By now, you will be noticing that there are teething signs. Teething signs happen anywhere from 4-7 months of age.  You will notice that they become more irritable or cranky.  The key to teething is to keep an eye on their body temperature.  Babies will never go over 100 degrees Fahrenheit if it is teething.  As soon as your Baby’s temperature  goes over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, keep an eye on it and contact your provider to make sure it is addressed.

Teething Signs To Look For:

• Excessive drooling, which means it’s time to get the bibs out!
• Placing their fingers or hand into their mouth and sucking on it.
• Irritability and moodiness, unable to comfort as quickly.
• Rashes occurring on their chin, around their mouth.
• Rubbing or pulling on their ear(it can also be a sign of an ear infection, so please contact your Provider to make sure).
• Refusal to eat at all or not finishing their normal feeding.
• Diarrhea due to excessive saliva being swallowed.

Teething Remedies:

When it comes to remedies, there are many to choose from, but your baby is an individual and will let you know which one is actually working for them.

• Massage the gums.  You can massage with your own clean finger or by using a pacifier or cooling a pacifier in the refrigerator first, then rubbing it onto the gum area.  Buy a wash cloth, specifically for your baby and wet it, squeeze all the water out, then place into a clean and sterilized plastic container.  Place the container into the freezer and when your baby is fussy, remove it and massage their gums.
• Use ice, but the safe way!  I do not recommend other objects, as they can be a choking hazard. Ice is a choking hazard, but not when it is applied correctly.  Use a Munchkin Fresh Food Ring, which has mesh.  Place a piece of ice inside and lock it into place, then massage the gums.  This ensures safety and provides swelling to go down, while giving extra comfort to baby and remains safe.
• I have had many Moms that I have worked with use Amber necklaces.  Please know that there is no evidence that it actually works.  It is still a choking hazard and I have never recommended using them for safety reasons, also backed by the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics).  Teething necklaces, bracelets or chew beads are not recommended because they are a choking hazard.  Your baby is not worth placing into risk.
• Avoid using a teething ring that has too many stimulating bumps.  Sometimes, it can be over-stimulating and cause more pain.  Stick to a teething ring that has only water in it, place it into the freezer and use it when needed.
• If you are breastfeeding, placing your baby on the nipple is the best comfort for teething and don’t worry about biting.  Your baby’s mouth is designed for a breast and it cannot happen.  If there is a bite, the latch was not correct.
• Over the counter remedies should be the last resort, but may be needed if nothing else is working.  The best solution is to run it by your Provider, but there is something I highly recommend.  Get a child’s tooth brush, add some liquid acetaminophen or ibuprofen to the brush.  Rub it directly onto the gums.  This allows for the medication to go directly into the area of the pain.  By just giving them the medication, it takes 20 minutes to get into their bloodstream, whereas, by applying it directly, allows for it to begin immediately.  Do this 45 minutes before your bedtime routine.

I have had to safe the life of two choking children (not my own, thank God!) Let me tell you, it is a traumatic and horrifying experience when it is not your own child, I cannot imagine having to do it with my own.  So please use caution with any teething bead, ring, bracelet, etc.  It is better to exercise safety, than face your own choking child and have a horrific tragedy.