Getting past the Teething woes!
A teething baby is usually cranky and handling one requires loads of patience. While teething is not an issue for all babies, for many it turns out to be a tiring phase. But then, all babies will teeth, sooner or later, so the best way to prepare for this is to find ways and means to cope with successfully you’re your babies teething pain. One positive to getting through the teething process is that at some point you will soon see your cute baby in pearly whites grinning back at you.
The signs of teething: Teething is usually accompanied by mild flu like symptoms such as low grade fever, restlessness, awaking several times at night or reduced sleeping time, and refusing food. To find relief, many babies will have the urge to constantly chew or gnaw on anything that comes within his or her reach. Therefore, it is so important to ensure your baby’s hands and toys are cleaned often to prevent illness from bacteria and germs.
Don’t let the bleeding and bruises, scare you! It’s common for a teething baby to have bruised gums. This is because, new teeth need to bore through the gums before they show up. Bruised gums are not always the case, but don’t be surprised to see a little blood. For the baby, it is a normal physiological process and does cause too much discomfort. If blood is noted, be sure to feel around baby’s gums, making sure the blood is indeed from the gums.
When teething requires medical attention: Teething is a normal growing process and rarely requires medical attention. However, there are a few signs that should not be neglected.
• High grade fever: Usually low grade fever and flu-like symptoms are common during teething. However, high grade fever indicates infection and calls for attention. A visit to your doctor and a course of antibiotics will take care of the problem.
• Other infections: Ear infections are common among children and usually occur in the teething age group. These infections are usually masked by the crankiness due to teething. If your baby’s crankiness or irritability is more than the usual, or seems to be worsening with time, or is accompanied with a bout of fever, then it’s not a teething issue, but the possibility of an infection or other ailment that needs to be addressed.
• Flu like symptoms: Viral illnesses such as flu, cold, cough or vomiting, like ear ache, is not related teething and require medical care. Most often parents are able to identify the difference, just by the way the baby cries and or the intensity of irritability.
• Diarrhea: Diarrhea and teething is almost always linked to each other. However, one should remember that diarrhea is caused by harmful bacteria and if severe may require a course of antibiotics.
• Tooth decay: Tooth decay in infants is known as ‘nursing bottle mouth’, a condition caused due bacteria in your baby’s mouth reacting with sugar, forming acid. Your pediatrician may advice you not to give baby a bottle at bedtime.
Few tips on dealing with teething: Teething is a phase that both parent and baby will pass through successfully. You can make the most of it by introducing new habits, such as nibbling on healthy, safe foods that are good for your baby’s health as well as his or her aching gums!





