Anticipating their arrival
Your baby actually starts teething while still in the womb; that’s
when tooth buds (all 20 of them) begin to form under the gum.
But a baby’s teeth usually don’t cut through the gum until at least
several months after birth.
You can expect to see signs of teething and your baby’s first teeth
erupt around 6 months of age. But keep in mind that 6 months is
just an approximation; some babies cut their first tooth at 3 months
(or even earlier)!
Typically, the first teeth you see are the upper and lower incisors,
followed by the first molars, the canine teeth, and then your baby’s
2-year molars.
Your child’s permanent teeth won’t be ready to come in until some-
where around the age of 6.
Recognizing signs of teething
Many signs can point to the fact that your baby is teething. Here
are some of them:
-
She drools a lot — so much that she may need to wear a bib.
The excessive drooling may cause diarrhea or loose stools.
-
She is very fussy.
-
She wants to chew on her toys (and anything else she can get
her hands and mouth on).
-
She pulls on her ears.
-
She may have a slight fever.
-
She has a dry cough.
-
She may suddenly cry out in pain.
-
She may wake up at night more frequently than normal.
-
She may start biting.
If you suspect that teeth are on their way, use the finger test: Make
sure your finger is very clean, and rub it along your baby’s gums. If
a tooth is twisting its way through, you will feel it!Massaging to ease the pain
Keep in mind that your baby’s gums, mouth, and facial muscles
may be very sensitive during teething. Try one or two of the follow-
ing techniques and note your baby’s response and sensitivity level.
If he responds well, continue. If not, try one of the other suggestions
we offer later in this section.
Massage techniques that focus on your baby’s face, forehead, and
neck are appropriate when focusing on teething pain; each of these
areas is prone to the effects of teething stress. Try any of the fol-
lowing techniques, which we show you in Chapter 6:
-
Ears to Chin
-
Small Circles
-
Tapping the Jaw Line
-
The Smile Stroke
-
Circling the Eyes
-
The Open Book Stroke
-
Big Circles
-
The Temple Stroke
-
The Ear Stroke
-
Chinny Chin Chin
-
Scooping
188 Part IV: Easing Health Problems with Massage
Breastfeeding and teething
Some breastfeeding moms think they need to stop nursing when their babies begin
teething. The truth is that you can continue to nurse even if your baby has a full set
of teeth! If your baby is latched onto your breast correctly, he cannot bite while he’s
nursing because his tongue covers his gums between his lower teeth and your
breast.
It is those brief moments just before and just after nursing that you need to look out
for. If your baby does bite you, your startle reaction may be enough to stop him from
doing it again. But be sure not to pull your baby away quickly — you may really hurt
yourself if he latches on. Instead, pull your baby close to you, which prevents him
from breathing through his nose momentarily and forces him to de-latch himself.
You can also de-latch him by inserting your pinky finger into your baby’s mouth to
release the suction.