Teething symptoms

13:10 (GMT+2), Wed, 20 July 2011

It may take quite a while for first teeth to erupt in some babies, and they can struggle with symptoms for quite a few weeks. Some teeth also come out more easily than others. At times, when teething symptoms seem to be present, it's not necessarily the case – drooling and discomfort are common in all babies for the first 6 months of life, especially from 3 months onwards. Remember that sensitivity to formula milk, windiness, tummy cramps, earache and even reaction to a breastfeeding mom's diet, are all very similar to the symptoms of teething.

There are, however, several typical signs that a baby will soon be flashing more than just gums:

Increased drooling (but not if this is the only symptom, as all babies go through this stage)
A painful red rash around the mouth due to irritation from the excess saliva
Looser stools (but not diarrhoea, which should be treated as soon as possible by your doctor)
Restless nights due to discomfort from the inflamed gums
Crying fretfully and generally unsettled behaviour
Going off solid foods and consequently needing more milk
Mild fever of up to 38°C (higher fevers might indicate a secondary infection, often of the ears, which must be treated)
Red, swollen gums with a line of white where the tooth will emerge
Teething babies may bite down on their mom's nipple when their gums hurt
Formula babies often grind the teat of their bottles between their gums
When babies gnaw on their hands and anything else they can manage to get into their mouths (this too must not be confused with the explorative oral phase all babies have around this time, in which they taste and feel with their mouths to help them learn about their environment)