Your bundle of joy has gone from a
sweet, angelic being to looking like his head could spin 360 degrees
like Linda Blair’s character in “The Exorcist.” Everyone
told you that the teething stage was going to be rough, but you
probably were not prepared for this level of crankiness. This guide
will help you understand and get through this very trying period.
Timeline
Unfortunately, teething is not a
short-lived process. In most babies, the first tooth pokes through
around 6 months old, but it can be as early as 3 months. Teeth
typically arrive in pairs, and the middle bottom ones are generally
the first ones you will see, but this certainly is not a rule. Below
is a general timeline for teething.
-
6 months – Central lower incisors
-
8 months – Central upper incisors
-
10 months – Upper and lower
lateral incisors -
14 months – First pair molars
-
18 months – Canines
-
24 months – Second pair molars
Symptoms of Teething
Your baby will typically show a few
signs long before you see the first pearly whites popping through.
These signs include:
-
Puffy Gums – The location where
the tooth is emerging will often appear swollen, bruised, and red.
-
Need to Gnaw – From car keys to
the remote control to the dog’s bone, your baby has an
uncontrollable urge to put everything in his mouth to gnaw on.
Counter pressure of chewing relieves pressure created from the tooth
pushing through the skin.
-
Ear Pulling – Before you panic and
assume your baby has an ear infection, he could be tugging on his
ears because jaw pain can often be felt in the ear canal.
-
Excessive Drooling – Sometimes,
drooling is simply part of a normal development stage, but other
times it is a symptom of teething.
-
Fussiness – Irritability is
inevitable as the tooth forces its way through bone and gum.
Fussiness is usually increased more at night.
Soothing Pain
Try to resist the urge to rub brandy on
his gums like Grandpa is telling you to do. Sure, he may have done it
for you when you were teething, but back then folks did not
necessarily know that even the smallest amount of alcohol can be
toxic to a baby. Below are a few helpful ways to soothe his pain.
-
Frozen Washcloth – There are a
tremendous number of teething rings you can buy, but a frozen
washcloth is just as good, if not better. Just wet and freeze it.
Leave one side dry so he can tug at it without freezing his fingers.
The fabric is more forgiving than rings. Most babies tend to prefer
it, but of course, you can try one of the products on the market,
too.
-
Massage – Rubbing the area with a
clean finger creates counter pressure that can work wonders.
-
Rocking – Even if you are trying
to get your baby to fall asleep without rocking, swaying, etc., you
may need to bend the rules a little when teeth are emerging. It is a
little harder during this time for them to relax. Make sure the
nursery is a soothing environment with dim lighting, clean air and a
comfortable temperature. A water wall is ideal to mount in a
nursery. It is soothing and the moving water moisturizes and cleans
the air to create a healthy and comfortable environment. You can
order one from online stores like LuxeWaterWalls.com.
-
Clove Oil – This natural remedy
has numbing properties. Rub the tiniest amount at the tooth’s
location. Too much can cause an upset tummy.
-
Licorice – Gnawing on a real
licorice stick has the same effect as the clove oil. Note that this
is not the candy you buy in the grocery store line. You can get real
licorice sticks at a health store.
-
Pure Vanilla Extract – Many
parents swear by rubbing pure vanilla extract on the gums. It
creates a warming sensation and vanilla is known for its calming
properties. It also calms stomach distress.
