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Your Baby's Teething Timeline
One night last fall, as I tried every trick in my repertoire to get my cranky, drooling 1-year-old daughter to go to sleep, I realized something: Teething is nature's idea of a practical joke. Think about it. A baby's first tooth usually comes in somewhere between 4 and 8 months, just after you've finally gotten her to sleep through the night. In my case, we had a few months of peaceful slumber before Molly began cutting her first tooth. When she started working on her molars, I was back to pacing the floors, bouncing her around, and frantically searching for the Tylenol -- for both of us.
Of course, I have friends who swear that their babies barely made a peep while teething. "Jake just woke up one morning smiling with two new teeth," says my pal Randi. But a baby's reaction to teething depends upon many factors, including his tolerance for pain, his personality, and how dense his gums are, says Michael Hanna, DDS, a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
Teething Signs and SymptomsIn a study published in Pediatrics, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation followed 125 children from their 3-month checkup through their first birthday. They found that during teething, there was a notable increase in:
- biting
- drooling
- gum rubbing
- sucking
- irritability
- wakefulness
- ear rubbing
- facial rash
- decreased appetite
- mild temperature
No one knows why teething babies produce all that saliva, says Dr. Hanna, but the theory is that the increase of muscle movement in the mouth during this teething period simulates chewing, which activates the salivary glands. (The excess drooling can in turn cause a rash around the mouth.) Biting and gum rubbing are the baby's efforts to relieve pressure in his gums.
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I'm a dental surgeon in London, UK and also have a 7 month old son - tried the amber necklaces after bonjela, caljel etc failed to help! They work a treat, congrats on a great product, i'll definitely recommend it to my patients with little ones in the future! www.amberslumber.com
1/31/2012 09:53:30 AM Report AbuseTo alishcamp - if you're afraid of your baby will give herself a black eye - I sometimes take a wet cloth w/cold water and seems soothing to my baby. Also, what my mom used to do with my lil bro & also do is give your baby Chamomile tea. It helps for the pain of teething babies and also helps their stomach if they have gas or other stomach problems and best of all it's natural.
10/26/2011 02:26:54 PM Report AbuseI have a 6 children. First 4 are from 20 yrs to 15 yrs. Dont remember much about there teething. The last 2 are 3 yrs and 3 mths. My 3yr old was a really easy teether. No crying just drooling. Cant remember the age he cut his first tooth. He loved Carrots and Waffles. My 3mth old is nawling her fists. She will put her whole fist in her mouth. Kept wondering why? Now after reading all your comments I am thinking she is teething. Thanks everyone.
10/10/2011 11:21:57 PM Report AbuseMy daughter will be 18 months on Wednesday 10/12/11 and she only has her two top teeth and the two bottom teeth. I have asked the dentist, but he assures me it is ok to only have 4 teeth at her age. I am concerned and was wondering if anyone had any advice for me. Thank you.
10/10/2011 10:21:33 AM Report AbuseMy daughter will be 14 months old this week and has 15 teeth. I am kind of thankful they came in so fast. Both of my kids were really good teethers. Not too much crankiness. I expect number 16 any day and then we just need her back molars. Now...if she would just walk. ha ha
7/18/2011 12:22:40 PM Report AbuseMY BABY GIRL IS ONLY 13 WEEKS, AND I GUESS SHE IS TEETHING. ALWAYS SUCKING ON HER FINGERS,AND DROOLING UP A STORM.SHE IS NOT A FUSSY BABY, BUT HAS GOTTEN FUSSY IN THE EVENING THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. BUT, I AM AFRAID TO GIVE HER ANYTHING HARD. SHE STILL DOSNT HAVE PERFECT CONTROL OF HER HANDS, AND IM AFRAID OF HER GIVING HERSELF A BLACKEYE. ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME!!!!
