Sometimes, after days of your baby seeming mystifyingly out of sorts, you'll get a little glimpse of something white and shiny in his mouth and you'll realise in a flash that he's been growing a tooth! Aside from his possible bad mood, there are other signs you can keep an eye out for:
- High colour on your baby's cheeks
- A red spot on his gum
- Excessive dribbling
- Gnawing on anything that fits in his mouth - fist, furniture, toys
Teething is also often blamed for high temperatures, colds and diarrhoea - but even if you suspect teething to be the cause of these symptoms, make sure that he isn't actually getting sick.
How can I help my teething baby?
- Offer lots of distraction - play games, go for walks, look at books
- Cuddle him a lot
- Let him chew on a rusk, but keep an eye out for pieces that break off
- Try rubbing a sore gum with the back of a cold teaspoon
- Twist a clean cloth into a fine point and run under water. Freeze it and then offer it to your baby who may be able to hold it to his gum
- Try a teething ring - these are specially developed for teething babies and most can be put in the fridge. The coolness seems to give added pain relief.
- For temporary relief, use an anaesthetic gel which you can get from your chemist.
It does seem that the younger the baby, the more they're bothered by the discomfort of teething - perhaps because they are less able to find ways to deal with the pain themselves. Happily, most teeth pop through the gum quickly and then all is forgotten until next time.
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Last revised: Friday, 27 May 2011
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.