Teething: What to Watch Out for and How to Help your Baby

Teething in babies does not follow any fixed pattern. Some babies go through the teething phase without any bother. Others go through an extended period of pain and discomfort.

These may be some of the indications and symptoms of teething:

• Your baby might become irritable and fussy. This is because the new tooth cutting through to the surface causes your baby’s gums to pain.
• Teething may develop the baby’s urge to bite. This is because biting helps to relieve the pain in the gums.
• Your baby may start exhibiting behaviors such as rubbing and pressing the cheeks, or pulling the ears.
• You may notice that your baby is drooling more than is normal.
• Your baby might develop a cough because of drooling excessive saliva.
• Excessive drooling may cause a rash on your baby’s chin and mouth areas.
• Teething may also cause your baby to develop a slight fever.
  Your baby’s sleep patterns are disturbed.

This is what you can do to help your baby:

• Provide your baby with something cold to chew on. Teething rings and toys filled with cold water are ideal for this.
• Give your baby cold food and cold water.
• Apply Baby Orajel or other teething pain medication on your baby’s gums.
• Consider homeopathic teething tablets such as Hyland’s Teething tablets. Many parents swear by these.
• Give your baby Infant Tylenol (only after consulting your doctor first).