Newborns have to go through several stages during their first year of life; one of these is teething, which is the process in which teeth begin to grow. This phase begins before you can see teeth popping up in her sweet smile. By recognizing the signs, you can tell when your child is setting teeth and offer him all the comfort to ease the discomfort associated with this process.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Physical Symptoms
Step 1. Expect signs as early as three months of life
Teeth can begin to erupt over a long period of time; some parents notice the first symptoms as early as the baby is three months old and the teeth that push through the gum are seen between the fourth and seventh months. Most babies have all 20 baby teeth by the time they reach three years of age. Looking for signs of teething allows you to stay alert and check his mouth, relieve discomfort and rid his mouth of bacteria.
Be aware that some children do not exhibit any symptoms; in this case, you can tell if the teeth are pushing through the gum by monitoring his mouth
Step 2. Examine the baby's mouth
If you suspect that your teeth are popping, you need to pay attention to particular marks in his mouth. To do this, look carefully at the surrounding skin and observe the inside of the oral cavity.
- Make sure his hands and fingers are clean before analyzing his mouth to prevent bacteria from causing infections.
- See if it tends to drool and produce more saliva than usual. this is a good sign that teething is starting.
- When checking, also pay attention to the presence of rashes on the face or pinkish skin spots; this is quite a common symptom during this process. The skin may not be particularly dark, but if it appears more pink or red than usual, a rash may develop.
- Lift his lips outward very gently to examine his gums; be aware that they may be swollen, especially in the area around the molars. In other cases, you may see a buildup of fluid that forms bluish-colored cysts; it is a completely normal phenomenon and you must not touch them.
- Massage the baby's gums to feel the teeth or hard areas; this gives him some relief while helping you to understand if he is actually going through this phase.
Step 3. Notice if they tend to suck or bite excessively
Most babies show some physical symptoms before the first tooth emerges from the gum. Many babies bite or suck on a toy, fingers or other object. If your child also exhibits this behavior more frequently than usual, their first teeth are probably coming out.
Also check if he rubs the same objects on his gums that he bites and sucks; it is a very common instinct during this process
Step 4. Examine his ears
Infants often associate tooth pain with ear pain. If you see it pulling or hitting your ears, in addition to the other symptoms, it could be teething.
- Keep in mind that pulling or playing with the ears is a typical behavior of children, which often comes from curiosity, but it could also be an infection. If you are unsure whether this action is due to teething or an infection (which could become serious if left untreated), you should contact your pediatrician.
- Other signs that indicate ear infections are fever, cold, or a lot of irritability when pulling ears, lying down or drinking from a bottle.
Step 5. Measure your body temperature
If her cheeks or skin are more pink or feel warm to the touch, she may have a bit of a teething fever. however, be aware that this process causes only a slight rise in temperature. If the fever is high, the cause could actually be teething, but also another health problem. in this case, you must call the pediatrician and check if the baby needs to be examined.
Part 2 of 3: Behavioral Signs
Step 1. Observe the baby's behavior
In addition to the physical symptoms that may present during teething, the baby often exhibits behavioral signs as well - the two most common are irritability and excessive crying.
- Pay attention to whether he is more annoyed than usual or even more irritable, despite the attention you give him; it could be the result of the pain or discomfort you feel from your teeth. You may notice that this behavior is more pronounced in the evening, because the eruption of the teeth is more active at this stage of the day.
- Listen for more crying than usual or for more than a few days. It is another sign that indicates the eruption phase of the teeth, especially if the child has other symptoms; however, you should be aware that excessive crying can also be due to the formation of intestinal gas, colic or other health problems, such as ear infections.
Step 2. Pay attention to changes in eating habits
Since the teeth cause discomfort in the mouth, the baby tends to change eating patterns or habits. Be very careful checking if and how much you eat, as this is a typical sign of a tooth eruption or teething.
- See if she suddenly prefers to go back to drinking breast milk or bottle, even if she has already started eating solid foods. This could be due to the spoon or fork irritating the inflamed gums; however, he may prefer solid foods instead, as the counter-pressure on his gums provides him with some relief.
- The baby may refuse to drink milk from the bottle or breast because sucking causes uncomfortable pressure on the gums and ear canals.
- Be sure to take the baby to the pediatrician if he does not want to eat; it could be the consequence of teething, but also of some other pathology; in both cases, the doctor is able to diagnose and treat the problem.
