Many parents and caregivers often misunderstand the signs that a toddler is teething. When it comes to babies, we always look forward to every first – the first smile, first laughter, first word, first steps, etc.
But when it comes to teething in a toddler, the signs are not what a parent or caregiver wants to see. When a toddler is teething, the baby becomes very cranky and would nipple on anything in sight. The toddler will also become increasingly restless.
The symptoms can easily be mistaken for serious health issues. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about the signs a toddler is teething. Let us get started – shall we?
Signs Your Toddler is Teething
When a toddler is going through the teething phase, it can be a lot of trouble for parents and caregivers. This is because it comes with a lot of symptoms associated with illness. During this period, the baby often feels very uncomfortable, and it isn’t easy to soothe them.
However, it is important to note that the signs of teething in toddlers vary from baby to baby. So, it is somewhat impossible to expect your baby to exhibit the same symptoms exhibited by another baby.
Another point of note is that all babies do not experience teething at the same time. They also often respond to the process in different ways, so parents and caregivers need to be attentive to enable them to identify teething symptoms when they appear. Below, we have discussed the common signs that indicate your toddler is teething. Check them out!
10 Signs Your Toddler is Teething
1. Increased Irritability
You are bound to notice that your baby is experiencing increased irritability and may sometimes be struggling with this. Irritability is the response to stimuli by living organisms. Your baby may be feeling this way as a result of the pains they are experiencing from the teeth coming out of their tender gums.
Toddlers often experience the most discomfort when they are growing their first set of teeth and their molars. When you notice this, you should endeavor to cuddle your baby more and try to relieve their pains by spending more time soothing them.
2. Drooling
Teething can cause drooling in babies. If you notice that your baby seems to be drooling more than usual, then it is a sign that he or she may be experiencing teething issues. Also, it has been revealed that babies produce extra saliva during teething.
The pains from a teething experience can make babies experience discomfort when they close their mouths. So, they try as much as possible to prevent their gums from touching against each other. They also try to keep their tongue out of contact with the gums, and this causes them to drool uncontrollably.
3. Skin Rashes
Babies can experience skin rashes around their mount, cheeks, chin, and neck area when they are teething. The reason for this is quite simple. Teething causes a baby to experience drooling, and the bacteria in the saliva make rashes occur.
Basically, as the saliva remains on the baby’s body for long periods, there could be irritations and rashes around those areas. To prevent this, the parent or caregiver should ensure to use a clean and dry hand towel to wipe off the saliva as often as possible. Also, you can apply baby jelly around those areas to prevent direct contact with the saliva on the skin.
4. Coughing
The extra amount of saliva which babies produce during teething can cause them to have occasional coughing or gags. However, if you notice that the coughing is becoming persistent and generating a fever, you should consult a doctor.
Occasionally, teething would lead to illness and fever. In such situations, you are advised to contact the infant’s pediatrician immediately. Although you may not get a remedy for the teething symptoms, you will be able to treat the fever – which is not a sign of teething in toddlers.
5. Biting and Gnawing
This is perhaps the most common sign parents and caregivers look out for to determine when a toddler is teething. Babies will bite and gnaw on anything when they are teething. The reason for this is because the counter pressure of biting or gnawing on anything eases the pains the babies feel on their gums.
Once you notice this, you should assist your baby by giving them cold stuff to bite on. Cut fruits into tiny bits and freeze them for your baby. Also, it would be best if you considered getting teething rings, beads, and toys. Yes, you should freeze these too for the baby.
6. Low-Level Fever
Teething can cause low-grade fever in toddlers. When this occurs, you will notice that your baby has a slightly high temperature. However, the moment that you notice that your baby’s temperature has reached 100 degrees, you should contact the baby’s pediatrician immediately.
7. Cheek Scratching and Ear Pulling
When you notice that your baby is scratching his or her face and pulling the ears, it is a result of the pains they feel in their gums. This is another very common sign that many parents and caregivers look forward to. It occurs mostly when the toddler is growing a molar – as this is more painful.
However, it is important to note that a toddler pulling the ears can also be a sign of an ear infection. So, ensure that you are careful to tell the difference. When you notice that massaging the baby’s gums isn’t helping and there are no other teething symptoms experienced, you should consult the infant’s pediatrician immediately.
8. Diarrhea
Diarrhea can be a sign of teething in toddlers. The logical explanation many people give to this is that because the baby produces a lot of saliva during teething, it makes their stool lighter. However, many infants do not experience this sign when they are going through the teething phase.
However, diarrhea can be a sign of more complex and serious infections. So, if you notice that this condition persists or is accompanied by vomiting, then you should contact a medical examiner.
9. Swollen Gums
During teething, a baby is bound to experience swollen gums. For the teeth to surface, they burst through the tender gums, and this causes the gums to be red and swollen. So, once you notice this in your toddler, you should know that it is a sign that your baby is going through the teething phase.
Under normal circumstances, it can take up to eight days before a tooth successfully pushes through the gum. So, the redness and swelling can be visible a week before the teeth actually appear.
10. Distorted Sleep
It is a normal occurrence for babies who are in the teething phase to experience disturbance during naps. If you notice that your baby is suddenly experiencing disturbed sleep, then you should know that the toddler could be in the teething phase.
A baby is bound to feel the pain from teething more when they are asleep. This is because during that period, there is nothing that distracts them, and they are not able to chew on anything to ease the pain. The lack of adequate sleep is also one of the contributing factors to their crankiness during the daytime.
When Does Teething Begin for Toddlers?
Teething in toddlers usually occurs when the baby is between 4 to 8 months old. The first set of teeth to appear is usually the bottom front set, and it may take between 30 to 36 months for the baby to grow the last pair of molars.
Teething Order in Toddlers
Many parents and caregivers are often confused about the order in which their baby’s teeth appear. Well, in this section, we will take you out of your misery and discuss the order in which babies’ teeth usually appear. In most cases, babies usually have their complete set of milk teeth when they are between 2 to 3 years old. So, let us check out the order in which the teeth appear!
First Set: The first set of teeth to appear is usually the bottom incisors – the lower front teeth. They usually appear when the baby is between 5 to 7 months of age.
Second Set: The second set of teeth to surface is the top front teeth – known as the top incisors. They appear when the baby is around 6 to 8 months of age.
Third Set: The third set of teeth to become visible is the top lateral incisors. These appear on either side of the top incisors, and they usually become visible between 9 to 11 months.
Fourth Set: The bottom lateral incisors appear as the fourth set of teeth. Around 10 to 12 months, they become visible on either side of the bottom front teeth.
Fifth Set: Molars are the first of the last set of teeth to appear. They show up at the back of the mouth from around 12 to 16 months of age.
Sixth Set: Canines grow after the molars appear, so basically, there is a space between the front set of lateral incisors and molars – where the canines appear. They usually appear when a toddler is around 16 to 20 months.
Seventh Set: These are the last set of teeth the baby grows in the milk-teeth range. They are called the second pair of molars – and appear when the toddler is between 20 to 30 months of age.
