Teething Symptoms

Teething can be a very stressful time for parents and their baby - just as you thought things were finally settling down, the pain and shock of teething hits.

Teething usually begins between the ages of four and nine months and most babies will cut their first tooth by one year.

Teething can bring on flushed cheeks, dribbling, irritability and crying. You may also notice that your child is more inclined to chew - on anything from fingers and toys to food - a natural reaction to the changes going on within the gum.

You can help your baby by providing a range of toys to chew on or a natural remedy such as Teetha granules to sooth and calm.

Symptoms of Teething

These can vary depending upon the baby and how old she is when cutting her first tooth.  Some babies can show signs of teething from as early as 2 or 3 months but most babies will start teething somewhere between 4 and 9 months.

There is lots of disagreement about the symptoms of teething but you are likely to see some or all of these:

Chewing / Biting

The teething process can cause painful and inflamed gums and it is thought that biting helps to relieve the painful pressure on the gums.

Your baby may chew on their own hands and fingers, your finger or anything else they can get in their mouth.

Some parents find that babies reduce the amount of breastmilk or other food that they take.

Tip - help your baby by providing a range of toys suitable for chewing - the iconic Sophie the Giraffe range is very popular as are wooden teething rings.

Fussiness / Irritability

Many parents find that their just settling into a rhythm baby becomes extra fussy when cutting teeth.  This is because the gums are sore and painful as the teeth come through.
You may find that sleep and feeding patterns are changed and you will have to adapt to your baby’s changed rhythm.

Tip - you can help your baby by providing lots of extra support - extra cuddles, perhaps carrying in a sling, providing toys to chew on, amber necklaces, baby massage and natural remedies such as Teetha granules can all help.

Dribbling

One of the first signs of teething is drooling - excess saliva is produced causing a dribbly baby.

This can sometimes cause the skin around the mouth to become sore so it may be necessary to dry the area and apply a cream a couple times a day.

Tip - some parents find that their baby becomes prone to nappy rash when teething - perhaps because the wee is stronger due to the dribbling or perhaps because the stools are looser. 

You can help by changing the nappy more frequently, allowing plenty of nappy free time and ensuring your baby is getting plenty to drink.

Sleeplessness

Your baby is experiencing a considerable degree of pain (if you have ever had tooth or ear ache, you know what it is like), so they are likely to find it harder to drop off to sleep.

This can be worse in the night, and babies may wake several times for comfort and help in dealing with the pain.

Tip - if you can, take a nap with your baby during the day so you are feeling more rested.
You may need to help your baby drift off to sleep, perhaps by popping in a sling for day time naps and extra breastfeeds over night.

Your baby may find a massage helpful or natural remedies such as amber necklaces and Teetha can help soothe the whole body, making sleep possible.

Ear pulling / Face Rubbing

Teething and sore gums may cause painful sensations in the cheeks and ears which your baby may relive by pulling their ears or rubbing their cheeks.

Tip - you can help relieve this painful pressure with baby massage.   If you don’t have a local baby massage class, there are lots of videos on YouTube demonstrating simple techniques.

The Natural Nursery stocks a range of natural products to help you and your baby cope with the teething process.