Teething...

It is important to note, Mommy's and Daddy's, that the term "teething" does not necessarily indicate or mean that your little one's teeth are going to pop right out. Per my pediatrician (and most others), teething occurs from 2 months to 2 years of age. 

Prepare yourself for a lot of drool & keep those teething toys handy!!! ( *Layla LOVES her teething raspberry and banana! We are going on almost 9 months of on/off usage.)

My little LAMM officially has cut EIGHT teeth, the two most recent coming in just says after her FIRST birthday.  She's been steadily teething since her 3 month pediatrician appointment, when we were told her gums were swelling, prepped & ready for teethies.

For the most part, LAMM has been taking teething like a champ, but these last two have been pretty troublesome for my little. Proof of her pain became evident when I received a message from daycare that she was having a very tough day & not her normal, bubbly self. LAMM is a champ and as I mentioned, we never had an issue with her teething effecting her behavior passed her morning wake-up, let alone into the afternoon. The 'tale' that teething pain is at it's worst in the wee-hours has proven false(atleast for our family).

In the earlier months, LAMM would develop little baby pimple like bumps around her jaw from the excessive amounts of drool and would soak several bibs a day, all while looking insanely adorable!

These newer teeth have turned my happy bunny into a raging rabbit who wants to chew on everything. I have even suffered a few "nursing nips". Breastfeeding mama's can relate, or certainly will when the time (& surprise) arrives.

My suggestion is Baby Orajel Naturals directly to the gums, a small dose of Infant Tylenol for the tough nights & repeat the Tylenol every 4-6 hours through the night! Thus far, when my LAMM misses her follow up Tylenol, we all are greeted with hourly fussing sessions. On top of not wanting your little babe to be in pain- you will also begin to feel the effects of the restless nights.

We have also found it to be helpful if baby gets a nice warm bath followed by some lavender body lotion!

In addition to these treatments, it's important to give your little something they CAN chew on; chewable's that are not your fingers, their fingers, or other body parts.

There are many brands of teething wafers/biscuits. My intention was to try to make some home-made, but with everything else going on- I have not been able to find the time.  We've been quite happy with all of these brands & their many flavors; check them out HERE.

Now- preventing "nursing nips" is tough. Fortunately, my little one has only caught me two or three times (in total), and after hearing me screech in surprise and seeing the little twinge of pain look cross my face- she usually releases from nursing when she is done.
If you let your baby pacify on you, know you are not alone, but prepare yourself for the need to possible say "stop please", or tap your babes lips with a "no-no".

Another imporant thing to realize is that your child cannot actually BITE if they are actively nursing. When you see your child is no longer drinking, the best thing you can do to prevent bites/nips is to remove the child from your breast. IF you encounter a nursing nip, remove the child from the breast. This could be seen as "conditioned behavior". Once the child has been removed from the breast two or three times, they will understand that their biting causes them to lose access to the boo-ba. This has been incredibly helpful in our household. There is no need to smack your baby/child's mouth/hands, etc.

With all of this said- I send all teething mommy's & daddy's my love and compassion. We know your pain & can relate. Hang in there, little ones!








Disclaimer: All opinions recorded on this blog are strictly my own. I am not a medical professional & my advice should not replace that of your own or your child's medical professional. Always consult a doctor before trying anything new with your child!