What are the symptons of teething?

Teething Symptoms

Teething symptoms vary from child to child, but normally babies who fuss and squirm during feeding, drool excessively or have bad diaper rash are most likely teething. Symptoms may make your baby uncomfortable or irritable, but that’s just a normal part of the process. In addition, baby teething symptoms may include chewing on everything and anything or diarrhea and diaper rash (which can sometimes be very red and spotty).

The remedies for unwelcome teething symptoms vary. Most importantly, try to distract your baby from the discomfort. Cuddling and playing often works wonders. Also try massaging your baby's gums with either a wet finger or soothing gels and teething relief products available at the local pharmacy. Be careful to avoid excessive use of commercial teething gels since they contain benzocaine, which has been linked to allergic reactions in babies. Teething rings, when cooled in the refrigerator, can prove very effective. Of course there are the old stand-by rings, such as bagels, bread, or some vegetables. Natural homeopathic teething symptoms remedies sticks of licorice and chamomile. When considering homeopathic remedies, make sure to consult your pediatrician first. Some homeopathic remedies for baby teething symptoms include: Apis mellifica (meaning whole bee) to ease swollen gums before and after the eruption of teeth; Pulsatilla works wonderfully on infants whose teething symptoms include nervousness, clinginess, or tears.

The teething symptoms remedy that’s best for you and your baby is something only you and your pediatrician can decide. While it is possible for some babies to respond to distractions and achieve relief from painful infant teething symptoms, others experience great discomfort despite all remedies and distractions. If your child seems to be experiencing greater than normal discomfort, talk to your doctor for more about how to relieve each teething symptom as it occurs.

It’s important for parents to remember that teething is not a serious problem. Baby teething symptoms are something all infants experience, to some degree. Only as parents do we remember the feelings of helplessness we experience as we watch our babies throughout the painful infant teething process. Remember that, as they grow, babies won’t remember a thing about the discomfort of baby teething symptoms!

7/19/2007 11:34:22 AM