so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

when will I know?
what should I do? you can't give tylenol every night while they are teething, right?

Is congestion a sign of teething? I thought I read this somewhere. DS is congested and won't sleep tonight, but that could be because he is getting a cold, I guess.
I feel bad for him.

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

I think that a lot of people use teething as a excuse for crankiness

For example...yesterday, sadie was DEFINITELY teething

Today, not so much

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

Message edited 11/29/2011 6:34:42 PM.

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

You can blame almost anything on teething. But you won't know for sure until you see teeth. I hear some people say there babies teethed for like 8 months before teeth came, I don't think what they wewre blaming on teething was really teething, but whatevers floats your boat

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

to be honest i had no idea. either i was really good at entertaining DD or she had no signs. one day i just decided to feel her gums and sure enough a tooth was poking out

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

Posted by ABCiverson

You can blame almost anything on teething. But you won't know for sure until you see teeth. I hear some people say there babies teethed for like 8 months before teeth came, I don't think what they wewre blaming on teething was really teething, but whatevers floats your boat

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

Definitely swelling of the gums. I only give DS Tylenol or Motrin when he's obviously uncomfortable with the teething.

The rest vary by dr and mom. My mother and grandmother (w/ 14 kids between them) will swear until the end of time that diarrhea and a low-grade fever are associated and 99% of peds will tell you absolutely not. You'll get to know the signs from DC.

For us now, beside the gum swelling, DS will gnaw on anything that's not nailed down (and some stuff that is ) and is just obviously uncomfortable. With his eye teeth, that the poor kid has been battling on and off for almost 2 months now, he also sleeps a lot when they start too.

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

Posted by nrthshgrl

Posted by ABCiverson

You can blame almost anything on teething. But you won't know for sure until you see teeth. I hear some people say there babies teethed for like 8 months before teeth came, I don't think what they wewre blaming on teething was really teething, but whatevers floats your boat

I agree.

For the most part, the swollen gums are the biggest sign. I had some guy tell me that coughing is a sign, but I'm not really sure.

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

Chels' gums have been swollen for months and still no teeth, she could supply enough drool for 50 babies for months and still noooo teeth, so honestly the day I see teeth I can say she was teething that day

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

DS never had swollen gums. he never got all that fussy either - except for the one time he was teething AND going through a growth spurt

two sure signs for me were:

- waking up at night and crying
- seeing the white lines under the gums

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

Posted by Jen2999

I think that a lot of people use teething as a excuse for crankiness

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

You don't!!

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

IMO- when you see a tooth

I've been blaming teething since Sydnie was 3 months old. She's almost 11 months now and still no teeth but I do *think* I see a bud

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

Thanks everyone!

DS definitely has a cold. I don't know where he picked up a cold in the middle of the summer. Now DD is starting to sneeze a lot and I have a sore throat, so guess he passed it on to us.

I asked the ped at their 5 month visit about teething and he said hedidn't think they would start until 8/9 months, but he didnt say why,lol. They will be 7 months next week.

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

as you know, Liam already has 2 teeth and another is popping any day now.

Signs I knew he was teething:
-drooling A LOT
-knawing on anything and everything in sight
-using the nipple of the bottle to soothe rather than eat
-cranky
-bad sleeping

Before he cuts one, he is misserable for 1.5 days before. Then it cuts, and life moves on and my happy baby is back

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

I have no idea! I could swear Samantha has been teething since she was 2 months old between the drool and everything going in her mouth. She's also been sticking her tongue out alot lately, like she's rubbing it against her bottom gum.

Lately, this past week, she's been fairly cranky (which is very unlike her), and she's been waking during the night. Well, not really waking, but she will cry for 5 -10 minutes on and off while still asleep.

Unless you count the other night that she was up from 2:45 until 4:00am having a conversation with Mr.Froggie, Mr.Monkey and Mr. Parrott that hang from her mobile

I ran my finger along her gum, but can't really feel anything, when I pull her lip down to check, she sticks her tounge out so I can't see.

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

I don't think it's easy! My DD started with crankiness and heavy-duty drooling around 3-4 months. We kept saying "oh, she's getting a tooth!"

So...we finally saw the tooth begin to pop up two days before she turned 10 months...and a week later she was walking.

Re: so really, how do you know if teething has begun?

drooling
swollen gums
hands in mouth
crankiness
difficulty sleeping
not eating well

These were Frankie's signs