Most Common Teething Symptoms

How do you know when your baby is starting to grow teeth? Teething does not follow a specific pattern, which makes it a bit difficult to predict exactly when it begins, how long it lasts and how much pain and discomfort your baby may experience. While some babies may just breeze through the experience without much fuss, others may suffer from an almost traumatic experience. Even teething symptoms vary with every child.

For all the reasons mentioned above, parents and physicians often disagree as to the common signs that a baby is teething and the degree of pain that he suffers. Below are just some of the most common symptoms that have been observed in teething babies over time. It is still advisable, however, that you immediately consult your doctor to rule out other causes in the event that your baby manifests any of these symptoms.

Irritability is one of the most common teething symptoms. The more pain and discomfort your baby feels during teething, the more irritable and fussy he becomes. And while some babies become less irritable as they get accustomed to the sensations of growing teeth, others just become fussier as each tooth comes in.

Excessive drooling is also an almost sure sign that your baby is teething because the process stimulates the production of saliva. This can lead to a breakout of rashes so make sure to regularly wipe drool off your baby’s face, neck and chest. At this point you will also notice your baby’s tendency to gnaw anything that he gets his hands on. The pressure of biting down on an object helps relieve sore gums.

Your baby may also have difficulty falling asleep at night. This is because teeth do not just grow by day. In fact, the pain can get worse during the night, thus causing your baby to become crankier. It is best to apply pain relieving products like aloe vera gel or chamomile at night to help your baby relax and sleep well. Again, do not forget to consult your doctor when your baby starts exhibiting any of these teething symptoms.