FUSSING, FRETTING....TEETHING?

[gillythekid]

My 16 week old son has started to bob on and off the breast near the end of a feed. He seems very windy and unsettled and is waking more in the night. He started to dribble a month or so ago and puts his hands in his mouth all the time, which I presume is teething. He's really tired and grumpy in the daytime and still won't sleep longer than 45 mins at a time. He is a little constipated and I wonder if all this fussing and fretting is teething related, I don't really know what to expect or how to help him if he's in pain. I have teething powders and Dentinox but they don't seem to be helping.

Hi gillythekid - it can be so confusing with a little one. Youre the best to know when your child is out of sorts. It is possible he is teething and is not knowing what to do with himself. Have you tried Calpol ( I think it is safe for 4 month olds). But your Health Visitor is there for advice - use her!

My health visitor is useless. I explained about the tiredness and inability to get back to sleep after 45 mins and she told me to leave him awake, not great when he's rubbing his eyes, yawning and then screaming!

Oh gilly! Sometimes this motherhood thing can be so hard. Kids go through fazes and maybe this is one of them. Have you asked the pharmacist about calpol? Have you tried bongela gel - rub it on sore gums. I'd make an appointment to see your GP also, if only to put your mind at rest. Does his front gums look red and sore? It'll be the two front teeth bottom and/or top. Try putting teething rings into the freezer and then give him to bite on - some of them have a jelly type inner - it's worth a go. And finally... he will go to sleep when he's ready. Are you rocking and comforting him etc when he wakens? Try to leave him in his cot and see if he will settle. The hardest thing is to allow yourself to do nothing (but keep hime safe). Does he have a high temperature?

xx