Teething a mother myth?

[Cadders1]

Ok so 6 month DS is my first - but for the last few days he has been whiney, off his food, a few slightly runny poos and nappy rash, unsettled at night - needing lots of cuddles and lots and lots of dribbling - with a few spots round mouth. Now is this teething? Read a few articles that suggest that teething symptoms do not exist - so should I take him to the doctor?

[MoChan]

Well, it's funny that they don't exist. My daughter must just have had some minor virus or something every time she cut a tooth.

That said, probably wouldn't go to the doctor with those symptoms, anyway. Babies have hundreds of illnesses in the first year, I never saw the point of dragging DD in unless there seemed to be something to really worry about.

[cory]

I asked the HV this, as ds got a temperature every time he teethed. -Well, I'm not supposed to say it, she replied, but there are children that do.

[PrettyCandles]

I have 3 dc, and I'm not convinced babies get illl when teething. Restless, miserable, dribbly, sore cheeks, worse nappies, worse nappy rash - yes, all these things. But actually ill with fever or tummy-bug-style - no, I don't think so.

Of course, they're all individuals, and just because it hasn't happened to mine doesn't mean it doesn't happen at all. Even mine were different: 2slept through teething even tho they were pretty bad during the day, the 3rd was very disturbed at night by teething, tho he wasn't badly bothered in the day.

But I think babies are more likely to be shoving things into their mouths when teething, and so more likely to pick up bugs. Perhaps also if teething quite hard they are not as resilient and more likely to get ill from, eg, a virus. Just as we are more likely to get ill when we are run down.

[PrettyCandles]

BTW a baby doesn't need tobe ill to get a temperature. Just prolonged crying can raise their temp a bit. The later in the day it is, the more likely this is to happen, and the higher it can go. But not more than a degree or so.

This doesn't mean you should discount a raised temp, just that it's not alwYs exactly what it may seem at first glance.

[cory]

It would have to have been a bug with every single one of ds' teeth then.

[belgo]

The thing is babies between the ages of 6 and 18 months are almost constantly teething so if they are ill you are almost always going to find that they are teething at the same time.

What bothers me is when I see on mumsnet a baby with potentially serious symptoms and someone comes along and suggests 'teething?'

[Chil1234]

I'd say that if you're a new mum and you're at all worried about your baby for any reason then you should book an appointment with your GP and go along, even if it's only to get some friendly advice and reassurance.
Doctors would much rather you consulted them and had your mind put at rest than you sat at home fretting and thinking 'I don't want to bother anyone'..

[mummysgoingmad]

teething symptoms don't exist? I know when my ds is teething as we can usually expect his ears to get sore around the same time. It may be a coincidence, but it's my opinion that the 2 are connected.

[mummysgoingmad]

I would get your ds a teether and maybe some ashton and parsons powder, it works wonders