A COMPLETE GUIDE ABOUT TEETHING; NEW PARENTS WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!
As parents, you must have experienced that around 6 months or even earlier, suddenly your sweet child turns into a drooling biting giant that seems unable to sleep and very crabby for lack of better word. Then you realize that it’s actually their emerging teeth that are causing this mess. Teething is a very difficult time for parents and babies itself. But here is a guide to answer most of your queries and questions.
What is teething?
Teething is a natural process when the primary teeth of baby start breaking through its soft gums. Primary teeth are the first set of teeth that emerge from their fragile gum. Teething is a very difficult stage of parenting as the baby becomes extremely restless.
When does teething begin:
Primary teeth are 20 in number which emerges from time to time. Teething normally starts when the baby is 6 months old. But it varies and can range from 3 months to 12 months. Around 3 years of age, all the primary teeth will have emerged.
The Sequence of teething:
Teething usually follows a specific sequence. The first teeth that appear for an infant are the front teeth of the lower jaw. The 1-2 months later, front teeth of upper jaw appear. Rest of the sequence is as follows:
- 10 months: Lateral incisors( upper and lower)
- 1year 2months: first molars
- 5 years: canines
- 2 years: second molars
But this sequence varies among babies and can have variations. It depends upon genetic factors and softness of gums.
Symptoms of teething:
How will you know whether or not a baby is teething? Well! When teething begins, the baby begins to show some symptoms. As a parent, you must pay attention to them around the teething age. The following are some symptoms:
Troubled sleep:
Sleep usually becomes disturbed when the teething process begins. So take note when the baby becomes restless and doesn't care to sleep at night. Try to settle down the baby and keep the sleeping time of teething baby regular.
Drooling:
Drooling is a natural thing but when it becomes excessive then you should consider that it may be teething. This excessive drooling can cause soreness on the chin because it becomes wet. So constantly keeping the baby dry is key.
Excessive biting:
Teething Babies usually relieve their pain by doing the counter thing that is excessive biting and chewing. They will chew and bite anything they find. So when the biting becomes severe check for teething immediately. The chewing applies pressure on their gums and alleviates pain.
More crying than usual:
Teething usually causes the inflammation of gums due to which crying becomes a major issue.Teething toys can be a great distraction
Decreased appetite:
During teething, babies refuse to eat and it may cause more pain for them to eat. It is because feeding stimulates the pain in gums even more. But parents should feed them anyway to maintain their caloric requirements.
The baby becomes irritable:
Irritability is a very common issue in teething babies. When teeth start poking through the gums, babies start creating the fuss. Try to calm them by relieving their pain.
Pulling ears and rubbing cheeks:
Teething babies sometimes start pulling their ears and continuously rub their cheeks. It is because the pain in gums is also referred to these areas because of common nerve supply. So you should consult the pediatrician if such symptoms appear
A cough and gag:
As teething is associated with excessive drooling so this may result in coughing. Baby can also present with gagging due to increased saliva. There is no need to worry if other abnormal symptoms like fever, flu etc. are not present.
To conclude, teething is a very important and difficult step in parenting and much care of the baby should be taken during this phase. Our products have got you covered with all such problems.
- Darlyng & Co
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