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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think teething can't be THIS bad?

61 replies

WhatsTheT · 12/09/2015 19:39

First time mum here, and I'm starting to think I'm missing something blindingly obvious, so maybe you guys can suggest if something is wrong, or, if teething really is like this, I obviously have no comparison.

I'll start from when my daughter's mood changed to see if you see a pattern.

My daughter has been showing the signs of teething from about 6 months, and is now 8 months old.

On Wednesday my daughter was very lethargic, falling asleep in the high chair (never happens) and slept through the night (never happens). She had a taster session at nursery with me for an hour, and perked up and had a good time.

I am back at work next week, and this Thursday she had a taster hour at nursery without me, she cried for the duration, inconsolable, even the staff were a little taken aback lol. Anyway, from that moment, she has been gradually becoming more and more off.

After nursery she was very soft and clingly with me, expected, and pretty glary and moody with me, probably because I left her at nursery. She held her arms out to me for the first time ever, and hasn't stopped since.

Last night she screamed for hours, checked her temp and was fine, checked later and had jumped up to 38/39. I put it down to her being worked up and too warm in a 2.5 tog grobag (which she usually wears because she is a cold baby, but the crying heated her right up)

A couple of hours later temp was fine but still pretty much screaming unless she was sleeping. She woke up through the night but no more than usual.

Today she has been pretty unbearable, worst day we've ever had since she was born. She has cried all day, If I look at her, she cries, If I talk, her bottom lip goes, and she cries, if I put her down she cries and grabs hold of me, but if I pick her up, she cries. If I say shhhhhhh she completely loses it. Even tried her with the Twirly Woos, which send her into a giggling mess. She just smacked the laptop a few times and screamed.

changing her nappy was a massive fight every time, kicking, screaming, fighting it.

Crying until she's gagging

Screaming very high pitched in the high chair after every spoon of feeding

Throughout the day she's been very extreme in her chewing, holding her mouth, and her face, stuffing her fist in her mouth and crying... which would lead me to think it is teething... is teething really this chaotic.

This morning she refused breakfast but had milk. Had two spoons of dinner but still had milk and water, had 3 spoons of tea, still had her night feed and has just fallen asleep. Oh and she's snoring... never snores... nose isn't blocked.

I literally could do nothing for her today, so I can't imagine how monday will be at nursery :(

Am I missing something blindingly obvious here? (she has no rashes or anything, she hasn't vomitted, which is actually odd because she has reflux)

OP posts:
WhatsTheT · 12/09/2015 20:20

Shes been having teething gel for months... seemed to do the trick previously!

Havent tried anything other than calpol no.

She seems bunged up but at the back of her nose/throat.

Maybe shes caught something at nursery... first time she's ever been with other children...

OP posts:
Loki17 · 12/09/2015 20:22

Take her to the walk in centre. Something is not right so get her checked. When my dd was 12 months old she went off her food for a couple of days but seemed ok in herself. On the 5th day she went floppy. She had a bacterial throat infection and was hospitalised. There was no temperature, no signs to speak of other than being off her food. She was no more tearful than usual. I felt bloody awful. We were home within 24 hours and she bounced back with antibiotics. It's hard when they can't tell you what is wrong. Cover your bases. Hope your dd gets well soon Flowers

Bolshybookworm · 12/09/2015 20:23

She sounds ill tbh. They're really clingy like that when they're unwell. It's really common for kids to get everything going for the first couple of months when they start nursery, so be prepared to have to take a few days off to look after her.

MI6Agent · 12/09/2015 20:23

Teething is my opinion.

My dd was Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde when it came to teeth and nothing pleased her. Never had any infections at all as a baby but teeth, my goodness they floored her.

What you described in your OP at the top was the symptoms of my dd cutting 4 teeth in one go.

Baby nurofen and calpol in sync (ever 4 hours); wet a muslin and freeze it to chew; lots of cuddles and keep an eye on temperature and other symptoms and lots of gin for you Grin

notquitehuman · 12/09/2015 20:23

Sadly, teething can be an absolute bastard. My son's teeth came in early and took forever, and we'd often have days where he was extremely unsettled. Luckily, he liked the taste of calpol! Of course, your instincts are important, so it might be worth getting her checked over. My poor boy also had terrible acid reflux, although it was better by this age.

Is there anyway to get some paracetamol down her? Maybe sneak it into some juice or milk?

WhatsTheT · 12/09/2015 20:24

I'll ring 111 tomorrow and get her booked in at the urgent care GP. Hopefully she'll get back to sleep soon and get herself some rest!

OP posts:
dunkedbiscuits · 12/09/2015 20:44

Can I shout snap? Very very similar symptoms to my DS. He's 15no and been unbelievably upset for past three days. He's been mega dribbly, and I mean mega (we put three bibs on him at the same time to try and contain it). Turns out he has blisters in his mouth. We started using anbesol today before food and managed to get a little food into him finally. We think it's a virus so a matter of holding out, which is difficult when he's awake all night and screaming. Hope your dd gets better soon.

