Whether it’s brushing those teeth after they finally arrive or waiting for them to come in, baby teeth sure cause a lot of trouble!
Do you know that babies tooth buds develop before they’re born? As these buds “cut” through the gums, teeth usually appear in the following order:
- 6 to 12 months: the central incisors (the teeth right in the middle of the jaw on the top and bottom)
- 9 to 12 months: the lateral incisors (the teeth next to the central incisors)
- 16 to 22 months: canine (cuspids)
- 13 to 19 months: the first molars
- 25 to 33 months: the second molars
Most children have all of their primary teeth by age three.
The process of getting these teeth can be effortless or excruciating depending on your baby. Even with minor cases, most babies show some teething symptoms.
The tricky thing about teething is that symptoms can start 2 to 3 months before tooth surfaces! This can be brutal for baby and family if there’s a lot of discomforts.
The key is to look for these seven teething symptoms
- Biting more than usual
This teething symptom Wii turn your baby into a vampire! Bite, bite, bite on anything from plastic spoons, to toys to your breast! I find that Griffin likes hard plastic things to chew on the best. Of course, there are a plethora of teething toys on the market which may also help. - Excessive drool
When babies are still newborns, they drool a ton since they’re still learning how to swallow their saliva. Fast forward to teething, the drooling starts again (or never stops in some cases) because the body creates extra saliva to lubricate the tender and bulging gums. - Fussier than usual, especially at night
These teething symptoms make babies who once slept through the night start to wake up several times for comfort. In the quiet hours of the night, a baby often feels the teething pain more because there are fewer distractions. - Disturbances in sleep patterns
Because of the teething discomfort, babies will usually nap less and wake up earlier in the morning. Fun times for all involved with these teething symptoms! - Fever, rashes, cough, and diarrhea
Although some doctors disagree, many mamas detect a slight fever (under 100 degrees) in their babies when teeth are imminent. Additionally, the extra drool can cause facial rashes, chafing, and coughing since it pools at the back of the throat. Some babies even develop diaper rash and diarrhea. - Decreased appetite
When babies are in pain, they generally don’t want to eat, especially since it triggers their sore spots. Keep trying to feed them as much as possible despite the resistance. Call your doctor if their caloric input decreases dramatically. - Pulling of ears and rubbing of chin and cheeks
Babies can be quite resourceful and administer self-massage. By pulling and rubbing around their jaw, they create counter pressure that eases some of the pain and throbbing.
So if your little baby is acting different lately because of teething symptoms, take heart there’s good reason… and soon enough, her little pearly whites will surface.
In the meantime, we don’t have to be victims! There are some great things we can do to comfort baby in the midst of the teething process. Here are some of the most effective teething remedies.