The characteristics of a teething baby can differ from one baby to another. nowBy recognizing the characteristics, you don't need to be anxious or confused when facing your little one who is fussy due to teething.
The baby's first teeth will generally grow when entering the age of 4-6 months. The first teeth to appear are usually the two front teeth or incisors in the lower gums.
When teething, your baby may feel uncomfortable, especially in the gums. This discomfort can last from a few days to several months due to the teeth growing together.
Recognizing the Characteristics of a Baby Teething Easily
In order not to be confused whether your little one is fussy due to teething or for other reasons, there are signs that your baby is teething that you need to know, including:
1. Swollen gums
To find out if your little one is teething, try opening his mouth slowly. Babies who are teething generally experience swollen and red gums, and may appear bruised.
Sometimes, you can also see the presence of teeth that appear faintly in your little one's inflamed gums.
2. Itchy gums Mbiting and sucking things around it
When teething, babies will feel itchy gums. In response to the itching, the baby will suck or bite the nipple and objects around it, either toys or cloth.
3. Ba lot of saliva
Until now, it is not known why teething can cause excess saliva production in babies. However, this condition is thought to occur due to increased muscle movement in the baby's mouth during the teething process.
This triggers the performance of the salivary glands to be more active, so that the production of saliva becomes more than usual.
4. Rash around the mouth
Some babies may develop a rash around the mouth as their teeth grow. This happens because excess saliva production can cause the area around the mouth to become moist.
If you see that saliva has wet the area around your baby's mouth, immediately clean it with a clean cloth or tissue to prevent a rash from appearing.
5. No appetite
Other characteristics of teething babies are decreased appetite. In some babies, this condition even makes them refuse to eat and drink at all. This is usually triggered by inflammation of the gums which generally occurs when teeth grow.
6. Fussy at night
Teething babies tend to be more fussy or have trouble sleeping at night. This is because the rate of tooth growth will increase at night.
7. Fever
In addition to loss of appetite, inflammation of the gums that occurs when teeth begin to grow can make babies have a fever. However, it is recommended that you immediately take your little one to the doctor, especially if his body temperature is more than 38o Celsius or the fever lasts for more than 2 days.
How to Calm a Teething Baby
To overcome the discomfort caused by teething in babies, you can do a variety of simple things at home, such as:
Gently rub the gums
To reduce discomfort due to gum inflammation experienced by your little one, you can rub the gums slowly with your fingers or a clean, soft cloth.
Give teether
Mother can give teether or special toys that your little one can bite to reduce itching and discomfort in the gums due to teeth growing. However, before giving it to your little one, it is recommended that you cool it down teether first in the refrigerator for some time.
Giving cold food
If your little one is 6 months old and over, you can give apple slices or other foods that have been refrigerated. This can reduce the discomfort experienced by your little one due to teething. Don't forget to keep a close eye on your little one so he doesn't choke.
By recognizing the characteristics of a baby teething, you can find out the right way to respond to your little one's response. You also don't need to worry if your little one's teeth are growing slowly.
As long as the growth of bones, skin, and hair is normal, there's really nothing to worry about. However, you should consult a doctor if until the age of 18 months, your little one does not grow teeth.