Teething

Teething is like a time bomb that has waited to go off inside your baby's mouth.

In our case, our baby started teething at four months.

It starts innocently enough. She started drooling and chewing on her fist all the time. Then she started yelling for no apparent reason and exhibiting signs of pain. She was extra crabby and sometimes wouldn't want to go to sleep.

That's when we knew it:

She was teething.

It's a horror story all parents like to tell, and every part of it is true. If your baby hasn't started teething yet, I'll give you the low down and get you ready for it.

Teething hurts, and you're there to help. Some pediatricians and books advise using Orajel on the gums, so we've tried that a few times. It seems to work. However, be warned: if you use too much, when she swallows it, it numbs her throat. Then she can't tell when she swallows, and her lungs fill with saliva. This happened to my daughter nearly a month ago. I used a dab of Orajel, and in a minute she started wheezing as if she were completely congested. I freaked out and came within seconds of calling the doctor. But I held her upright in my lap, and by waiting nervously, she was able to cough it all out.

So, be judicial if you decide to use it.

You can also use Infant Tylenol, if the pediatrician says it's okay. We've had to use it a few times and it seems to help ease her pain.

Teething rings are the temporary, non-drug solution. It seems to me, though, that our baby loses interest in the teething ring very quickly. She'll chew on it a little and fuss. She does like to bite down on other things, though, including her fingers, plastic car keys, and sometimes her clothing.

When all else fails, I can calm her down using the Cuddle Cure, which I'll discuss in the next post.

Her teeth are definitely showing. You can see and feel two hard little nubs poking through her lower gums, right in the front. Since teething is a painful experience, you, as a Responsible Stay at Home Dad, must do what you can to calm her down. Put other things aside for right now, take her in your arms and give her what she needs to calm down, whether it's Tylenol, a teething ring, or just parental love and attention.

Teething doesn't last forever, and it doesn't happen all day long. She has her bouts on some days; other days she's just fine. I'll keep periodic updates on this blog to follow her as her teeth come in.