Teething

Well, I'm sure all of you have either gone through it or are probably dreading it...your baby going through the process of teething! Angelina has begun teething. She has been taking it extremely well. I expected much worse. She gets a little fussy here and there, but for the most part, she doesn't seem to mind. Such a good little baby!

As usual, I have researched information about teething and, of course, have gotten advice from other mothers about it (including my own mother). So I thought I would share the tips and ideas I have gained from other good sources with all of you.

Most infants experience few symptoms from teething besides increased drooling and crankiness. Rarely, however, other symptoms may occur. Here are some of them:
- Irritation of the area around baby's mouth as a result of excessive drooling -- a dab of petroleum jelly can protect her skin.
- Gum swelling or sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- A bluish red blister, called a hematoma, on the gum line, which may bleed a little when the tooth emerges. Call your doctor if the blister lasts for more than a week without the tooth poking through.
- Low-grade fever and diarrhea.

And here are five facts about teething that may come in handy for some of you:
- Most infants have their first tooth erupt between 6 and 8 months of age.
- Teeth usually come up in pairs.
- Bottom front teeth (central incisors) typically emerge first, followed by the top ones. Then the molars and the canine teeth (the pointy ones) appear. Last come the back molars.
- Although parents usually associate "teething" with the few days of discomfort and swelling before and after a tooth erupts, tooth development actually begins in the womb. Primary or "baby" teeth begin to form under the gums during the fifth month of pregnancy and slowly emerge as your infant grows older. But it's not until the teeth start breaking through the gums that things get uncomfortable for baby.
- Baby should have her full set of 20 primary teeth by age 3. Her permanent teeth won't begin to replace them until she's 4 to 6 years old.

And, finally, here are some ideas about helping ease the pain of teething for your little one:
- A teething ring: Soft plastic or liquid-filled rings are the best kinds; some can be frozen for extra numbing comfort. But avoid the type with baubles floating inside, since a determined infant might be able to gnaw through it and swallow the little objects. (Freezing Angelina's teething ring seems to work especially well for her.)
- A safe, firm, nontoxic object: Even something as simple as a wet washcloth that your baby can chew on will provide relief. (My mother and I have also been using this trick on her.)
- Teething gel: In some cases, your child may need an over-the-counter infant teething gel, which will temporarily numb her gums.
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen: An age-appropriate dose of an infants' liquid pain reducer can provide temporary relief.
- They also have "teething tablets" and other products out there. Just be sure you read the ingredients and what not before you give them to your baby. I bought some "teething tablets" for Angelina. I tried them on her, and they didn't seem to really do anything that the frozen teething ring wasn't already doing. So I just haven't even been giving them to her. But perhaps those tablets may work better for other babies. As I've said before, babies (just like grown-ups) are all different and all have different wants and needs.

I hope this information has come in handy for some of you. For those of you who have already passed this stage...I'm sure you're smiling right now and being thankful you don't have to deal with this (at least not until you have another-if that's in your plan).

While you're here, go ahead and check out The Nursery Depot. The link, of course, is on the left side of my page. The Nursery Depot is the Internet's largest selection of bedding, furniture, and accessories for your nursery or kid's room. They promise: Great Selection, Guaranteed Low Prices, and a Safe Shopping Guarantee! So if you're looking for nursery furniture, kids' room furniture, or bedding of all sorts...definitely check out The Nursery Depot! They will have what you're looking for, and they'll have the huge selection and prices you've been searching for. They are definitely the place to go if you're creating, remodeling, or just looking to add or change a few things in a nursery or kids' room.

And, as always, have a wonderful day, afternoon, or night...wherever you are!