Your Baby Is Teething, What Now?

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Teething can be one of the greatest challenges that both parents and babies face in their first few months of life. It can be hard to watch your child suffering, however, the good news is that there are several things that you can try to reduce the pain that they are experiencing.

What Are The Symptoms Of Teething?

Most babies start teething by the time they reach around 6 months of age. First to appear are the two front teeth in the lower jaw, closely followed by the top two front teeth. When your baby starts teething, they will begin displaying several classic symptoms and signs including:

  • Chewing
  • Drooling
  • Irritability
  • Tender gums
  • Low-grade fever

If your child is about six months old and is showing any or all of these signs, it is likely that they are going through the process of teething.

How Can I Help My Baby?

Although seeing your baby in distress can be upsetting, there are several things you can do to soothe their sore gums:

  • Use your clean finger or a moist gauze pad and rub your baby’s tender gums. The small amount of pressure that you apply will help to reduce their pain.
  • Give your little one a cold teething ring, spoon or washcloth to chew on. Never freeze teething rings though.
  • If your little one is already eating solids, give him something hard to chew like a chilled carrot or cucumber. If you do this, however, make sure that you watch them all the time as they could choke on loose pieces.
  • Keep baby’s chin dry. Drooling a lot is natural while teething, but it can irritate the skin on the chin and around the mouth. Dry your baby’s face regularly using a clean cloth and apply a water-based lotion or cream to moisturize the skin.
  • If your little one is very distressed, you can try giving them an over-the-counter painkiller designed for babies.

You should never give your baby any homeopathic teething treatments which contain lidocaine or benzocaine as they can cause harm to your child.

Should I Call My Doctor?

Some babies suffer badly during the teething process, but for most infants, teething is something which can be handled in the home. If your little one has a fever, however, and is showing any other symptoms which do not appear to be related to teething, you should talk to your physician to put your mind at rest.

How Long Does The Process Of Teething Last?

Once your baby starts to develop his first teeth, the process of teething will continue periodically for around a year. Rest assured, however, that your little one won’t be in pain the whole time. The first teeth usually only cause a couple of days of discomfort before coming through and allowing the pain to subside, however when your baby is around 12 months old, they may go through another troublesome teething time when their molars come through. Luckily, it is only a temporary phase and will soon be over.