teeth
Teething problems
Tiny teeth, big drama. Teething brings drool, grumps, and chaos, but with the right tricks, you can survive the bite.
Teething … it’ s not pleasant for babies or parents, but it can’ t be avoided. Although they usually start sprouting at six months, it has been known to happen for some overachievers as early as three months( and some are even born with teeth, but that’ s a whole other story!).
So let’ s chat about teething – the signs, challenges, and what you can do to help.
Irritability
It’ s safe to say that teeth erupting through the gums are often sore and itchy, so naturally, your baby is going to be grumpy.
What can you do? All you can do is comfort your baby, shower them with cuddles, and have a little patience.
Drooling and skin rashes
Teething is often accompanied by drooling … a lot of drooling. The saliva, which contains bacteria, can also cause skin rashes.
What can you do? Try to keep your baby as dry as possible. Keep a teething bib on them and keep their mouth, chin, and neck as dry as you can. If a rash does start, use a barrier cream.
Coughing
Because of all that excess saliva, your baby might start to cough.
What can you do? Ask your paediatrician about over-the-counter cough syrups that can help. If the cough continues and is accompanied by a fever, visit your paediatrician.
Biting and gnawing
You might start to notice your baby biting and gnawing on anything they can get their hands on. This is because it can help with the pain and discomfort caused by the incoming tooth.
What can you do? Invest in some teething toys that you can keep in the fridge or freezer – the coldness can help a lot.
Low-grade fever
Mild fevers often occur when your baby is teething, usually caused by your baby putting unclean hands in their mouth.
What can you do? Your paediatrician will recommend age-appropriate pain and fever relief medication, but if your baby’ s temperature goes over 38.3 ° C, you should seek medical attention.
Cheek rubbing and ear pulling
Especially when their molars are coming in, you might notice your baby rubbing their cheeks and pulling their ears – this is due to the pain in their gums.
What can you do? Use your( clean!) finger to rub their gums, and make use of teething gel.( Ear pulling is also a symptom of an ear infection, so keep an eye on that.)
Diarrhoea
Because of the increase in saliva being swallowed, your baby may develop a runny tummy. However, diarrhoea needs to be monitored carefully as it could be a sign of something more serious.
What can you do? Make sure they’ re getting enough fluids and take them to the doctor if it is accompanied by fever or vomiting. �
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