Advice History

Is it normal for small amouts of blood while teething?

What should I expect when my baby starts to teethe?

Aside from a temperature or diarrhea, be prepared for a number of possible things to happen when your child starts teething. One big sign that a tooth might be coming in is an increase in saliva or drooling. Wearing bibs helps keep the babies clothes and chest dry. The drool might cause a rash on their face or chin. Gently wiping often with a clean towel will help prevent that.

"What To Expect: The First Year" also says biting might increase in the baby. This is not a sign of aggression though. Teething babies bite to relieve the pressure under their gums. Teething rings are great for this but don't be shocked if your little one crunches down on your finger more than once while they are teething.

Some more signs to look for are low appetite, sticking their hands in their mouths -- again this is to relieve the pressure, pulling on their ears or rubbing their cheeks, trouble sleeping, or coughing -- which is due to increase saliva.

Is there anything I can do to relieve the discomfort of teething?

Most babies try to relieve the discomfort by chewing. The counterpressure against their gums feels good. There are several teething toys available from retailers that can give your baby some comfort, or for a cheaper option, you can freeze a clean, wet washcloth and let baby chew on that. If your baby is already eating diced fruit, you can give chilled (not frozen) diced fruit to soothe the gums.

Finally, you can give your baby a pain reliever to help with teething. Tylenol (acetominophen) can be used at any age, and Motrin (ibuprofen) can be given to babies six months or older. Follow the dosage guidelines (based on weight) on the bottle.

My Baby has swollen gums and is teething but I don't know if thats why she is up all night ?

My baby has been up all night the past couple nights whining and moaning. If you at first try to give her a bottle then she doesn't want it. You can see which teeth at the bottom (the center incisors) are coming in but does that really cause my daughter to be in so much pain? Please someone give me some feed back so I can get some kind of direction on what to do. This is my first child, I have tried Hyland's teething tablets which only work temporarily, Motrin and Tylenol. Her pediatrician's office is not open for another couple hours. She is sleeping now but not for long. If you would like, someone can email me at meghin.vincent91@yahoo.com.