Has your baby started acting differently but doesn’t show the classic signs of illness? It might be the developmental stage of teething. Baby teething symptoms mimic some signs of a mild illness, especially if it’s in the early stages.
However, as your baby begins to cut more teeth, you may start to see more of the signs of teething and your baby may have more pronounced teething symptoms that may cause you to become alarmed. This is why it’s important to know what to expect when it comes to the symptoms of teething.
The Symptoms of Teething
Your baby teething symptoms may start very subtly. He may wake up in the middle of the night with irritability. At first, you may think, “Oh no, not this again – night waking.” However, you’ll notice that he is getting much more fussy during the day as more teething symptoms start to show through.
Drooling
Out of all the baby teething symptoms, this one is the most obvious. When your baby starts drooling, you’ll know his teeth are coming through. The drool will come out of his mouth, run down his chin, his neck and down his chest if you don’t keep up on it with rags and/or a bib.
Many parents find that their baby develops a teething rash because of this teething symptom. It’s no cause to be alarmed. It’s simply the drying of the saliva on the skin that causes an irritation and it’s temporary.
If it bothers him, you can rub some lanolin on his skin that will help the irritation. Placing a bib around his neck and wiping up the drool from his chin regularly can help keep this teething symptom from becoming bothersome.
Soreness and Sensitivity
Another baby teething symptom is gum soreness and sensitivity. This sign of teething will cause your baby the most discomfort and irritability. The worst part is right before the tooth comes through. Once the tooth pokes through, you’ll notice he will feel much better.
While your baby has this sign of teething, you can look in his mouth and see that his gums are bright red and swollen. You can just tell that they are in pain.
Biting
If you nurse your baby and notice he has started biting or you notice he is putting more things in his mouth lately, this is also a sign of teething. When his gums are sore and sensitive, the biting massages his gums, which provides him relief.
You can discourage inappropriate biting behavior such as during nursing by giving him alternative such as teething rings and teething necklaces while he is experience baby teething symptoms. There are many different kinds so if you don’t find one teething ring does the trick for him, try a different one until you find that he finds the most comfort in.
Loss of Appetite
A loss of appetite is another symptom of teething. Teething can make a baby feel a mildly ill from the pain. It’s not a cause to be alarmed until it’s prolonged and it’s combined with other symptoms. Of course, if anything concerns you, it’s always a good idea to consult with your baby’s pediatrician about any symptom of teething.
Low-Grade Fever
Some babies experience a low-grade fever of 101 degree Fahrenheit or less as a sign of teething. While this is not a reason to be concerned, it should be monitored closely. Some doctors indicate that a low-grade fever is not a symptom of teething and others say it is. It’s best to consult with your baby’s pediatrician to find out what his belief is and what he would like you to do if your baby has this possible symptom of teething.
Loose Stool
Some babies have loose stools as a symptom of teething. This is not diarrhea and if your baby has diarrhea, especially with fever, loss of appetite and other symptoms, you should contact your pediatrician immediately.
Comfort Your Baby During the Signs of Teething
Your baby is going through a normal developmental stage. Give him a lot of cuddling time and the assurance that with your comfort he will be okay. His teeth will come through pretty quickly and he will not remember a thing of this painful time. Your baby will return to his happy self just as soon as those pointy teeth make their debut. Until then, good luck to you and your baby.