Is it teething or is your baby sick?
Chances are you'll be clapping
your hands as your little one learns each new skill: rolling, clapping,
sitting.
But there is one step you may
not be looking forward to: teething. This can be a problem and it can make your
normally happy and playful child grumpy and uncomfortable.
Teething usually occurs around
6 months of age, when babies naturally start to get sick more often. The immune
defenses they acquired in the womb begin to weaken.
It is difficult to say what
causes discomfort in your baby. Are these teeth? Or disease?
Call your pediatrician any
time you're concerned, but some symptoms may provide clues.
Your child is probably
teething if your baby:
- Crankier than usual.
You may notice more often how he fidgets or wants to be hugged or comforted.
About two-thirds of babies who are teething show signs of anxiety.
- Drooling all the time.
Expect salivation as the teeth begin to grow outward. According to a recent
study, more than half of all babies drool during teething. Sometimes all that
extra saliva can cause a rash on the chin, cheeks, and neck.
- Gnaws on things.
According to the same study, an even more common symptom: gum irritation. It
affects more than 85% of children who are teething.
- Your child may react by biting or chewing on toys or other objects. Or you may see them rubbing their gums or cheeks. They may feel better after wiping off a cold washcloth, pacifier, or teething ring.
- At a slightly raised temperature. Fever is often associated with teething, but data shows
that this is not entirely true.
In a 2011 study, Brazilian scientists asked dentists to examine 47 children every day for 8 months. They found that the children had a slight fever on the day of teething and the day before. But they didn't have what the doctors would call a fever, which in a child is 38 degrees and above.
- Less interested in solids. If your child has already begun to eat solid foods, you
may notice that in the days leading up to a new tooth, he wants less. As long
as your baby is still drinking plenty of breast milk or formula, you have
nothing to worry about.
It is probably a disease if
your child:
- So fussy that you can't comfort them. The phrase "teething" sounds like your baby is
going to have a sharp, throbbing pain, but teething pain is pretty mild. A
little extra fuss is okay. But if your baby is crying so hard that he can't
sleep or be comforted, see a doctor.
- Has a high fever. A
temperature of 39 C or higher probably indicates an infection. But keep in mind
that a baby who is teething and who constantly puts his hands in his mouth
could pick up a germ here and there, so your child may have a toothache and a
runny nose.
- Has no appetite for solid food or liquids. Some children avoid solid foods while a new tooth erupts.
But if your baby also refuses to breastfeed or take a bottle, talk to your
pediatrician.
- Has a runny nose, cough, vomiting or diarrhea. There is no evidence that teething causes any of these
problems. Your child is more likely to get infected.
- Has a rash not only on the face. Excessive salivation can sometimes cause a rash around your child's mouth, but a rash that spreads to the chest, arms, or legs can be caused by an illness.
Symptoms persist for more than
a few days. Irritability, rubbing of the gums, and mild fever may be associated
with teething, but only in the days before and after the appearance of the
tooth.
So if your little one looks
miserable for several days in a row and the tooth is still missing, something
else might be going on. Contact your child's doctor.