Love Bites

By the time parents have been with their baby for a few months, a relative rhythm begins to feel established. Sleep schedules are more settled, morning routines have become seamless, and even feeding and bathing feels manageable. It’s easy to think that you might just have this parenting thing down to a science.

Until … the teething begins. And your life is suddenly upside down.

Those sleep patterns you’ve established are quickly disrupted by the pain of your baby’s chompers charging through. The gentle baby you live to snuggle abruptly becomes a rage monster who can’t stop drooling and is gnawing on your furniture like a rabid beaver.

How do you stop it? How are you going to survive? Here’s your guide:

Don’t get too confident

Maybe those first few teeth have already come in and you’re feeling good. There were a few nights of sleeplessness, but overall, your baby did great and so did you. How hard can this be?

Hard. The answer is it will be very, very hard.

There’s a misperception that one tooth’s coming in is indicative of how each subsequent tooth will arrive. Alas, no. Your baby’s teeth are related, but they aren’t identical. Each individual tooth will bring its own unique set of circumstances and challenges. Some teeth hurt more than others. One tooth might break through quickly, but the next two may take their sweet time. Do yourself a favor and take it one day—and one tooth—at a time. Getting ahead of yourself usually spells disaster.

Get the bibs ready

The amount of liquid that will exit your baby’s mouth while he teethes is one of the many wonders of the world. Where does it all come from? There’s so much drool! Consider strategically placing a dry bib anywhere in the house where you tend to hang out with your little one. This way, when you sit down to do tummy time with the baby and realize he’s creating his own pond, you’ll already be prepared to clean him up. There’s nothing worse than getting cozy and having to get back up for a bib—again. Another pro tip? Keep at least two extra bibs in the diaper bag. You’re going to forget to pack them, and you will definitely need them.

Is it an ear infection? Or teething?

Your baby’s mouth, ears and cheeks all have the same nerve pathways. Though a gum might be the source of some discomfort, that pain might actually be felt in the ears. Tugging and pulling on her ears could be a sign of your baby’s teething, but can also potentially indicate an ear infection. Make sure to monitor your baby to be sure you’re providing targeted care for the right ailment.

Try to keep the sleep cycle

Teething pain will certainly wake your little one up in the middle of the night. If she’s old enough for a pain reliever (and your doctor will advise if that’s the case), a good time to administer that medication is a half an hour before bed. By the time the pain arrives, the medication will already be administering relief. The biggest goal is to try to let your baby get through the discomfort on her own and fall back asleep independently. Babies develop sleep habits quickly, so even two times of your getting her out of bed to provide comfort can disrupt progress you’ve made in her sleeping habits. Then you’re back to square one with a non-sleeping baby … who is also teething.

If medication isn’t an option, try gentle pats on the back to lull him back to sleep. If absolutely necessary, provide a cold chewing ring—not frozen—for him to exert some needed counter pressure on the gums. Just be sure you remove the ring from the crib when he falls asleep.

Keep a journal on pain occurrences

As random as teething can be, a sort of pattern can start to emerge if you pay attention. Perhaps your baby’s pain is noticeably more intense first thing in the morning, or right after her first nap. By keeping a simple log (like in the Notes app on your phone) you can begin to anticipate when the worst of the pain will arrive and act accordingly. If lunchtime is a danger zone, try to avoid being out with your baby during that time. It’s best to be at home surrounded by all of her favorite things to soothe her, rather than where she feels less comfortable. This also allows you to have all the necessary gear at the ready (i.e., teething rings, cold washcloths, cold snacks, etc.)

Break out the cold foods

If your baby is on solid foods, get some fruit nice and chilly (just above frozen), and let your baby go to town. The food should be very cold, but still mushy enough for him to chew. The low temps will feel amazing on aching gums, and the delicious taste of strawberries, bananas or mangoes will provide a little extra enjoyment.

Call the dentist

When the first tooth comes in, make an appointment with a pediatric dentist. It might seem ridiculous, as the dentist won’t do much on the initial visit. But introducing early the sights, sounds and smells of the dentist office can help ease tension about the process as your baby grows. The dentist can also begin a rapport with you and your baby and be on the lookout for early gum disease and other not-so-noticeable issues.

The Do Nots of teething:

1. Do Not! – Allow chewing of clothing, furniture or anything inedible. Allowing chewing on unapproved items can establish bad habits and also be a potential health hazard. A cold washrag is acceptable, but your shirt sleeve is not.
2. Do Not! – Use teething gels. For one, you can never be sure what’s in them, even if they are labeled safe. Secondly, your baby’s drool wipes away the true effectiveness anyway.
3. Do Not! – Share teething toys with other babies. Even if you are told they’re clean and safe, you can never truly know. Just keep your own nearby.

Kim Antisdel is a freelance writer and interior design sales rep for KC. She lives in Liberty with her husband, stepdaughters and son.