Your baby will cut 20 teeth over the next few years. These include four front incisors, with four additional side incisors for cutting. Four back molars will appear to aid in chewing. Next, the pointed canine teeth will erupt, and finally, four back molars will break through. Twenty teeth spell a lot of discomfort for your child.

Signs of teething

Most babies begin cutting teeth before 6 months, although some wait as long as a year. Remember, your child will cut teeth at his own speed. The first sign of teething is excessive drooling. Peek inside your baby’s mouth and check for swollen gums. Your baby might chew on his fingers, hands, and toys in an attempt to alleviate the pain. Looser bowel movements, poor appetite, and rejecting the bottle are also signs of teething. No, you can’t hide under the bed. It’s time to find a way to help with your child’s teething nightmare.

Tricks from seasoned moms

Finding the trick to help your baby’s pain might take some trial and error. Get those cute little bibs and arm yourself with soft burping cloths to wipe baby’s chin. If a rash develops, gently clean with warm water, dry thoroughly and apply some petroleum jelly to protect from chafing. It’s almost a guarantee that the method you find to soothe your baby will be as unique as your child is. Be patient.

Cold washcloth : Freeze or refrigerate a wet washcloth and allow your baby to gnaw on it. The textured surface provides just enough abrasion to ease baby’s gum pain. Try twisting an ice cube inside the cloth and let baby go to town!

Mommy’s finger : With clean hands, press and rub on baby’s gums. You just might find baby likes this best, especially because he gets a sweet snuggle in the process.

New toothbrush : Use a baby toothbrush to gently rub your child’s gums. Never let baby hold the brush as he could easily choke himself.

Cooler foods : Some babies find warmed baby food uncomfortable when teething. Try cool applesauce or freeze bananas and cut them to baby-sized bites. Some mothers swear by frozen peas, for both pain reduction and entertainment value for a baby. Try cool water in baby’s bottle.

Teething biscuits : Dissolving biscuits are a good way to let baby go to town while your rush through your dinner.

Cold spoons : Put a metal spoon in the freezer. Bend the handle before giving it to your baby.

Distraction : Redirecting your baby’s attention away from his discomfort with an interesting toy or playtime with Mommy’s undivided attention might help him forget his sore mouth for a while.

Teething rings : Fashioned from hard plastic, these toys are easy for little fingers to grasp. Some rings can be placed in the refrigerator to cool them to ease discomfort but should never be frozen.

Pain relievers, gels and pills

Some parents choose to use Baby Tylenol to ease baby’s teething discomfort. Make sure you administer the correct dose for your child based on your pediatrician’s recommendations. Teething gels are another option, although some babies don’t like the taste. Some parents swear by homeopathic teething pills. Again, use your best judgment based on the advice of your physician when considering over-the-counter medications for your baby.