Your baby’s first teeth

It literally feels like your baby was born a week ago… and you’ve just discovered that they’re already teething! These are exciting times for every mother but sometimes they are also tough. As every mother does, you may worry about what to do and how to do it, but most of the time you should just trust your intuition. Take a look at our overview of teething to learn more about the process.

Babies start teething between their fourth and seventh month, but it may happen that they get their first tooth earlier or later – every child is different. Albeit rare, some children are even born with their first tooth visible! That’s because teeth start forming while your baby is still in the womb. Sometimes teeth come out one at a time and sometimes a couple can pop out at the same time – but this isn’t unusual or bad. Very often the bottom two middle teeth are the first to appear, then the top middle teeth and then the side ones. By age three your child will most probably have a full set of twenty baby teeth. Yay!

Although some parents don’t notice a change in their child’s mood, most babies feel discomfort and are not afraid to show it 🙂 Some signs of teething include irritability, fussiness, drooling (and facial rashes as a result), swollen, sensitive gums, gnawing and chewing, refusing to eat, and trouble sleeping. Some parents say babies get diarrhea, fever and a runny nose when a new tooth starts coming out, but there is no scientific proof to back that claim up. While your child’s temperature may rise slightly when teething, it won’t be close to a true fever. If your baby experiences diarrhea or has a fever, it’s best to call a doctor.

There are a few ways to help your baby feel better. You can give them something to chew – like a rubber teething ring that you’ve cooled in the fridge – or you can gently rub their gums to ease the pain. Another option is a cold spoon – just make sure you don’t press too hard. If your baby is old enough for solids, cold foods like yogurt may help them feel better. If this isn’t enough, you may want to consult your doctor regarding infants’ pain medication which can be prescribed to babies over 6 months old. Have you got any tips and tricks? We’d love to know how you managed your teething baby at home 🙂 Let us know in the Facebook comments.