5/3/2011 10:21:34 PM Report Abusemy 3 month old is teething and she loves to chew on waffles
4/27/2011 09:42:14 PM Report AbuseThis article was sent to my email and couldn't have been sent at a better time! my daughter who is usually an angel sent by god himself has been fussy lately. She drools so much that she has to wear a bib, she put anything in her mouth she can get a hold of, sucks constantly, and rubbed her ear alot today...now it all seems to fit!!
4/3/2011 12:11:18 AM Report AbuseMy oldest son (he's 18 now) got his 2 eye teeth first. One at 11 weeks and the other a week later.....he looked like a little vampire for a few months until the other teeth caught up. I now have a 3 month old that is showing signs he may be starting to cut some teeth. He still has not slept through the night and has suffered from colic and reflux poor little guy can't catch a break!
3/9/2011 09:20:33 PM Report AbuseMy daughter, who is now 6, got her "fangs" in first too. perfectly normal i guess!
2/6/2011 01:17:01 PM Report AbuseMy son is 7 months and has two teeth in the bottom and is cutting two teeth on top but they are not his middle teeth. He is growing what appear to be fangs at this point. I had never seen that in my 12 years as a caregiver and I wonder if any one out there knows if that is normal?
1/9/2011 12:31:39 AM Report AbuseALL CAPS? PROBABLY CAUSE WE ARE TOO TIRED TO TYPE CORRECTLY WITH A TEETHING BABY AND TOO MUCH BROKEN SLEEP!!!
12/26/2010 06:18:59 PM Report AbuseMy 6 month old has been teething since she was 3 months old and now has two teeth and two more on the way (: A 5th one is trying to come through in the back (:
7/21/2010 12:51:08 PM Report AbuseIf you have not tried them you need to get the teething tablets! These work wonders!! Not really sure how but they do! We got them for my first grandson and he never had one bit of trouble with his teeth, other than the drooling of course.They are tiny white pills looks like sugar tablets, you place under the babys tongue and they dissolve almost instantly. Man I sure wish they would have had them when my kids were cutting teeth... lol
6/16/2010 03:17:53 PM Report AbuseMy daughter is 6 months old and has showed signs of teething since she was 2 months. At 6 months it has finally started to change her cheery personality...Orajel works for a short period but then it's back to the extremely cranky baby. Any ideas? would it really be safe to give her smaller foods like carrots to bite on or is there something better for her age?? HELP!!
6/2/2010 07:32:47 PM Report AbuseWhy is everyone using all CAPS? Any way, my daughter is 7 months old and has two teeth now (both front bottom incisors). We generally give her infant Tylenol at night if she's extra cranky and otherwise, just give her teething toys, use the mesh feeder occasionally with frozen banana, and give her a wet washcloth to chew on.
6/2/2010 12:44:49 PM Report Abusepedialite helps for a weird reason thats all my 7 month old daughter will drink in the morning. We alternate the milk and juice cuz she KNOWS when she wants milk. but she's been teething since she was about 3 months and still nothing but were getting close.
5/11/2010 03:43:42 PM Report AbuseMy son is 9 months old and does not have one tooth yet. He's had signs of teething since he was 2 months old! When are his teeth going to get here?
4/25/2010 08:17:37 AM Report Abusethe sassy teething feeder is great for teething. I put frozen peas or other veggies in it. Its got a little net thing that hold the food and keep your baby from choking.
4/21/2010 12:54:41 PM Report Abusei have a 7 month old son, my first, and he has been biting and drooling since he was 4 months, and yet........... nothing not even a bump.
4/20/2010 02:28:28 AM Report AbuseI have a 7 month old & he's had his 2 bottom teeth since he's been 3 months. They started cutting since he's been 1 month old. As mommysboys525 said," There's nothing as parents that we can really do". Just be supportive in anyway. I've tried everything in the book. Including car riding, & outdoor walks. If you place ice in a held food strainer,it really helps as well. " They love the cold numbing" on there teeth.
