Know All About Teething In Babies

Having seen my own children and those of my friends, I find that  teething in babies is not at all pleasant, with babies crying and screaming out in pain and parents, especially first time mums anxious about how to soothe those acing gums.

Consultant pediatricians are of the opinion that babies teeth between the ages of 6 to 24 months with some showing early signs at the age of 3 months and others as late as 12 months, with the lower front teeth erupting first followed by the upper front teeth. We as parents need to understand the plight, pain and discomfort of the baby when sharp teeth appear cutting through the sore aching gums.

Various signs that parents should look out for in teething: 

• The baby may drool more than usual and more often; this is an important sign that indicates that the teeth is on the way.

• You may find that your baby refuses to drink or eat; the teething pain is killing his/her appetite and it is best to not force feed the baby.

• Do not be alarmed if the baby shouts or makes loud noises; it is the baby’s way of communicating their pain to you.      

• The baby may make attempts to bite and chew your fingers, hand or anything that comes in his/her way; this only helps soothe the baby’s gum for a while.

• Some mothers are of the opinion that teething causes fever and diarrhea; this is not true. To the contrary it is best to seek an appointment with the pediatrician as it is not a symptom of teething.

Teething pain can be alleviated in the following ways:

• Soothing the sore gums for instant relief means first giving a gum massage with a clean finger or cloth. You could feel the edge of the teeth trying to erupt; you should avoid the use of any kind of anesthetic gels to soothe pain.

• It is the right time to buy teethers; it is advisable to get either gel based or water based plastics that are preferably BPA free for the baby to bite on. Avoid cold frozen ones as they could injure the gums of the baby.  

• Eminent pediatricians are of the opinion it is best to go natural: give the baby a piece of cold vegetable like a piece of carrot to chew on. This should however be done under the strict adult supervision as the baby may bite off a piece of the vegetable completely that could even chock him/her.

• Make sure you use a clean soft cloth to clean the saliva that drools out to prevent the baby getting a rash on the face and neck.  

• Medications like paracetamol can be offered at an interval of six or eight hours only when all other methods to control discomfort and pain fail.

Finally stop night time feeding to prevent the baby’s teeth against tooth decay; also make sure you brush the baby’s teeth twice a day once the baby cuts its first teeth. 

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