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Parenting Tips on Recognizing the Signs of Teething

photo credit: ripkas

As an adult, you barely think about your teeth unless you are brushing them or have serious dental problems. Your baby and teeth, however, still have a special relationship. Just think of how young children believe in the Tooth Fairy at almost the same level as they believe in Santa Claus. They would put their milk teeth under their pillows, waiting for the fairy?s reward. Babies, on the other hand, have to contend with the pain, the strangeness and newness of the first few teeth. Some may not have any problems with teething but some have to go through a lot of pain. Here are some signs that your baby may be teething:

Fussy Feeding

If your baby is between three months and twelve months, he should start teething soon. If this period coincides with rare episodes of fussy feeding, you have to look back to the tips you have read on parenting help forums and to the advice given by your pediatrician. Check if your baby is not merely fussing but is actually biting your nipple or his bottle?s nipple. He may be seeking comfort through rubbing his gums against something solid.

Grumpy Behavior

Parenting help tips provide insights on what changes in a baby?s behavior can mean. Maybe your baby just had a bad day or had missed his supposed nap time. Observe if your baby?s grumpy behavior is accompanied with ear tugging and cheek rubbing. If it is accompanied with such actions, check his gums if they are swollen. Have your baby checked by the pediatrician so that other illnesses can be ruled out. The whole combination of behavior and actions more likely points to teething discomfort.

Higher Temperature

Babies who are teething tend to have higher temperatures. By using a child-safe thermometer, you will see that your baby?s temperature has been raised a few notches, without becoming a full-blown fever. Some children do have fevers when their first teeth come out. During the teething period, however, you can just assume that the change in temperature is caused by the impending sprouting of teeth. ?You could check for swelling and redness in the gums.

Difficulty Sleeping

If your baby normally sleeps on a schedule and he suddenly changes that schedule, that is just normal. Even babies with good sleeping habits have off nights. However, if your baby cannot sleep and appears to be agitated or in pain, there is something wrong. One of the causes of sleeplessness is illness. Check for various symptoms and try to rule out other illnesses. If your baby seems to be generally fine, he may be suffering painful bouts of teething. Rub some cool teething gel on his gums using a clean finger. If this soothes him, then teething is the definite reason for the discomfort and sleeplessness.

There is a parenting help tip for every kind of parenting problem out there. Any of these tips can fly out the window if you see your child in pain. Remember to be calm and level-headed, however. Your baby depends on you to make sound decisions. Also remember that teething may be painful but it is a normal part of baby?s growth.