4/19/2010 11:38:18 AM Report AbuseMY 5 MONTH OLD CUT HIS BOTTOM 2 TEETH AT 1 AND A HALF MONTHS, NOW AT FIVE MONTHS HE HAS 5 TEETH WITH 2 MORE COMING IN, HE HAS BEEN MISERABLE SINCE HE TURNED ONE MONTH OLD. I HAVE USED CHAMOMILE, ORAJEL, LITTLE TEETHERS, TEETHING DROPS AND TEETHING TABLETS AND THEY ALL WORK AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I FEEL BAD FOR HIM BUT THERE ISNT REALLY ANYTHING I CAN DO FOR HIM. HE WONT DRINK FORMULA OR BREAST FEED IF HIS MOUTH HURTS TOO MUCH JUST DRINK JUICE. MY LIL GUY IS A TROOPER!
3/22/2010 11:00:51 AM Report AbuseMy girl is 9 1/2 months now. we went thru that at 3 months. I thought the same. Takes a bit of time for the first tooth to come in, SOMETIMES. We got our first one at 8 months. At 3 mo, she didn't have a fever, was just cranky. I gave her a little Tylenol, or put a little Orajel on her gums. I've been massaging them since then with an infant finger brush. Gerber makes a great one with toothpaste. You can use from 3mo and up. Try that. Will help them feel better!
3/22/2010 10:15:16 AM Report AbuseI have a three month old who has been drooling and pulling on her gum's and now I think she is teething but I still am not sure because she is so young but now I know that it is possible.
2/2/2010 01:31:59 AM Report AbuseMy little one just turned 10 months old and has 6 teeth and two more are coming in. She is determined to feed her self since 3 weeks ago. She defintely is irritable when teething. She loves a cold Clausen pickle in her food feeder. I think the vinegar and cold temp make her gums feel better.
10/22/2009 12:41:41 PM Report AbuseMY NINE MONTH HAS 4 TEETH AT THE BOTTOM AND 4 THAT ARE APPERING AT THE TOP,AND HE DONT LIKE TO BE FED ANYMORE,HE WANT HIS FOOD TO HIMSELF.
10/17/2009 03:08:43 PM Report AbuseI've found my daughter enjoys chewing on cold celery sticks. They also sell these little mesh bags with a handle on them at most major stores. You can put ice cubes, frozen fruit, whatever in it and not worry about them choking.
10/12/2009 04:20:14 PM Report AbuseI used my little girl's longer socks for teethers. I would put one ice cube (made from sterilized water) and put it into the sock, tie a knot in the end, and she LOVED it! The knot was a handle and she would suck/chew on that ice cube til it was gone. Wouldnt make a peep til it was gone.
10/12/2009 02:03:35 PM Report AbuseIF IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO GIVE YOUR BABY HARD TOYS THEN WHY ARE THERE HARD TEETHERS? THEY SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE MARKET!
10/12/2009 11:06:03 AM Report AbuseI GIVE MY 9 MONTH OLD SON A CARROT AS WELL AND SINCE HE IS TEETHING FROM ALL 4 TOP TEETH AND ALL 4 BOTTOM TEETH HE REALLY LIKES IT. I THINK THE CARROT IS THE BEST WAY TO GO.
10/12/2009 11:01:51 AM Report AbuseMY BOYFRIEND'S MOTHER SAID THAT WHEN HE AND HIS SISTER WERE TEETHING, SHE WOULD GIVE THEM THE BIG END OF A CARROT (AFTER CUTTING OFF THE SMALLER END AND THE LEAVES FROM THE BIG END AND WASHING) TO CHEW ON AND THEY LOVED THE FLAVOR AS WELL AS THE PRESSURE RELIEF ON THE GUMS.
10/10/2009 11:49:41 AM Report AbuseMY 7 1/2 MONTH OLD IS TEETHING AND HE LOVES WHEN I WET A TOWEL AND PUT IT IN THE FREEZER FOR HIM TO EASILY GRAB AND CHEW ON. A FROZEN "BABY WASH CLOTH" WORKS GREAT.
10/10/2009 11:46:56 AM Report Abuse