reliever available on the market. Conclusion You should be glad that your baby is teething. Teething is a natural, normal event. It has become common for children to experience little pain or discomfort with their teeth breaking through the gums and emerging. The modern view of this process is that so much discomfort and pain was placed on teething in the past because no one knew that babies were teething, yet they were exhibiting the same symptoms as they do today. References (weebly.com), (interdent.com), SmileKeepers