Babies can be pretty fussy when they’re teething. Unfortunately, during the first couple of years of their lives, they’re almost constantly teething. This makes it difficult to tell whether your child has a new tooth coming in or whether something else is wrong. Here are few things to look for to help you figure out if a tooth is getting ready to show itself.
If your baby seems like he or she is getting a cold, it might in fact be teething. As the teeth are pushing their way up, they can cause pressure on the ear canals and sinuses. This creates the appearance of having a cold. These symptoms can be as mild as a runny nose or as extreme as a full blown ear infection.
You might be surprised to realize that ear infections are a sign of baby teething. Sometimes a baby will develop this painful condition because the emerging teeth are placing pressure on the ear canal. This causes fluid to back up and become infected. You’ll need to deal with an ear infection immediately in order to avoid damage to the baby’s hearing.
Likewise, your child may develop a fever during the teething process. However, you should be aware that normal teething will not result in a high fever. Never ignore a high fever in an infant. There’s a risk that he or she has an ear or sinus infection. You’ll have to pay a visit to the pediatrician, who will likely prescribe an antibiotic medication.
When your little one is teething, there will be several other symptoms you can look for. For example, red cheeks usually accompany this process. If one cheek is red and the other isn’t, look for a new tooth to appear on the red side.
Another sure sign is an overabundance of drool. Of course, babies always drool, but during teething it will increase dramatically. You might even find that you have to change your baby’s clothes frequently because of the excessive drooling.
If your baby is constantly crying and showing signs of discomfort, it’s possible that teething is to blame. One of the worst symptoms of teething is excessive crying. And this will typically lead to sleep problems as well. These behaviors can be very hard on both of you.
Most people who offer you baby advice will suggest that you give your child some pain reliever to ease the symptoms. However, discuss the situation with your doctor before administering any medications, even over the counter ones.