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Helping a teething baby

Throughout the ages, both grandmothers and medical professionals have attributed night awakenings to the discomfort of teething. Undoubtedly, teething can cause gums to ache, leading your child to seek relief by gnawing on various objects to facilitate the emergence of their teeth. However, is it genuine pain or simply a state of unease?

Indications that a Baby is Teething Typical symptoms and signs of teething in a baby encompass:

  1. Inflamed gums: The teeth are endeavoring to break through.
  2. Irritability and disrupted sleep: Teething isn't a pleasant experience, so your little one may exhibit grouchiness.
  3. Heightened biting and sucking: Babies may instinctively bite or suck on toys, or even their own fingers, to alleviate the pressure.
  4. Reduced appetite: The discomfort in the mouth may decrease their enthusiasm for eating.
  5. Excessive drooling: Teething often leads to increased drooling, which can subsequently result in diarrhea.
  6. Runny nose: Some babies may develop a runny nose during teething.
  7. Tugging at ears: Babies might pull on their ears as a means to alleviate the discomfort and pressure.
  8. Mild fever: Teething babies might have a slightly elevated body temperature, often referred to as "teething fever."
  9. Mild rash around the mouth: If excessive drooling occurs due to teething, it's essential to wipe away the drool to prevent the development of a rash around the mouth.

How Long Does Teething Last? In reality, teething occurs intermittently over several months. If the pain were severe, all children would be awake every night for months. Moreover, most children do not exhibit pain during the day. In summary, teething is generally more of an annoyance, characterized by slight throbbing that can be ignored during the day but may become more bothersome when a child is lying down in a dark, quiet room.

Methods to Comfort a Teething Baby During the Night The good news is that employing white noise can often suffice to distract your baby and help them sleep soundly despite the discomfort in their gums.

Is Tylenol Recommended for Teething? However, if you believe that discomfort is preventing your child from sleeping, consult your doctor regarding an appropriate dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen, administered 30 minutes before bedtime (as it takes some time to take effect).

Home Remedies for Teething If you're aware that your child is teething, you can keep a few washcloths in the freezer, with one corner dipped in apple juice and then frozen. This provides a soothing object for your baby to chew on while you wait for the medication to take effect.

In Conclusion: Supporting a Teething Baby Teething can be an uncomfortable phase for your baby. The aforementioned tips should offer some relief, but if the fussiness persists or isn't clearly related to teething, you can explore further guidance in Dr. Harvey Karp's book "The Happiest Baby on the Block."