Baby Teething & the Drools

Ari has been teething and got her dress a little wet. She still looks beautiful!

When your little baby angel turns into a cranky baby, there’s a chance he or she might be teething. Is she drooling? Rubbing his mouth or ears? Trying to eat anything in sight or can get his or her lips on?  Perhaps a little more diaper rash than usual? Or even running a slight fever? You might want to try to run your finger around your baby’s gums to see if you feel any sharpness or raised bumps – yup! Those are teeth coming in!  Usually the two front bottom teeth are first to come in and are followed by the two front top ones. Ari, who is 10-months-old and my boyfriend’s niece, is currently teething.  We usually call her “Stealth” because she is so mellow-tempered and a happy little baby, but recently she seems uncomfortable and crying and especially “drooly”! Keep that bib handy for a little sweep of the mouth.

We have helped her by giving her something cool – my mom always suggests wetting a soft baby cloth and putting it in the freezer for 10 minutes to cool it off and give it to your baby – shocking, it works (I guess mom IS always right!).  You can also buy the teething toys at most baby stores and pop those in the freezer too. For pain relief, many parents swear by homeopathic remedies like Hyland’s Teething Tablets. Acetaminophen also helps, but check with the doctor for the right dosage. So what if you don’t’ have any real evidence that a tooth might appear soon? Eh, just blame it on “She’s teething!” when she is crying or chewing on your couch pillow during play group. Just kidding.

On a serious note, teething, the emergence of the first teeth through a baby’s gums, can be a frustrating time babies and their parents.

She still can give a smile when her little gums are hurting a bit.

The Steps of Teething
Teething can begin as early as 3 months and continue until a child’s third birthday. Between the ages of 4 and 7 months, you’ll notice your baby’s first tooth pushing through the gum line. The first teeth to appear usually are the two bottom front teeth, later followed by the four front upper teeth. About a month later, the lower two teeth flanking the bottom front teeth will appear.

Next to break through the gum line are the first molars (the back teeth used for grinding food), then finally the eyeteeth (the pointy teeth in the upper jaw). Most kids have all 20 of their primary teeth by their third birthday.

As kids begin teething, they might drool more and want to chew on anything in site. For some babies, teething is painless, but for others, there may be signs of being cranky for weeks, crying, or disrupted sleeping patterns.

According to Kids Health Organization, “Although tender and swollen gums could cause your baby’s temperature to be a little higher than normal, teething doesn’t usually cause high fever or diarrhea. If your baby does develop a fever during the teething phase, it’s probably due to something else and you should contact your doctor.”

Ari loves he teething keys (stick them in the freezer for 10 minutes to chill them and make them feel good on a baby’s gums).

Soothing Teething Pain & Tips

• Wipe your baby’s face often with a soft and clean cloth to remove drool and especially to prevent rashes from developing.
• Give your baby something to chew on. Make sure it’s big enough so that it can’t be swallowed
• Rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger.
• Never tie a teething ring around a baby’s neck — it could get caught on something and strangle the baby.
• If your baby seems irritable, acetaminophen may help — but always consult your doctor first. Never place an aspirin against the tooth, and don’t rub alcohol on your baby’s gums.

Do you brush new baby teeth?
Taking care of your baby’s teeth is important for long-term dental health. Daily dental care should begin even before your baby’s first tooth emerges. You are probably thinking I am crazy, but it is highly recommended by doctors to wipe your baby’s gums daily with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze, or brush them gently with a soft, infant-sized toothbrush and water (no toothpaste!). As soon as the first tooth appears, brush it with water!

Toothpaste is OK to use once a child is old enough to spit it out — usually around age 3. By the time all your baby’s teeth are in, try to brush them at least twice a day and especially after meals. Another important tip for preventing tooth decay: Don’t let your baby fall asleep with a bottle. The milk or juice can pool in a baby’s mouth and cause tooth decay and plaque.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that kids see a dentist by age 1, when six to eight teeth are in place, to spot any potential problems and advise parents about preventive care.

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Back-to-School and Kids (and you) Staying Healthy!

With your kids back in school and new exposure to germs and other fun little sniffles from the other children – how do you recognize when your child doesn’t just have the sniffles, but actually has a fever that might lead to illness and you should possibly see a doctor?  Well, I have been ‘down for the count’ for 3 whole days with a fever and sore throat which I caught from my boyfriend’s 3-year-old cousin who recently went back to school. I won’t lie though, I did call my mom for advice on my sickness.

As a parent, you’ve probably experienced waking in the middle of the night to find your child rosy checked, hot, and sweaty. You check your little one’s forehead, and it feels warm. You might immediately suspect a fever, but are unsure of what to do next. Should you get out the thermometer? Call the doctor?

According to Kids Health Organization, “In healthy kids, fevers usually don’t indicate anything serious. Although it can be frightening when your child’s temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it’s often the body’s way of fighting infections. And not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, however, can make a child uncomfortable and worsen problems such as dehydration.”

Here are some facts about fevers, how to measure them and when to call the doc. 

Fever Facts
Fever occurs when the body’s internal “thermostat” raises the body temperature above its normal level. This thermostat is found in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (usually around 98.6° Fahrenheit or 37° Celsius) and will send messages to your body to keep it that way.

Sometimes, though, the hypothalamus will “reset” the body to a higher temperature in response to an infection, illness, or some other cause.

Causes of Fever
It’s important to remember that fever by itself is not an illness — it’s usually a symptom of an underlying problem. According to Kids Health Organization, fever has a few potential causes:

Infection: Most fevers are caused by infection or other illness. Fever helps the body fight infections by stimulating natural defense mechanisms.

Overdressing: Infants, especially newborns, may get fevers if they’re over bundled or in a hot environment because they don’t regulate their body temperature as well as older kids. However, because fevers in newborns can indicate a serious infection, even infants who are overdressed must be evaluated by a doctor if they have a fever.

Immunizations:
Babies and kids sometimes get a low-grade fever after getting vaccinated.

Although teething may cause a slight rise in body temperature, it’s probably not the cause if a child’s temperature is higher than 100° F (37.8° C).

How to Tell Your Kid Has a Fever.
A gentle kiss on the forehead or a hand placed lightly on the skin is often enough to give you a hint that your child has a fever. However, this method of taking a temperature (called tactile temperature) is dependent on the person doing the feeling and doesn’t give an accurate measure of temperature.

Use a reliable thermometer to confirm a fever (which is when a child’s temperature is at or above one of these levels): 

• 100.4° F (38° C) measured rectally (in the bottom)
• 99.5° F (37.5° C) measured orally (in the mouth)
• 99° F (37.2° C) measured in an axillary position (under the arm)

But how high a fever is doesn’t tell you much about how sick your child is. A simple cold or other viral infection can sometimes cause a rather high fever (in the 102°-104° F / 38.9°-40° C range), but this doesn’t usually indicate a serious problem. And serious infections might cause no fever or even an abnormally low body temperature, especially in infants.

Other signs are:

• Hot and flushed all over
• Irritability or crying
• Listless or lethargic
• Restless during the night
• Loss of appetite
• Uncontrollable shivering
• Sudden vomiting
• Whining, complaining or clinginess

When a Fever Is Something Serious
In the past, doctors advised treating a fever on the basis of temperature alone. But now they recommend considering both the temperature and a child’s overall condition.

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