Teething in Babies

Teething is referred to as the growing of teeth in babies. There is no fixed timeline for teeth eruption in babies, but generally it takes place between the age of 3 months to 2 years. In rare cases it may extend up to 3 years. Usually the front teeth appear first followed by canines and finally the posterior molars appear. Teething in babies is followed by pain and other health problems. Baby teething is a major hurdle for the parents too. They start wondering, what is bothering their little darling and why is he or she behaving differently? In such cases, it is important for the parents to understand the symptoms of teething in babies, in order to be prepared for the hiccups faced during this troubled times.

Teething in Babies Symptoms

It is difficult to judge the symptoms during teething in babies, because they differ from one baby to another. Your baby may experience some of the following symptoms, or all of them during the teething period.

• Redness and Swelling: One of the main symptoms of teething in babies is the redness and swelling of gums. The teeth emerging from the gums is a painful process, due to which the baby feels irritated and cries often.
• Chewing and Biting: When teething in babies begins, they have a constant tendency to bite or chew something. They usually start putting their fingers and other hard objects in the mouth. One reason for this tendency might be that the pressure created by biting a hard object must be relieving the pain and pressure off gums.
• Excessive Drooling: Teething in babies leads to driveling of excess saliva from the mouth of the babies. This may start after the age of 3 - 4 months, but it subsides after all the teeth have fully erupted.
• Ear Pulling: The pain experienced, when the posterior molars are growing, may travel to the ears. Due to which the baby rubs and pulls his or her ears more than often.
• Appearance of Rash: Excessive drooling may lead to appearance of rash around the area of face, chin and chest. To avoid these make sure to wipe off the saliva immediately.
• Other Related Symptoms: Some other related symptoms of teething in babies are loss of appetite, diarrhea, mild fever or flu like symptoms. A baby may also experience sleeping problems, due to teething pain. Read more on baby teething fever.

Teething in Babies Remedies

Teething in babies may mean spending sleepless nights for the baby, as well as for the parents. So remedies that provide relief for babies becomes a necessity. Given below are some of the remedies you can try at home to relieve some of the baby teething symptoms.

• Cold food and water can relieve pain experienced in the gums. Give your baby a cold water bottle to suck on. Cold fruits like bananas can also be given. Yogurt is also good for teething problems.
• Massaging the baby's gum gently can also provide the much-needed relief. But do this carefully.
• A clean, cold and damp cloth may be given to the baby for chewing. Chewing relieves pressure and pain off the gums considerably.
• Teething rings like rubber rings or liquid filled rings are best during teething in babies. Teething rings helps to restrain the baby from chewing other objects which can contain harmful micro organisms.
• If all these remedies are not working for your baby and the situation is getting out of control, you must visit a child specialist. He may prescribe some pills or liquid medication.
• Some homeopathic remedies can not only help to alleviate pain, but also enhance the bodies natural abilities of fighting the problems associated with teething.

Teething in babies can be a painful, irritating and stressful time for the baby. So, do take extra care of your little angel and shower love and affection on your child, that he or she needs. Don't worry, the teething phase will not last long.