Teething is the process through which your baby’s teeth break through their gums around the age of anywhere between 6 and 24 months old. It is an exciting process, because it means that your little one is growing up and maturing in new ways, but it can be an incredibly painful or uncomfortable process for them, and can have side effects that you wouldn’t even expect to happen. It is because of this that you should be as knowledgeable as possible about the process of teething so that you can help your infant when the time comes.
The time when your child’s teeth are growing through is uncomfortable for everyone – your little one will be in pain and you will not get a peaceful moment because of it. Instead of having both of you silently endure the process, learn about ways that you can help your baby through it, which in the end will be much better for both you and them.
Here are 3 side effects of teething and what you can do for your baby:
- Pain and Discomfort
Pain and discomfort are the most prevalent side effects of teething, and the primary source for all of the other issues that you may find that you have with your little one. When their teeth begin to push through their gums, this will cause them extreme discomfort.
You have experienced the feeling of growing a new tooth before and remember how uncomfortable it is, right? Well, for a baby with a very low pain threshold, this pain is greatly amplified. Plus, they are unable to voice when they are uncomfortable, so it is important for you to look out for the warning signs that your child is in pain, and to step in and help them. There are a lot of great over the counter pain relievers that are designed for children, but make sure that you check with a doctor before administering to your infant.
2. Drooling and Rashes
The process of teething can cause excessive drooling in your child. This may be a surprising revelation for you, as you may have thought that your cute little drool machine couldn’t possibly produce any more drool. However, when babies are in pain due to teething their bodies produce more saliva and thus, more drool. A common side effect of this is that your little one might develop a mild rash on his or her cheeks, chin and lips. This small rash is common and due to irritation to the skin from the drool. Keeping the skin clean, dry, and moisturized with baby-safe products is a great way to prevent or treat these kinds of rashes.
However, one thing to note is that a rash all over the body is not a symptom of teething. This may be a serious problem and should you notice a rash all over your infant’s body then you should take them to their pediatrician immediately.
- General Fussiness
During the teething process, your baby is bound to be uncomfortable, and this discomfort will likely make them more fussy and irritable than they have been before. The best thing that you can do for your baby during this time is to be patient and understanding with them as they are going through the discomfort and pain. There are a lot of simple things that you can do for your child to ease the discomfort, such as allowing them to chew on a chilled (NOT frozen) teething ring, and applying child-safe numbing cream to their gums. Massaging your baby’s gums will help ease their pain as well.
Conclusion
As your precious little one grows up, you are going to have to help them through a lot of different kinds of discomfort. Watching your baby be extremely uncomfortable can be hard to do, but just know that teething is normal and that there are some things that you can do to ease their pain. Discuss teething treatments with your family doctor to find out the best method of comforting your baby.
