About Infant Teething

You won't know your baby is teething until it starts to happen. Even then, you may not be entirely sure what is going on. You can read about when a baby is supposed to start getting teeth and what you can look for, but every baby is different. At times, you may not know what is making your baby so cranky until that first tooth pops out. Infant teething can be a trying time for parents, especially when they do not know that is what may be going on with their baby, but every parent figures out what to do very quickly to keep baby feeling good while those teeth pop through the gums.

You may read that infant teething starts around six months. The problem with someone saying that is that all babies start at a different time. Some babies start teething around three months. There have even been rare cases when some babies are born with teeth already coming through. Some say that preemies start late (even with age adjustment) but that is not always true. Your baby is going to start going through infant teething when the time is right for them. Knowing that there is no real time to start watching for it can help you find real teething sooner. You may miss the signs if you assume that it is just too soon for teething pain to be a problem.

Some babies get a slight fever when they start going through infant teething. They may hold their hands to their mouth because of the pain, and may even refuse to eat or suck on a bottle. If you think that infant teething may be starting with your child, look for swelling of the gums and a fever that comes with no other symptoms of sickness. In some instances you can see the tooth just below the gum before it comes out. If your baby is biting down on things, this could be because that pressure actually helps with the pain. Front teeth hurt less than molars when coming through the gums, but they still hurt.

For the most part, babies get front bottom teeth first, then the top two. However, that does not mean that this is what is going to happen with your child. Some children get the top teeth first, and still others get side teeth or molars first. While that is rare, it has been known to happen. Infant teething can happen in areas where you are not looking. If you suspect teething, but do not feel anything where you think teeth are supposed to come first, check the rest of the mouth. Your baby may surprise you by popping a tooth somewhere unexpected.

If your baby is going through infant teething, there are a few things you can do to help them out. There are topical gels that numb the area, though the results are temporary. You can talk to your doctor to see if it would be appropriate to give your baby pain reliever if the pain seems to be severe. You can also give them teething rings. Those that go into the freezer first often work best as the cold helps numb the pain. Infant teething pain will come and go, so have what you need ready for when baby needs pain relief -fast.