For some time now, your bundle of joy has been anything but joyful.
They’ve been fussy and angry, and their sleep schedule has been thrown out the window. And if that’s not enough, they’ve been drooling far too much and you’re tired of washing their onesies over and over again.
Could it be that your little one is finally in that stage? Are their teeth about to appear?
The chances are, if your baby is between 6–9 months old, they may be teething
Of course, as a parent, you already know what teething is.
However, even with the right information, you may still not be as prepared as you should be.
Here’s the gist of it all.
Learning about Teething
Even if your baby’s mouth doesn’t show any signs of pearly whites, they could appear any day now. In this case, your job is to make things easier for them.
After you’ve given them a bath, wet a cotton gauze or washcloth, wrap it around your pinky, and gently massage your baby’s gums. This helps stimulate them and gives your baby a sense of what basic oral hygiene entails.
To manage their drooling, tie a bib around their neck and keep it near their clothing at all times so it remains dry throughout.
How It Starts
Typically, the first two teeth that come out are the bottom pair at the front. Once they come in, you can expect to see the top two front teeth come in soon. The process takes about six months to around 3 years, but it’s usually the first few eruptions that cause the most problems.
Babies get used to teething as time goes by, but during the first days, you can expect a lot of fussiness and sleep issues, so be prepared for that. Buy teething rings that can be chilled in the freezer and keep a cold, keep a wet washcloth handy so you can rub it over their sensitive gums.
Introducing Food
After the first teeth have come in, you can take this opportunity to introduce food other than milk to your baby’s diet as well. But start with the soft stuff.
Along with formula, offer them food like rice cereal, cold food like applesauce (unsweetened), homemade baby foods and yogurt so they get used to different subtle flavors.
Then it’s time for strained food.
Given that your little one is used to different textures by now, giving them other soft food such as mashed potatoes (unsalted), oatmeal, bananas, macaroni, veggies like sweet potatoes, peas, and carrots should be the agenda of the day.
Slowly incorporate proteins alongside, such as chicken, moist pork, and hard boiled eggs, but remember to cut into tiny, tiny pieces so it’s easier to chew on and swallow for them.
Got Any Questions?
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Offering reliable pediatric dentistry in Houston; we are your best choice for all pediatric-related dental services.
Book an appointment today by calling 713-909-3743.
