Today’s guest post is from Jodine at Gummee Glove with her advice on what to expect when your baby is teething…
Gummee Glove
“When you find out you’re going to have a baby, you might make lists of all the things you are going to need. Pram, bottles, nappies, cot, babygrows etc. However, we rarely think about those white daggers from hell that will turn our little angels into grumpy angels….teeth.
Babies are born with 20 ‘milk teeth’ waiting under the surface of the gums to make an appearance. Some babies are even born with a tooth already erupted, thankfully this is rare (for any of you expecting your first baby and are planning to breastfeed!)
The symptoms of teething will start to appear around 6 months, sometimes earlier. A lot of babies like to chew and suck their hands – it’s not really known why they do this, but it is the only thing they can do as they cannot yet grasp a traditional teether. The Gummee Glove teething mitten is perfect for babies aged 3 to 6 months, because it facilitates the need to chew, but stops them making their clothes soggy or hands sore from all the mouthing.
Symptoms that could be associated with teething are:
- Sore or red gums
- Red/hot feeling cheeks
- Disturbed sleep
- Loss of interest in food
- Rubbing of the face or ears
- Diarrhoea
- Dribbling/drooling
- Chewing and gnawing on the hands
The first teeth typically start to make an appearance between 6 and 10 months, although every baby is different and some can start before or after this. The upper and lower front teeth will start to break through the gum first, and you should be able to feel the hard bumps below the surface with your finger.
At 10 to 14 months, it’s time for those back teeth to start making an appearance! The molars will start to erupt through the gums around this time and, as they are back teeth, you may not notice them as easily as the front incisors. Look out for any of the symptoms mentioned above, and you may notice an increase in the severity of the symptoms at this time. Gummee’s Molar Mallet is specifically designed to reach the backs of the gums, and parents have been known to apply teething gel or powders to the head of the teether to make sure they’re getting to the right spot.
At around 16 to 20 months, your baby’s canines will start to break through; these are the sharp, pointy ones that can be found next to the front teeth. This last stage is probably the worst stage for your little one. This is when the biggest teeth start to come through at the back of the mouth. The last of the molars is seemingly the most painful of the teeth to erupt. Expect a cranky toddler and prescribe pain relief and lots of cuddles!
Gummee products are all designed by parents, and each one is carefully designed for each stage of teething, taking into account ease of use for both babies and parents. Gummee teething products can be found here: www.gummee.life“