If there’s one good thing about the teething process, it’s that it happens when your child is too young to remember the trauma.  I am so thankful that the memory of teething didn’t stay with me. Watching my son Max go through this process has been painful enough! In order to assist you and your baby/toddler through the teething process here are some important things to know.

Teething Process

Although it differs from child to child, teething can begin as early as 3 months old and continue until the 3rd birthday. The first teeth that come in are usually the bottom front teeth, the central incisors (good for that sweet grin). The central incisors are followed by the 4 front upper teeth, the central and lateral incisors about 4 to 8 weeks later. A month after, the lower lateral incisors will appear, not silently I might add!

Next to make their appearance and another sleepless night for you and your baby is the molars. Following close behind are the eyeteeth, the pointy teeth in the upper jaw. Most children will have the 20 primary teeth by their 3rd birthday.

Signs of Teething

As your baby begins the teething process, you may see or hear these signs:

• Drooling and chewing on EVERYTHING
• Brief periods of irritability (This is how Max is during teething. One minute he is laughing and playing, and the next minute he is crying and rolling on the floor.)
• Disruptive sleep
• Change in eating patterns
• Red, swollen and tender gums
• Low-grade fever

Teething Help

Although you can’t prevent it, you assist your baby/toddler in feeling better through periods of teething.

• Give your baby something to chew on. Ensure that it is big enough and won’t break into smaller pieces, and avoid teething rings with liquid. They may break and leak. You can use a wet wash cloth, and put it in the freezer for a great and cheap aid.
• Acetaminophen can help, but always consult your pediatrician about administering drugs.
• There are homeopathic teething tablets that worked wonders for Max, and I was able to get them at Wal-Mart. Again, consult your pediatrician prior to giving these tablets to your child.
• Hug them and tell them that it is going to be ok

Teething can be cause bouts of irritability of frustration for both you and your child, but coming up with methods to make them comfortable is very important to help you, and what works for one child may not work for another. I would enjoy hearing your teething tricks as the idea list can never be too long!