Is your baby getting cranky and fussy for no apparent reason? Or maybe he or she is experiencing sleepless nights and loose bowels? Well, the good news is, your baby may be starting to teeth. The not-so-good-news is this period will be a challenge for you and your baby. But not to worry, this article is centered on some baby teething solutions that are proven to be effective. Being a mom of 4 children, I have tried almost everything to ease the process of baby teething. Each of my babies’ experience is unique and it definitely required different ways to make it easier for them.

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Nowadays, there are lots of oral care products that are designed for babies. For some babies, this solution works well. In fact, for some it is the only solution needed. However, for my children, this solution alone was not sufficient.

I talked to my babies’ pediatrician and when the pain is really intolerable, she advised me to give my teething baby some pain reliever. This works but, of course, like any pain reliever out there, it only works for 4-6 hours. With this solution, it is vital that you check with your pediatrician first. Avoid giving your baby any meds if not really that necessary.

Also, I refrigerate my babies’ teething rings. When the rings are cold enough, I let them chew on them. It is proven to soothe the baby’s gums.  However, I did find that a frozen face cloth was an easy and effective tool for my children to “chomp” on or rub on their teeth. The ability to apply pressure (a little or a lot) was an effective way to ease the teething pain along with the cold feeling. (Make sure that the fabric is suitable.)

Chilled applesauce, pureed peaches and even yogurt are some of the nutritious eats for your teething baby. Clean, fresh, and frozen carrots (not baby ones), are another effective teething solution, as well as frozen bagels that are cut into two pieces. Frozen orange slices can also provide a soothing relief. In fact, most hard fruits and veggies or those that freeze well, can be given to your baby as long as the child is properly watched. (Note the importance of being properly watched.)

In the end, each parent must experiment with different things until they find the combination that works best for them and their baby. The result will most definitely be different for each and every child. It may seem like this phase is going to be forever, but I assure you that it will definitely end. Also, a hug and cuddle from a parent is sure to take your baby’s mind off the pain.

When the new baby arrives, it’s one of the most joyous moments a parent could ever imagine. We expect the several times a night wakeups for feedings and diaper changes, and other things of that nature, but no matter how prepared we think we might be, we’re never ready for the teething time, which can have baby quite cranky even when he or she is sleeping.

Part of the problem, and especially when we are new parents, is that we have a little trouble trying to decipher what’s wrong with our baby. There are a number of books around, sure, but the fact of the matter is that each baby is unique and while some things may appear to be similar, there may actually be something going on altogether different.

Provided here for you then, is a list of symptoms that you might look for if you suspect that baby may have begun teething. These are general signs, and are by no means a comprehensive list, but merely some clues as to what may be happening:

• Irritable – This symptom is more of a general symptom, but one that should be noted. Trying to figure out the problem is more of a series of deductions. The baby will of course get irritable when the diaper needs changing, or if he or she is hungry so we have to go through the processes. Check the diaper. If the diaper is clean, then perhaps the baby is hungry. Now, if you know you just gave the baby a feeding, then perhaps it’s something else, and in this case it may be teething time. Now, since this is just a general symptom, then we have to look at some other possible signs as well.
• Drooling – Again, not a tell-tale sign at all, but another symptom to look for. The baby can be drooling and irritable too, but that still may not be because he or she is teething. It is however, an indicator when appearing along with other symptoms such as
• Rubbing the Cheeks or pulling on the ears – Now this symptom, is generally one that indicates the baby’s mouth is hurting a bit. It may seem strange, but the fact is that pain from erupting teeth can radiate to the nose and the ears
• Chewing – An excellent symptom, or in this case sign, that the baby is teething is when they try to chew on something. The baby feels pressure from the teeth trying to come through. He or she will bite down on something trying to relieve the pressure they are feeling. It doesn’t matter to them what it is and it could even be your finger.
• Slight Fever – A slight fever is indicative of new teeth coming through. This is one of the symptoms in which another symptom or even two should be present before you take anything for granted. Take the babies temperature and monitor it. If the fever becomes too serious then you will need a trip to the doctor, but a low grade fever is nothing to worry over if the other symptoms are present as well. Still if the fever is one that is persistent, you will need to see the doctor.
• It’s common of course, for the baby to wake periodically throughout the night for feedings and diaper changes. As time progresses, you will begin to see a pattern of when the baby sleeps normally. If he or she is waking up at times that is unusual for them, this could be another sign of teething.
• Symptoms Like those of a cold – If baby is experiencing symptoms like those of a cold, along with any of the other symptoms here, it may not actually be a cold. Now it may seem strange that teething would present symptoms such as these, but the truth is that the baby is fussing with his mouth and nose more often now because he or she is trying to relieve the pressure they feel. Just like with the ear pulling and rubbing of the cheeks. This constant rubbing on the mouth and nose area may cause the baby to start sneezing, and the rubbing of the eyes and nose will have them red and appearing like the baby has caught a cold when in reality it’s the teething that is at the root of it all.

When it comes right down to it, the baby can begin the teething process anytime from about 3 months forward. It has been known to occur sooner in some cases. That’s why it’s important to be observant and note any changes that you see. The earlier that you are able to detect these signs of your baby teething, the better off everyone is because then you can take the necessary steps to help alleviate the pain the baby may be feeling.