One Stop Shop For Kids - Teething

Ten Signs of Teething to Look for in Your Kids

There are ten signs of teething in kids that all parents should be aware of so they can understand why their baby is fussy or uncomfortable during this exciting milestone. The signs of teething usually begin a few months or weeks before their first tooth even appears, so you will need to look for these symptoms to ensure that the symptoms you notice are truly teething-related symptoms and nothing something else that needs to be checked by your pediatrician.

1. Irritability: If your baby is fussy and crying and putting their hand in their mouth it could be a result of the new tooth coming to the surface of the gum.

2. Drooling: Drooling is a common symptom of teething due to the increase in saliva.

3. Coughing: When your baby starts teething they drool and have increased saliva which can cause your baby to cough or gag. Watch your baby to make sure it is just teething and not a cold.

4. Rash on their chin: If your child drools often due to teething, the saliva can cause and irritation or rash on your baby's chin. Make sure to gently wipe (do not rub, it will irritate the skin) your baby's mouth and chin during the day to help prevent rashes.

5. Fever: A fever is another symptom that sometimes accompanies teething but it is usually very low-grade.

6. Biting: A teething baby will put just about anything in their mouth to help massage their sore gums. You can purchase teething aids which are designed specifically for babies going through the teething process and they are safe and effective.

7. Cold like symptoms (runny nose, etc.): If your child displays cold like symptoms which include coughing,  runny nose and acts like they don't feel well, take them to doctor to verify that it is in fact just teething rather than a cold.

8. Diarrhea: You may notice that your child has diarrhea while teething. Doctors believe that the most likely cause of diarrhea during teething is the extra saliva swallowed, which then loosens the stool. Contact your child's pediatrician if any diarrhea that lasts for more than three bowel movements.

9. Pulling at their ear: The ear pulling signal can confuse parents because not only can it mean that your babies molars are starting to come in but it can also mean your baby has an ear infection. One way to determine if it is an ear infection is if they have a fever.

10. Lack of sleep: Kids that are uncomfortable while teething will often wake up frequently in the night. Remember that if you kids are not sleeping well you will not either. Be patient...this stage only last a while.

Ask your doctor if your child is fussy or running a fever for more than 24 hours for it may be more than just teething discomfort.

 

Teaching Your Kids How to Brush Their Teeth 

As a new parent there are countless lessons that you teach your kids on a daily basis, for instance how to be safe, look both ways while crossing the street, potty training, using a fork and spoon, the difference between right and wrong, their colors, shapes, numbers and letters and so on. Well, one important lesson that parents sometimes overlook is the importance of brushing their teeth. Your children need to learn is how to take care of their teeth so teaching them early on will help them create a habit that will last them a life time. The easiest way to teach a child to do something is to make it fun for them. If you are having difficulty teaching your children the importance of brushing their teeth then I have a wonderful secret weapon for you. That is where a great little book called Bright and White: Brushing Your Teeth Can Be Fun comes in. This book has a great catchy rhyme that you can even memorize and sing as they are brushing their teeth.

A sample page in this book reads...
Put the toothbrush in your mouth, its time to beginTo brush away the food from tonight's din-din.
Brush left to right, then the bottom and the topWhen your moth gets real foamy it is time to stop.

The illustrations are absolutely adorable and your children will enjoy the book and the process of brushing their teeth each and every day.