Teething usually begins around the sixth month of life for the newborn baby. To determine whether or not the teething process has begun, parents will need to learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of a teething baby. Symptoms may include: trouble sleeping, increased drooling, loss of appetite, a constant desire to touch the gums or place the hands in the mouth and mild rashes around the area of the mouth during periods of increased drooling. As one can see from the examples above, most of the symptoms associated with teething stem from the pain caused by the process. Diarrhea, fever, and flu symptoms are not signs of teething and should be referred your pediatrician for a diagnosis.

Most parents are able to treat the symptoms of teething without even having to leave the home. Two common methods of helping alleviate the discomfort of teething are specially designed toys for teething children to chew on and gum massages given by parents. Since teething is a condition of the mouth, parents must take extreme caution when introducing any foreign items into the mouth of their baby. Anything used to treat the symptoms of teething should be made clean and sanitary before and after each use.

While the baby is teething, soft foods are recommended. Cold foods will help bring down some of the pain and swelling in the gums, so many parents will freeze traditional snack items to help their baby overcome the discomfort. Teething is something that just has to be waited out, but any parent who becomes concerned that their child’s teething process is lasting too long or is becoming too painful should feel free to contact their child’s pediatrician to make sure everything is normal.

Baby teething is a fairly predictable process, as far as what teeth you can expect to see. The lower middle incisors will first show around 6 months and the molars start soon after a baby’s first birthday. The canine teeth typically come between baby’s second or third birthday. Be prepared for at least a few sleepless nights. Some parents are lucky enough to sneak through the process without, but at least preparing yourself for the possibility can make things less stressful for you and your spouse during those long nights.

While baby teething pain cannot be avoided, there are plenty of tried and true remedies that can ease them through their discomfort. Teethers are a must to have around and are very inexpensive. Have two or three, with a couple in the freezer during times when your baby’s teeth are really bothering them. You can also count on chilled baby food, frozen carrots, or any cold object they can’t swallow. Also talk to your baby and let them chew on your fingers if they need to. The pressure from chewing on a soft object helps to numb the gum area where pain exists. While it’s tempting to try over-the-counter pain relievers, try to avoid them, as they don’t last very long. Acetaminophen formulas for babies are a better alternative.