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This is my adorable son sporting his first tooth at 11 months![/caption]We are actually quite delighted that at long last, his teeth are coming out. These are signs that my baby is slowly becoming a big boy. If you are dealing with a teething toddler, consider these tips!
Expect low grade fever or diarrhea.
- We’re lucky our son does not have these symptoms. A toddler's immune system is down at this point so be extra careful. This may be due to the stress on his developing body. Our pediatrician suggests avoiding close contact with sick kids when teething so he won't catch any infection.
His behavior might change, too.
- Your toddler can be quite cranky at this time. I noticed this because he’s not his usually jolly and always smiling self. I guess he’s irritated and bothered by the new thingies appearing in his mouth. He would often shake his head, pull his ear and touch his cheek, all these signs of teething.
He might refuse to eat!
- A toddler with a few teeth may be a bit harder to feed! His three teeth is his handicap! While some kids his age are learning how to chew and grind their food into small pieces, my son still has a hard time swallowing. Make sure to give small, manageable pieces. Slice his food into cheweable pieces but always be on guard against choking. I would still boil and mash hard foods like apples, peas or carrot because he can’t chew that much yet. Give additional water to aid him is gulping down his food. We're trying to balance giving him infant cereals or giving him "real" foods.
Introduce oral hygiene at this time.
- This is easier said than done! I'm actually having a hard time cleaning his mouth and teeth. He would clamp his mouth closed when i try to wipe his teeth with cotton or cloth. When cleaning becomes a struggle, stop and try again next time. His gums are quite sensitive at this stage or may be painful too. Don't force cleaning because he might develop fear about this and refuse tooth brushing altogether. Take your time and just offer more water to rinse his mouth.
Biting during nursing sessions
- A teething toddler is harder to breastfeed because he may bite. We discourage biting by asking him firmly to stop. My baby seems to understand that biting hurts mommy so he must not continue. At times i would cringe in pain because of his bite, but i avoid letting him see my reaction. I think he sometimes finds it funny when i cringe in pain so he repeatedly bites! So better to avoid making outbursts or react outright, even if it hurts so much. Some kids do have a nursing strike at this stage, but not my son. He would nurse to sleep for hours and he would wake out once my nipples get detouch from his mouth. So this mommy is also losing sleep as the baby is gaining more teeth.
Have fun dealing with your teething toddler!
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