World Silver Coins

Girls Custom Pillows

Pewter Tooth Fairy Box

Sterling Silver Tooth Fairy Jewelry

Boys Custom Pillows

Infant Teething Tips

Baby Teething Tips by a Dad of Two, Tooth Fairy to many

Intro to Teething: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Teething is what your baby experiences when her first set of teeth begins to appear. Some babies will go through this event without a problem (Good for you few!). However, other babies will experience discomfort (Bad) and in some cases, both baby and parents will be suffering (Ugly)

If you're reading this, then I'm guessing you're like me and the latter is applicable., it got either Bad or Ugly!

To tell when your baby is about to enter this phase of growth, here are some symptoms to be aware of. Then if you think your baby is experiencing these symptoms, some pain relieving remedies and guidelines will be presented to help you soothe your baby (and you of course)!

What Are The Teething Symptoms?

To determine if your baby is teething, ask yourself a few questions.

• Does he/she appear to be fussier?
• Is he/she crying at night? (may be a tough one to answer if it never stopped!)
• Does he/she cling to you?
• Is he/she dribbling or drooling in excessive amounts? You'll normally notice this on your work shirt, once you've reached work and your boss points it out!
• Are their gums red, swollen or inflamed? Easier to write than to check, but have a dig around with a clean finger. If it gets dangerous, pull out and be ready to peer in their mouth when a yawn appears!
• Does he/she demand more breast or bottle feeding?
• On the other hand, does she reject breast or bottle feeding because you think the sucking is hurting her gums?
• Diaper Rash due to more frequent bowel movements. You don't need this one explaining!
• Light Fever: can result from a wave of teething. (Consult your doctor with ALL fevers)

...Other signs include poor appetite and interrupted sleep patterns.

What Are Some Remedies To Relieve Discomfort?

Now that you know what to look for if you think your baby is having discomfort due to teething, here are a few soothing things you can do to help...

• Massage his/her swollen gums with your finger using a gentle touch. wash your hands thoroughly first.
• Place a frozen washcloth soaked with apple juice in your baby's mouth. The washcloth must be clean before being soaked, the excess juice wringed out and tied in a knot. Put it in the freezer for one-half hour.
• Let your child gnaw on a Popsicle, a chilled but not frozen teething ring or a frozen banana. Another option we found very helpful were the vibrating rubber stars you can get from Target etc.
• Medicate: Give your baby Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for a few days if your baby is uncomfortable, or give your baby Baby Advil (Ibuprofen) if Acetaminophen isn't working. Ibuprofen may be better because it contains an anti-inflammatory component and Acetaminophen does not. ALWAYS consult a doctor before starting with medication.
• Get some Sleep: if you have a sleeping baby, make the most of it and get a quick nap. Teething doesn't stop just because it's 2am and they really don't care if you have work in the morning.

What You Shouldn't Give For Your Baby's Teething Symptoms:

•  If your baby is less than four months old, don't apply lotions or ointments that claim to soothe the teething pain. They may have ingredients that wash out of the mouth in a few minutes and could numb your baby's throat resulting in choking.
• It doesn't matter how convincing your friends or relatives sound, but NEVER, under any circumstances, place alcohol into your baby's mouth. A dab of whiskey is NOT okay. Alcohol is a poison to a young baby. Don't do it.

Final Thoughts

Now that you've been made aware of the symptoms of teething and the ways you can comfort your baby when it happens, you should have the confidence and knowledge to handle this with ease.

 Good luck and enjoy the rewards of parenting! ...

... and remember, teething will be worse for you, than your child (who won't remember it). So find a way to relax when there's a quite moment!