Is your little one experiencing excessive drooling, fussiness, and difficulty sleeping? Chances are, your infant is teething. It can be tough to watch your baby suffer as a parent, but rest assured that it’s a natural milestone that all babies go through. Understanding the signs and symptoms when your infant is teething is crucial to provide your baby with the necessary comfort and relief.
Recognizing the signs early can help your baby through this challenging time and ease their discomfort. From teething remedies to pain relief techniques, we’ve got you covered in this comprehensive your infant is teething: know the signs guide.
When Does the Teething Process Start in Infants?
Teething is a natural process when an infant’s first set of teeth emerges through their gums. It’s a significant milestone in a baby’s development and typically starts around six months of age but can happen as early as three months or as late as one year. The process can last several months, with most babies getting their first set of teeth by age three.
What are the Various Stages of Teething?
Recognizing the signs when your infant is teething and understanding the typical timeline of tooth emergence is essential. Keep in mind that each child’s experience can vary, but the following is a general guide to the order and approximate ages of teething:
Your Infant is Teething: Know the Signs Associated with Top Teeth
- Central incisors (front teeth): typically appear between 8 to 12 months of age.
- Lateral incisors (teeth next to the front teeth): usually emerge between 9 to 13 months of age.
- Canines or cuspids (pointy teeth next to the lateral incisors): typically come between 16 to 22 months of age.
- First molars (back teeth used for grinding): usually appear between 13 to 19 months of age.
- Second molars (back teeth that fill in the last gaps): typically emerge between 25 to 33 months of age.
Your Infant is Teething: Know the Signs Associated with Bottom Teeth
- Central incisors usually emerge at 6 to 10 months of age.
- Lateral incisors typically come in between 10 to 16 months of age.
- Canines or cuspids generally appear between 17 to 23 months of age.
- First molars usually emerge at 14 to 18 months of age.
- Second molars typically come in between 23 to 31 months of age.
Your Infant is Teething: Know the Signs & Symptoms
Teething can affect babies differently, with some showing no signs while others may experience discomfort and irritability for several months. Knowing the signs and symptoms of teething can help parents provide support during this developmental stage.
If Your Infant is Teething, Here Are Some Signs and Symptoms to Watch Out for
Drooling
Teething can cause excessive drooling, which may start around ten weeks to 4 months and persist until all of the baby’s teeth have emerged. To keep your baby comfortable and clean, consider using a bib and wiping their chin throughout the day to prevent chapping.
Teething Rash
Excessive drooling can cause chafing, redness, and rashes around the mouth, chin, neck, and chest. Gently patting away the drool and using a barrier cream like Vaseline or Aquaphor can help prevent irritation.
Coughing or Gag Reflex
If babies have excessive saliva in their mouth may experience gagging and coughing. That is normal as long as no other indications of a cold, flu, or allergies exist.
Biting
Applying counter-pressure through chewing and biting can help ease discomfort as the teeth emerge. Teething infants tend to gnaw on anything within reach, but offering safe and comforting objects is essential.
Crying or Whining
Inflamed and tender gum tissue can cause pain, leading to whining or crying in some infants. The larger initial teeth and molars may cause the most pain, but babies become less distressed over time.
Irritability
As the tooth emerges and presses on the gums, it can cause discomfort and unsettle babies, leading to irritability for hours, days, or weeks.
Refusing to Eat
Sore gums can make feeding uncomfortable for teething infants, causing them to become fussy during feedings and refuse solid foods.
Night Waking
Teething discomfort can disturb sleep, leading to night waking even if the baby previously slept through the night.
Ear Pulling and Cheek Rubbing
When your infant is teething, they might feel discomfort in other areas, such as the ears and cheeks, leading to ear pulling and cheek rubbing. However, these actions may also be signs of fatigue or ear infections.
Gum Hematoma
A bluish lump under the gums may be a gum hematoma, which can occur due to the eruption of a tooth. Applying a cold compress or washcloth to the affected area can alleviate pain and promote healing.
How to Soothe a Teething Baby?
Massage Their Gums with a Clean Finger
Massaging your baby’s gums with a clean finger can help alleviate their discomfort. Simply wash your hands thoroughly, then use a clean finger to rub their gums in a circular motion.
Offer a Teething Toy to Chew On
Teething toys are designed to help relieve pressure on your baby’s gums. Look for toys made from safe materials that are easy for your baby to hold and chew on. You can also chill the teething toy in the refrigerator for added relief.
Provide a Cold Washcloth or Teething Ring
Wet a clean washcloth and place it in the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes. Once chilled, give it to your baby to chew on for a soothing effect. Alternatively, you can also use a teething ring chilled in the refrigerator.
Give them a Pacifier
If your baby uses a pacifier, offering it to them during their teething phase can provide comfort and distraction from the discomfort. Look for pacifiers designed for teething babies, which may have textured surfaces to massage their gums.
Offer Soft, Cold Foods to Eat
If your baby is old enough to eat solid foods, offering soft and cold foods can provide relief. Examples include chilled applesauce, yogurt, or pureed fruits and vegetables. Avoid giving your baby anything too hard or small that could be a choking hazard.
Treatments to Avoid When Your Infant is Teething
- Only use products specifically designed to help soothe teething.
- Avoid teethers or teething aids filled with liquid that can tear and spill.
- Choose teethers made of safe, non-breakable materials to prevent choking hazards.
- Avoid giving babies frozen solid teethers, as they can be too hard on their mouths.
- Be mindful of the materials used to make teethers; some may contain harmful substances like lead.
- Look for teethers made of rubber, which are generally safer and non-toxic.
Teething Necklace
- Child health experts advise against teething necklaces due to safety concerns.
- Teething necklaces can cause strangulation and choking if the necklace breaks and the baby swallows the beads.
- If you use a teething necklace, put it on a wrist or ankle instead of around the baby’s neck.
- Always supervise your baby when they wear it.
- Remove the necklace when you’re not watching your baby, even for a short time.
- Amber teething necklaces are not proven to release a pain reliever when heated, and doctors do not recommend using them.
Is Fever Normal During Teething?
A low-grade fever (under 101°F) is a common symptom when your infant is teething and is typically not a cause for concern. However, you should contact your pediatrician if your baby has a fever over 101°F or other symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting.
When You Should See a Doctor
When your infant is teething, there’s usually no need to worry. However, there are some situations where you should contact your doctor for advice. These include:
- If your baby has a high fever (over 101°F)
- If your baby experiences diarrhea or vomiting
- If there is excessive drooling or a rash around the mouth
- If your baby refuses to eat or drink
- If your baby is constantly pulling or rubbing their ears
Bottomline
Every infant has to undergo teething, which can cause discomfort, but it shouldn’t cause any severe health problems. However, if you’re concerned about the symptoms when your infant is teething, You should seek medical advice from the pediatric experts of Spring Creek Dental.
Our compassionate team of experts goes above and beyond to offer tailored solutions. You can contact us by calling us at 7153819710, or you can also visit our office at 422 2nd Street, Hudson, WI, 54016.
