When will baby teething begin?
When a baby feeds well, sleeps well, and plays happily without any problems during the day, teething is unlikely to be the cause of disturbed night’s sleep. If babies have a habit of waking up at night, the discomfort of teething may make it difficult for them to go back to sleep, but it is not usually the cause of their waking at night.
Your baby goes through a developmental change around three to four months of age. She starts to drool, puts her fingers in her mouth or even tries to put her whole fist in. While drooling moistens the mouth ready for teething, it’s not necessarily a sign that teething is imminent. Babies who leak large amounts of saliva often cut their teeth easily and with less associated pain.
It’s not uncommon for baby teeth to start coming in at four months of age, but most often they come in around seven to nine months. Occasionally, teeth do not appear until after twelve months and, although rare, some babies are born with one tooth. In some babies, the first sign of a tooth is when they bite a finger while playing or a nipple while eating. Others suffer from ear infections and are generally miserable for a few days before a tooth erupts.
Baby teeth usually erupt in pairs, one appearing a few days after the other. There is a sequence in which baby teeth are expected to appear, but it is not uncommon for teeth to appear in a different order. The first teeth expected to appear are the two lower central incisors (cutting teeth), followed by the two upper central incisors. Below are the four incisors on each side. If babies have followed this sequence, they will proudly display eight pearly white pegs by twelve months of age. The four back molars (chewing teeth) are next to come in and may cause a little more pain and discomfort than the front teeth. The four canines (pointed teeth) are followed by the other four posterior molars, often referred to as two-year molars. That makes a mouth full of twenty teeth when they are two years old.
Baby teeth are eventually pushed out by the adult teeth growing in behind, so don’t worry if your baby’s baby teeth look a bit messy and misaligned. Second teeth may become decayed if baby teeth are not cared for. Start cleaning your teeth at night before bed to prevent sugars (found in milk and juices) from building up around your teeth.
The following signs and symptoms suggest that teeth are on their way. The baby is a little more grayish and clingy with a clear nasal discharge and darker pink swollen gums. Some babies experience ear infections, while others have a low-grade fever when their teeth come in. Drooling, as mentioned above, is associated with a developmental phase that occurs while the baby is teething. Red, dry cheeks may be present but not necessarily a symptom of teething. Smelly, poopy diapers are more common during teething, as is red diaper rash. Babies often do not eat solid food, but there is no need to worry, as the pleasure of eating will return. Many parents are stressed by this lack of feeding, but relax: the worst thing you can do is force the baby to eat. Babies may experience all, some, or none of these signs and symptoms of teething.
When babies are teething, you can help them feel more comfortable by giving them cold drinks and foods; use a feeding net if they are too small to handle solid food. Reduce the risk of biting yourself and your playmates by giving them something to chew on, such as a large cold chicken bone, a lamb bone, a solid cold teether, a wooden toy, or a lightly moistened washer that has been cooled in the freezer. There are natural remedies such as amber necklaces, topical gels, oils, powders, and blends that work systemically to reduce fever, pain, and induce calm. Be sure to get professional instructions on how and where to use these products. If your baby is having a particularly bad day and these suggested measures are not comforting, try an anti-inflammatory or pain reliever medication recommended by your local pharmacist.
Provide your baby with a healthy diet and a balanced and calm day. This will help reduce the bad behavior that teething is often blamed for.
All babies are different in what they need, so stay positive as you try to find a remedy that works best.