Babies will generally start teething when they are 4-8months old, starting with the lower front teeth to the upper front teeth.
At this age, you’ve probably only just got them to sleep through the night, and now they’re upset and fussy from teething… throwing the whole routine out the window!
For a lot of parents, teething can be a nightmare. But if you wise up on teething early, the whole ordeal will be a lot more manageable.
First thing’s first – the symptoms. There are a number of tell-tale signs of teething that start happening before you see the teeth really coming through. These include the increase in:
- biting
- drooling
- gum rubbing
- sucking
- irritability
- wakefulness
- ear rubbing
Some infants also experience a facial rash, decreased appetite or even a mild temperature when they start teething.
Now that you know the signs of teething, you need to be prepared with some go-to remedies and ways to soothe their irritability, soreness or swelling.
Instinctively, some babies and toddlers will bite or gnaw on anything they can get into their mouths. But biting on hard toys can sometimes damage incoming teeth.
As a few alternatives try:
- Massaging the gum for about two minutes at a time with your pinky finger. Although you baby may protest at first, many babies find this soothing.
- Using any teethers. These include rubber teethers, chilled liquid-filled teethers, silicone teethers, and vibrating teethers. They all have slightly different effects, so try them out and see which type best soothes your child’s pain.
- Applying the rounded part of a chilled spoon to the baby’s gums.
- Letting them gnaw on a frozen or chilled washcloth.
- Chilling fruit, like apple slices or banana, and placing them inside a mesh feeder.
- Applying teething gel.
You may have many more sleepless nights in store for you as your baby goes through teething, but it will all be worth it when you see their great big smile down the track!