Simple Guide to Follow For When Teething Starts in Toddlers
Who knew teething was this intense?
Most parents know the anxiety and sleepiness nights that can come when your little ones start the teething process. Who knew that teething could be such an unpleasant experience for your growing baby! The reality is every kid handles it differently. Some seem unphased while others will scream all night, driving up the blood pressure of their respective parents! When teething starts, you will find out quickly which category your little one fits into! However, there are things you can do to make your little ones more comfortable while they fight through this milestone development.
When can babies start teething?
Babies can start teething between 6-9 months. Hard to believe that by the time your little one is two and a half to three years old they will have a full mouth of teeth!
If you asked when babies can start teething, you would never guess that babies actually start to develop their milk teeth while still in the womb. They will start popping through those gums within the first year of life! When teething starts, you might notice some extra drooling and swollen gums or cheeks. Often time’s babies can seem sick when they are just in fact teething. It is not unusual for a baby to even get a fever while teething. Worry not, there are things you can do to soothe their sweet little souls while teething.
How to Soothe a Teething Baby
During the day while your little ones are awake; don’t be afraid to try some frozen chew distractions. Teething babies love the sensation of something cold in their mouth that they can gnaw on. It really seems to soothe them. You can even buy little web pouches and put a piece of fruit (e.g. a piece of watermelon, strawberry or banana) inside it to freeze. You will have your little one in heaven sucking away on that piece of fruit. During sleep time, you may have to resort to infant Motrin or any other anti-inflammatory or pain reliever than your doctor recommends. Remember that at this age, you need to pay close attention to dosing instructions, make sure you are using infant (instead of “children’s”) medication and use only medicine that your pediatrician has recommended. A lot of parents try to avoid giving medicine out this early in their child’s life, but it can be a major difference-maker in terms of making your little one comfortable enough to sleep through the night and get that much-needed rest.
What to expect
The teeth of your little ones can be somewhat predictive. Typically, the front incisor teeth will show up first with the bottoms coming in between 5-10 months and the tops coming in between 6-12 months. Next, you will see the second incisors come through and then the dreaded molars! Hang in there and do what you can to keep your little ones comfortable during this process. That first night of crying may seem brutal, but the process does seem to move pretty fast. Your little one will be feeling better in no time. I guess in its most literal sense, it is the truest growing pains.
