No mistaking a teething baby (it says here). Along with a good deal of fretfulness and night waking, the classic signs are bright red cheeks (and I thought it was sunburn!) red gums, lots of drooling (no change there then) sore or chapped skin around the mouth and chin, a sore bottom, slight fever, loss of appetite and a general desire to gnaw anything and everything in sight.
We have been very lucky so far, as Jamie has hardly suffered with his teeth - other than the first ones when we used Ashton and Parsons Powders and a bit of Calpol and they were probably only needed as he had a cold at the same time!
Tips for teething I have read include; Make sure they are drinking a lot as the dribbling can make them thirsty, give them something to chew on (we have a teething ring that Megan/Oliver's mum bought us) and an alternative would be chilled chunks of raw fruit or veg or cool drinks. Don't forget soothing with cuddles and comfort!!
Of course as soon as the teeth appeared we should have started brushing them. This was easier said than done in the beginning but now Jamie actually demands his toothbrush if he sees either of us brushing our teeth, so its not quite as difficult. We can't actually say he gets them 'brushed' every day but at least the toothpaste reaches his teeth!! We do try to keep sugary food and drink to mealtimes only - choosing 'no added sugar' squash, but Jamie already has a sweet tooth which Grandad helps along by buying Chocolate Buttons when he visits!!
It takes a couple of years for the complete set of 20 to arrive. First to emerge are the two bottom front teeth, followed by the two top front teeth (incisors) at about 6months. At 8months two more incisors appear making four top and four bottom front teeth in all. Between 10-14months the first molars arrive - the double teeth for chewing. At 18months the canines - the eye teeth or 'fangs' should appear and between 2 and 2 and a half years the second set of molars should arrive.
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