XiCi · 12/09/2015 20:51

I sympathise. Went to hell and back with my dd cutting teeth. I cracked open a bottle of champagne the day the last one came through. Anbesol does help a bit but not much.

Do get her checked out in case it's something more though

LumpySpaceCow · 12/09/2015 20:54

I might be Mrs Pessimistic but I would ring 111 and take her to walk in centre.
You mention snoring when asleep. No signs of breathing issues are there (nostrils flaring, ribs sucking in, 'cornbeef' mottling)? If a baby is struggling breathing they can make a grunting sound which could sound like a soft snore. Also high pitched cry although may be because of teething/pain from ear or throat infection, can also be a sign of meningitis.
Babies can become sick really quick but will compensate for ages before then.
I'm really not trying to scare you unnecessarily but I couldn't read and run when I read your post. Ultimately though I'm not there to see your baby and you know her best so trust your instincts xx

Badders123 · 12/09/2015 20:59

God we went though hell with ds1.
He would scream and scream.
His gums would swell
He would get green diahorea
He would get bronchitis (in August)
It was horrific.
Ds2 however...you would never have known he was teething. They just appeared!
Do get her checked case it's something she has picked up from nursery.

NotFunnyHaHa · 12/09/2015 21:00

Ear infection.

Been there, done that, ripped my hair out wondering WTF it was.

If it's not EInfection then I'll eat my hat.

BeaufortBelle · 12/09/2015 21:12

I vote ear infection too but mine always seemed to get ears and teeth in tandem. You need to get her checked at ooh asap. Go tomorrow because you won't get a doctor's appointment on Monday with all the children back at school for a week and a half providing just enough time to incubate bugs they've never experienced.

FWIW my DS did ears big time (who knows if teeth were involved too) and grew up into a big tough mini rugby player who refused to cry when he broke his ankle at school. When he was 8 and had a molar coming through he sat in the corner of he sofa and sobbed with the pain. At that point I understood what little babies could suffer.

trashcanjunkie · 12/09/2015 21:14

Could it be tonsillitis? The snoring?

Naty1 · 12/09/2015 21:15

disprol soluble paracetamol doesnt taste much i think
or try nurofen as it lasts longer
Dunked could he have hand foot and mouth?
teething seemed to get much worse the week the teeth cut through
dd (3yo) was only at nursery 7hrs last week and caught a cold so it doesnt take much time.

BrideOfWankenstein · 12/09/2015 21:21

I would use paracetamol suppositories. And would call 111 tonight. I'm pretty sure you will be sent to OOH GP tonight.

Twolefttoes · 12/09/2015 21:34

What do her gums look like, does it look like teeth are about to cut?

I think I would probably want her seen given what you have described.

dunkedbiscuits · 12/09/2015 21:38

My other DS the three different types of hand foot and mouth and its not really similar. It seems when he gets a virus it gives him awful mouth ulcers/blisters. At least he's drinking (other DS couldn't even do that!). Combine it with a reflux attack and its all fun in this house!

Greenstone · 12/09/2015 21:42

Ear infection and I bet her throat is sore too AND I bet she's teething.
Dd was the same last week and had just finished her antibiotics for same. Get thee to the doc.

Greenstone · 12/09/2015 21:43

has

GloGirl · 12/09/2015 21:45

Keep your eye out for any sign of light sensitivity, stiffness or pain when looking up or down, super hot temperature and a rash

LL0015 · 12/09/2015 21:52

Hand foot and mouth!
Not mild, my DS was so ill and refused all food and drink he was nearly hospitalised. No temp. Just really bloody miserable child.
Mouth blisters so bad he couldn't shut his mouth.
I got him difflam mouth spray, which pharmacist was happy to give over counter but he was nearer one.

Hope she feels better soon.

BestZebbie · 12/09/2015 21:52

Agreeing with the other posters about being ill, ears and calpol in particular, but also just to note that there is a developmental clingy phase at about 8 months, so it isn't necessarily a symptom if your DD used to be fine with others and then overnight suddenly can't unstick from your lower leg.

jobrum · 12/09/2015 21:56

I am also first time parent so can only give my experience of teething with dd. started teething at 4 months when when lots of teeth became visible in her gums and her first two teeth came through within a couple of days of each other at six months.

She is a really easy baby, except when her teeth play up. She cries, chews, drools, throws her head back and screams, doesn't like milk, won't sleep, furiously pulls at her ear, her bum gets sore. It's awful. Just before they broke through, the gum really swelled and the amount of dribble was horrendous then the next day a little hole appeared in the gum with a teeny sharp tooth. She seems to suffer more as the teeth are moving up the gum rather than the actual breaking through the gum bit. Some nights I had to resort to alternating Calpol and baby Nurofen. Oddly, she never likes chilled teething rings.

But I also suspected ear infection and did ask the doctor to check her once when I had an appointment.

Hufflepuffin · 12/09/2015 22:02

The dose for nurofen at this age is half the dose for calpol so I found it easier to get in. I also bought a dummy syringe, which helped.

HelsBels3000 · 12/09/2015 22:03

Mix the calpol in a fromage frais?