Monday, May 17, 2010

Infant teething?

I asked about the whole constipation thing and got alot of feed back about what i can do to help my daughter, now she is cutting 5 teeth at the same time she is having potty troubles, what can i do for the teething, i have tried baby orajel, teething tablets, infants Tylenol and motrin? ( Brain freeze on how to spell it) and another type of gel that i can not think of the name of it, i have also tried a ice cube popsicles frozen veggies and she is still in pain. please again send me some advice thank you all so much, ( I am a first time mommy and new to all of this)

Infant teething?
I worked for a Pediatric dentist for seven years and oral surgeons for another seven and a general dentist for two years. Please stay away from orajel, anbesol, etc. they numb the area initially but when they wear off, the pain is worse. You can try Tanac, it has tannic acid (founsd in tea) its not bad tasting and really numbs the area, it can be used for any mouth sore and is very effective, she'll enjoy the massage when you rub it on, rubber teething rings help toughen the gums. Just remember that sometimes the numb feeling is more aggravating because they can't understand the sensation. Hope this helps. Please feel free to contact me about any pediatric dental questions.
Reply:To be honest I can't think of anything else you can do, you are such a good Mom she's lucky to have you.
Reply:If she is constantly crying and nothing you have tried offers any relief, then it may not be her teeth bothering her. I would check with your doctor. Try the baby oragel on your teeth and you'll see that it numbs yours a little, so it should help her for a little while. Good luck. Oh, if you try teething rings, do not freeze them, just put them in the fridge. If you freeze them the seams could cut her gums.
Reply:I know you wrote that you've tried teething tablets, but have you specifically tried Hyland's brand? They are awesome, they work for us and I know many other people like them. You can get them at Wal-Mart by the vitamins, and I've seen them at grocery stores in the baby aisles, too.





But if you've already tried those, then wow! Tough kid! You've tried all I know, I hope with all of that, you've been giving her lots of love and patience, that's about all that's left... that will help a lot, too. Good luck~





*Oh, I just thought of biter biscuits or zwieback (sp?) toast (Both found by the baby food). To give them to a 5 month old might be pushing it, (I don't know what, if any, solids she's had) but if you're right there to make sure she doesn't choke, you might consider it. They helped my niece.
Reply:It's great that you are trying so hard to make her comfortable, but how do you know it's teething that is causing her pain?
Reply:Depending on her age, there are a few things to do. I used frozen bananas, and strawberries. My son loved frozen waffles too, and it won't hurt them to eat them frozen either. Wet frozen washcloths work well too. Otter pops that aren't opened, as long as she doesn't understand what a treat a Popsicle is...Tylenol every 6 hours or Motrin (as long as she is older than 6 months i think!) and keep a thick diaper rash cream on her bottom at all times to avoid a blistering rash. They get these rashes due to the acid that their teeth give off when they teethe, which can also result in a sour tummy too...Good Luck.
Reply:Teething is probably one of the worst times for both children and their parents. This may sound horrible and trust me, it will probably hurt you a little, give your hands a good washing and let your child chew on your fingers. It worked wonders on my younger son (my older one was really good during teething). When your child is chewing on your finger apply pressure to the bottom of the gums, where the teeth emerge from. This helps the tooth to break through the gums. And if your child has diareah, my only real suggestion is to limit sugary drinks and give lots of water. Best of luck!
Reply:Never give a baby an ice cube straight. It's far too cold and can freeze (and damage - and hurt) delicate tissue. Don't use anything frozen directly. Wrap it in a room temperature washcloth. Avoid popsicles - too much sugar. Frozen veggies in a room temp wash cloth are fine but don't let baby choke on them.





Motrin is probably your best bet. It can be given every 6 hours. If baby still shows signs of discomfort, it may be more than the teething.





My daughter also likes water-filled teething toys that we keep in the refrigerator. When we notice her getting fussy and chewing on her hand, we pull one out and it seems to make her happier.





Like you said, your baby is also constipated. If you can't figure out why, stop all solids and feed only formula/breastmilk for a few days to see if it helps. If it doesn't, a suppository may be necessary.





In general, if you don't know what to do, it's best to call the doctor. There's usually at least a nurse who can answer your questions, someone with medical expertise. Don't rely on family or strangers. You'd be surprised how much child abuse/neglect occurs because of ignorant people that don't have a clue about child safety.





If your pedi's office is impatient with questions or just wants to schedule you for an appointment, you might want to switch to one who will be more patient with you.





And when it gets really rough, walk away and just let baby cry. If you think you might lose it, just walk away. It's less detrimental than doing something out of desperation or rage. Babies don't understand how much of a burden they can be. Above all else, remember this will pass.
Reply:Are you crying when the baby cries? Or just kind of freaking out? Because that can make them cry for longer. The other thing is that a lot of the time when a baby gets teeth, they get an ear or throat infection. An ear infection can drive one of them insane and just about take you with it. That can also cause indigestion and other troubles. You can wash your hands and rub the baby's gums real gently and that can not only soothe your child but also help the teeth to come through. Check the ears, though. Babies that have sore ears tend to swat at them and that may be the only clue that you get.
Reply:have you tried any of them at the same time? the pain meds might be wearing off too soon. try giving her a dose of motrin, making sure to note the time that you are giving it to her, nurse her gums with baby anbesol. four hours after you give her a dose of motrin, give her a dose of tylenol. then four hours later motrin, so on and so forth. those two pain relievers are the only two pain meds that can be staggered like that. if they aren't relieving the pain until the next dose can be given that might be why they seem to not be working. if you would like to confirm it with the pediatrician, you can, he/she will tell you the same thing, motrin and tylenol can be administered every four hours, alternating them....motrin, tylenol, motrin, tylenol, etc. also you can try giving her a wet cold wash cloth to chew on.
Reply:We used a baby facecloth that was soaked in water and then put in the freezer. It's softer for them to chew on. Other than that, we used lots of things you've already tried, and then just had to wait it out. It can be very sad to see them in pain, but she'll get through it (and so will you!) Good for you for trying to find more alternatives. Sometimes time is the only thing that can make a difference!!!
Reply:Hylands teething tablets and frozen mini bagels. Also try letting her gnaw on your knuckle, and put a little bit of pressure on her gums in the area where teeth are trying to break through. Good luck.


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