Step 3. Check your sleep habits
Since teeth tend to come out more often during the night, this process can easily interrupt a baby's ability to fall asleep, both at night and during daily naps. Watch for changes in her evening habits, including times of insomnia and sleep interruptions. He may also experience discomfort in scheduling daytime naps. If your child has these symptoms, as well as other typical teething symptoms, it may be time for a tooth to appear.
Remember that when your baby has disturbed sleep due to tooth eruption, he can also become more irritable and grumpy
Part 3 of 3: Providing Comfort to the Child
Step 1. Massage his gums
A gentle massage can relieve any feeling of discomfort; moreover, in this way you can feel the teeth pushing through the gum or identify any problems with the oral cavity.
- Wash your hands before massaging their gums. Make sure you rinse them thoroughly to get rid of any residual soap your baby might ingest.
- Use one or two fingers to rub his gums, apply gentle pressure and make circular motions.
Step 2. Run a cold cloth over the baby's mouth and gums
When you notice that it is getting its teeth, especially because it produces a lot of saliva and drool a lot, a cold cloth offers great benefits; not only relieves discomfort, but also prevents a rash in the mouth, as well as eliminating bacteria that build up.
- Use a clean towel washed with a fragrance-free cleanser specifically for sensitive skin to make sure it doesn't irritate your baby's delicate skin or gums. Soak it with cold or fresh water and squeeze it to get rid of excess moisture.
- Rub it on every area of your mouth where you see saliva and then gently open it to massage your gums with the cloth. Both of these actions help eliminate the bacteria that tend to grow inside and outside the baby's mouth.
- Begin this cleansing and massage process as soon as possible; in theory, you should start it immediately after giving birth.
Step 3. Offer him a teething toy
Putting extra pressure on the emerging tooth can ease the discomfort. You can find rings or cookies for this purpose, as well as many other toys of various kinds designed to provide relief.
- Put the wet towel in the fridge or freezer for half an hour and let the baby chew it; make sure it doesn't get too hard, otherwise it could cause bruising on swollen gums.
- Chill a rubber teething ring in the refrigerator and give it to the baby. Keep in mind that you should never put these types of accessories in the freezer or boil them to sterilize them; Extreme temperatures alter and damage plastics or rubber and can trigger the release of chemicals. Also make sure you never tie this ring around the baby's neck, otherwise you run the risk of strangling him.
Step 4. Give the baby fresh food and water
Anything fresh can provide relief from discomfort. Have him drink or eat refreshments to help him feel better. in this way, even if he has difficulty eating due to illness, he still gets important nutrients.
- If he is over six months old, let him calmly drink from a bottle of ice water or cold water. Alternatively, if he has not yet reached this age, you can offer him a small amount of non-frozen water from a bottle or cup. Don't give him water more than once or twice a day, unless your pediatrician specifically tells you to.
- Offer cold food, such as yogurt, pureed peaches, or apple puree to soothe the gums. you can also give him some popsicles or frozen fruit, such as bananas or plums, in a weaning net. This tool prevents the baby from breaking bite-sized pieces of food with the gums which could cause him to choke. Give him teething biscuits, cold or frozen foods only if the baby has already started eating solid foods; make sure he is sitting upright when you offer him these solutions.
Step 5. Give him painkillers
When your baby is over six months old, you can give him a dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If he is less than six months old, you can only give him paracetamol if the pediatrician allows it; these drugs relieve discomfort and irritability. Make sure you always consult your doctor before giving him any pain medications.
- Check that the painkillers you administer to your baby are pediatric. Follow the instructions on the leaflet to know the correct dosage; if in doubt, ask your pediatrician.
- Remember that you should never give him aspirin unless your doctor specifically directs you to do so; this drug can cause Reye's syndrome, a very dangerous disease.
Step 6. Know what to avoid
There are many remedies that can soothe the baby's discomfort in the teething phase, but some of these should be avoided; for example, alcoholic solutions and teething gels or tablets can be dangerous to your health. Avoid the solutions described below to ease your child's malaise:
- Place an aspirin on the tooth or gum;
- Rub some denatured alcohol on the gums;
- Give him teething tablets;
- Massage specific or anesthetizing gels on the gums, because some of these contain active ingredients that are dangerous for newborns;
- Put an amber necklace around his neck, because it doesn't work and you risk causing suffocation;
- Dab a few drops of whiskey on your gums to relieve pain, as it can be dangerous.
Step 7. Talk to the dentist
If you are concerned about your baby's teething process, make a doctor's appointment. Through an oral examination, the dentist can identify possible problems and find the right treatment.
