How to tell if baby is teething

Conquer teething woes by familiarising yourself with the symptoms.

How to tell if baby is teething

Babies have different timelines when it comes to teething. To be able to better cope with everything that this milestone brings and entails, parents need to be familiar with all of the baby’s teething symptoms. Knowledge and familiarisation will make things easier.

Teething sign 1: Excessive drooling

One of the very first baby’s teething symptoms is drooling. Once the gums are stimulated by the incoming teeth, the waterworks will begin. By this time, parents need to arm themselves with a lot of towels and bibs. The excessive drooling may cause diarrhea or loose stools.

Teething sign 2: Rashes

Due to constant supply and presence of drool on a baby’s face, rashes on the chin and cheeks tend to appear. It could take form as red marks, dry rashes, or chapping. Constant wiping of drool and application of a baby skin cream/moisturiser is advised.

Teething sign 3: Baby is biting

Because of the pressure on the gums, babies tend to bite anything that they can get their mouths on. This could include toys, teethers, fingers and feet, and their mother's nipples. It's a very painful time, but we promise that it'll all be worth it when they grow up.

Teething sign 4: Crying in pain

Teething is painful because of the inflamed gum tissues that can cause a lot of discomfort. So try to be patient with your little one during this time because they are going through a lot of pain.

Teething sign 5: Hematoma

Gum hematoma is known as the bleeding that takes place under the gums. It looks like a bluish lump on the baby’s gums but it isn’t anything that parents should be alarmed or worried about. It's always great to know about it in advance though.

Teething sign 6: Staying awake

Because of the discomfort and pain that babies are experiencing and feeling, they will have lots of trouble sleeping. To get through this phase, try taking turns with your spouse to accompany your baby in the middle of the night (or during naptime) while the other person tries to get some sleep.

Teething sign 7: Coughing

Another one of your baby’s teething symptoms will most likely be coughing. This usually doesn't occur as a result of any illness but because they tend to gag on mouthfuls of their drool. The cough is generally a dry cough.

Teething sign 8: Food refusal

Some sensitive babies feel far more discomfort and pain than others and might even go to the extent of refusing food. Whether in liquid or solid form, feeding can be quite difficult and painful during teething. Make sure to never stop feeding your child though.

Teething sign 9: Fever

One of the most common symptoms of baby teething is a low-grade fever. This isn’t alarming, but should it last more than 3 days, a visit to the doctor is advised.

Teething sign 10: Diarrhoea

Teething babies sometimes suffer from mild diarrhoea. This may or may not be due to swallowing large amounts of drool. If extreme or consistent diarrhoea is noted, consult a paediatrician immediately.

Teething sign 11: Cheek rubbing

Oftentimes, pain from teething travels to the cheeks and this can result to constant cheek rubbing. Parents must be vigilant about this as it can also be an indication of an ear infection.

The ultimate test

If you suspect that your baby may be teething, you should do the finger test. With 1 clean fingers, rub along your baby's gums. If a tooth is twisting its way through, you will feel it!

Finding relief

Typically, your baby’s teething symptoms can be relieved at home. This can be in a form of a teether, gum massage, or cold compress. You can also buy an amber teething necklace which is an old Baltic custom. However, visits to the doctor are recommended if symptoms are more extreme than usual like a high fever or if the baby just won’t stop crying.

Did you and your baby experience the above-mentioned baby’s teething symptoms? Tell us all about it by commenting below.

Written by

Karen Mira

teethingBaby carebaby gum care