Up until now, Teething has been part of Red’s life I haven’t had a problem with. I know how to handle a cranky baby, a chewy baby, a fever-y baby. I know that strange symptoms can rear their ugly head in a teething child, including acidy, large, wet poopy dipes. And it’s no wonder. If you had braces, do you remember how your mouth ached when they were adjusted? Or the dull ache that came with wisdom teeth emerging?
It can take several months for a tooth bud to form, descend, swell, poke through the gums and continue to it’s rightful place. In a child, baby teeth are lost and adult teeth emerge in a pattern similar to this photo below. A child’s skull, studied by science, to see how teeth are already mature and wait to emerge from the child’s gums. (I’m a science nerd, so these photographs don’t bother me – my apologies if I make you squirm!)
Notice the crowding of teeth, each pushing up the baby tooth above it. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help your little one out. Brushing the teeth and swollen gums with a little tiny bit of pressure can help alleviate some of the pain. Use an infant finger toothbrush to help your baby get used to having the toothbrush in his/her mouth. They are available at baby stores, drug stores, online and big box stores.
I got our little toothbrush teether (below) from our dentist when I took Red with me. He preferred this method, and still uses it when it’s clean and around. To clean it, I place it in the dishwasher basket during a dish wash. I also like to use orajel or Hyland’s Gel, but I use the nighttime/long lasting formula and only sparingly. There have been some studies that say excessive use can cause confusion swallowing, etc. Do your own research and follow your Mama heart. Red hates how it tastes, so there’s that.
A wet washcloth, wrung out and frozen can be a great teething tooth. Shape to your specifications, and freeze overnight. Great for getting “pointy” shapes to help back molars find relief. We put our teething rings in the freezer (despite manufacturer advisement not to) because fridge-chilled doesn’t do diddly squat. Cold fruits, yogurts, and even some ice cream can soothe a cranky teether. Some (myself included) SWEAR by Sophie the Giraffe. Our Sophie got tired of us chewing on her feet and ran away some time late spring. We miss her a lot…
When your little one feels pain in his/her mouth caused by teeth, they may pull or swipe at their ears, like Red does.
When this is the case, I’ll administer a little Infant Advil or dye-free Tylenol to help with the pain. If you find that you are dosing your baby often, some pediatricians recommend alternating medications. Lastly, here is a chart to help understand when your baby’s teeth will come in. Front teeth come first, followed by front-side teeth, molars, canines, etc. But every baby is different. Red got 3 front teeth first, rather unconventionally, and then 3 more showed up at once. Each baby is different.
Next, I’ll take you through our fun filled week of first molar teething that has had us home bound and near desperate. I’m at my wit’s end with… well…. HIS end. The back one…
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