Things You Never Knew About Your Child's Teething

Teething is when your baby's first set of teeth emerge through the gums. The lower front teeth usually come in before the upper ones, which usually make an appearance a month or two later.

Symptoms

Many babies get very cranky during the teething phase because of the swelling of their delicate gums. The soreness usually happens about five days before the tooth actually shows and eases as soon as the tooth emerges. During this time, most babies like to have something to chew on — this helps give them relief because chewing relieves the pressure on their gums. Drooling is considered normal during the teething phase, just ensure that you keep wiping it off or it may cause a rash. Some babies also get fever, but it usually goes away within a day or two. If symptoms persist, call your doctor.

How you can help your baby

- Clean your finger thoroughly and use it to gently to massage your baby's gums.
- Give your baby a teething ring to chew on. This provides a lot of relief.
- Ask your doctor if your baby needs to be given an over-the-counter pain reliever.