Teething?

[Munchkinmommy]

My little girl is 18 weeks old and the last few days has become really fussy and difficult to settle. She is normally pretty chilled and easy to settle to sleep.
I have taken her to a doctor and they can see no signs of illness and she's not running a fever.
Aside from the frequent crying and fussing along with difficulty settling she is off her milk.
I have assumed its teething and tried both the Astons and parsons and the nelsons teething powders and the gels but they don't seem to help. The only thing that helps is nurofen but even that doesn't settle her completely. She is drooling a little but not much, no redness on cheeks or gums etc. as I can see no real signs I am doubting that she's teething. What do you think and do you have any tips? Thanks

Hi

I remember my DS being the same when he started teething - and it took weeks to see any teeth appear, I also began to wonder if it really was teething! I didn't really find anything that helped completely - but a couple of suggestions that might work for you - put a damp muslin in the freezer, let LO suck on it when frozen, and have you tried alternating Calpol and Nurofen?? I find that sometimes worked.

However, even if none of the above work, it will pass by soon enough and you will have your easy to settle baby once more.

No haven't tried either of those tips, will give the muslin a go tomorrow. Good to know I can alternate. Could be a good last resort. Thanks!

My boys have always, and continue to, have nappy rash or at least a diahorrea whilst teething. Any of those?

Powders, nurofen alternating with calpol and a cold dummy if one is used should help. Best of luck

My ds was like yours at 17 weeks. Day after he turned 20 weeks I saw he had cut his first tooth, yet in the 4 days preceding it he was fine except he kept pushing his dummy/bottle to the side of his mouth. Gums hadn't been red and he'd been dribbling for so long before I hadn't thought that the tooth would arrive so suddenly. My dm thinks the tooth was a few days old when I spotted it so I feel really great about that!!! They can pop out very unexpectedly.

I've been reading a [http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Wonder-Weeks-Magical-Forward/dp/1579546455/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1345404410&sr=8-3 book] which talks about mental development and the "growth spurts" in a baby's understanding. According to this book babies become cranky and clingy and cry more when their brain goes through these growth spurts. This could be relevant to your situation. We still mostly blame such behaviour on teething although the book has a interesting theory.

Thanks ladies, makes me feel a bit more confident that she's teething.
I feel bad giving her pain relief if she's not actually in pain. She has also started crying out briefly the last few nights too. She has never done this before.

YBR. Yes I actually read this this morning and thought Mmm. Trouble is now I am even more confused. Lol. If she is in pain then I obviously want to give her something to help her but it's so difficult to tell! Wish she could tell me!