How to Know If Your Baby is Teething: A Guide to Teething Symptoms and Silicone Teething Aids
Let's face it teething sucks! It's no fun for anybody in the family, especially baby. Teething can be a challenging time for both babies and parents. Cue the tears and sleepless nights (yep, more of those!). Teething can start as early as 3 months old but most start to show signs of the beginnings of teething between 4 and 7 months. Every baby is different with it not being unusual for some not to start teething until after 12 months. Timing varies between baby to baby influenced by a whole host of factors such as heredity and birth weight. While every baby's experience is unique, there are some common signs that your little one might be cutting teeth.
Common Teething Symptoms
- Excessive drooling: Saliva production increases to help soothe the gums.
- Irritability and fussiness: Teething can cause discomfort, leading to mood swings.
- Chewing on objects: Babies may try to relieve pain by gnawing on toys or their hands.
- Swollen gums: The gums may appear red and swollen around the emerging teeth.
- Loss of appetite: Teething can temporarily affect a baby's appetite.
- Fever: A low-grade fever is sometimes associated with teething.
Symptoms of teething in breastfed babies
Teething symptoms occur regardless of how you choose to fed your baby. But if you breastfeed or chest-feed, you might notice some other changes to the way your baby usual may act when feeding. For example, gum pain or soreness might cause your baby to latch on differently. Baby may gnaw, or bite down, since breastfeeding is soothing for baby, they might feed more often to seek relief from the pain (thanks to the wonders of oxytocin).
Keep in mind that teething symptoms occur before a tooth breaks through the gum, so don’t be alarmed if you notice these changes in your baby but don’t see any sign of a tooth just yet.
How do baby teeth usually come in?
Most babies get their first tooth between 4 and 7 months old. To get even more specific, most infants begin teething at around 6 months old.
Your little one will likely have a full set of their first teeth by age 3.
Every baby is different, so try not to compare your child to others. In fact, if you’re going to compare at all, it’s better to consider when their siblings (if they have them) got their first tooth.
The bottom two teeth are usually the first to appear, followed by the four upper teeth. Cue baby overbite and cuteness overload.
On average, babies have:
- 4 teeth by 11 months
- 8 teeth by 15 months
- 12 teeth by 19 months
- 16 teeth at 23 months
The Role of Silicone Teething Aids
Silicone teething aids can be a helpful tool during this phase. These soft, chewable items can provide relief from gum discomfort and promote healthy oral development. Mustard & Mint products have been designed to help soothe babies gums, distract baby from the pain and the desire to bite inappropriate things (your arm, leg, jumper, fingers, your breast (ouch!) or anything they can get their fingers on.)
Benefits of Silicone Teething Aids:
- Soft and gentle on gums: Silicone is a non-toxic and safe material for babies.
- Easy to clean: Silicone teething aids are dishwasher-safe and can be sterilised (remove any wooden elements when cleaning).
- Versatile: They can be used for teething, sensory play, and more.
- Stylish: Many silicone teething aids come in a variety of colours and designs.
Silicone Teething Necklaces:
One popular type of silicone teething aid is the teething necklace. These necklaces are designed to be worn by caregivers and allow babies to chew on the pendant while under supervision. Please never leave your baby un attended with a teething necklace. When used safely a teething necklace can be string in your bow to sooth teething, plus they make a stylish fashion necklace to boot. Here's some import safety pointers to help you get the most out of your silicone necklace:
- Supervise closely: Silicone necklaces are NOT toys. They are designed to be worm by an ADULT only. Always watch your baby while they are using a teething necklace.
- Choose the right size: Ensure the necklace is long enough to prevent strangulation but short enough to reach your baby's mouth.
- Clean regularly: Wash the necklace with soap and water or in the dishwasher.
And most importantly, hang in there, you've got this!
