Teething time is when your baby’s teeth begin cutting through the gums. Usually this starts with the lower bottom front teeth. Teething generally occurs from around 5 months to about 2 and a half years.

Symptoms of teething

Some babies experience no pain or symptoms when teething and others can feel quite uncomfortable. Symptoms may include disturbed sleep, sore looking red gums, raised blister like areas where the teeth are coming through, restlessness, flushed cheeks, dribbling, loss of appetite, a slight rise in temperature and baby chewing on anything and everything.

Things you can do to help

A cheap and easy tip is to cut the crusts off some white bread, roll into a tight roll, squeeze it even tighter and then microwave (generally around 1 minute) till you have a hard ruskit type roll. Allow to cool. Babies love chewing this. Obviously, supervise to avoid choking.

A cold carrot to chew, again supervise.

Rub the area with a clean finger, applying a teething gel.

Appropriate doses of Paracetamol.

Remember symptoms of teething can be similar to other illnesses, so if you are not sure if teething is the problem, check with your doctor particularly if there is a raised temperature.