Teething?!

[Jsantos]

Hi all! My baby is 4 months old and he’s recently started teething. He’s excessively drooling and putting anything he can in his mouth but he’s also massively reduced his appetite the last few days. He was on 6oz every 4ish hours (sleeping the night) and now it’s a struggle to even get him to have 2oz. Should I be worried or is this all just part of teething? I’ve got some teething sachets (Ashton and parsons) which he seems to love and if it’s really bad I give him calpol. Any other tips! I worry he isn’t getting enough food.

Dont assume this is teething, it is unlikely. Drooling and mouthing are a developmental stage whether or not a tooth is on the way. Teething sachets have no value and you really should only be giving calpol for a temperature. It is more likely he is unwell. The disinterst in food is not a huge problem but likely to be a symptom he is off colour. If he does not improve over the next few days I would have hinm checked by a health professional

Hi, thank you. But he has been seen by a doctor (for a cold a few days ago) and he did say he was teething and suggested the sachets which really do help him

We like calgel for teething but never bottle-fed so no other advice sorry.

Also our ds started teething at 3 months.

My DS had two bottom teeth at 8 weeks got his tops at 3 months. Cold clean flannel from the fridge to chew or rub can help

Thank you!

Amber necklace, can highly recommend them. My 2 have both worn them and had calpol 2/3 tines throughout the whole teething process

I'd collate the loss of appitite to the cold in all honesty, my ds has been teething since about 4 months but they still haven't erupted nearly 2 months later, you can feel them under his gum. He has a gel teething ring that I freeze over night and a rattle with teething bits. He also really likes sucking on his muslin.

The reason I said to collate the appitite loss the the cold is because he has developed a stinking cold over the past few days and has dropped about 10oz a day since Monday.

I have a four month old who is dribbling constantly too, but I don't think it's teething, I just think he hasn't got the hang of closing his lips yet! Although my first had teeth at 4 months so it's possible.

I'd avoid the powders, they 'work' because they're sweet, so the baby perks up for a bit , but they do nothing to actually reduce pain. Amber necklaces and anklets are also a choking hazard and there is no evidence they do anything beyond a placebo effects I'd recommend anbesol, used sparingly, but mostly for the big teeth when they come through like molars.

Calpol is paracetamol AKA a painkiller and it is perfectly reasonable to give to a child in pain. There is also research suggesting against giving calpol to reduce a fever so advice telling you to only give it for a fever is terrible advice really.

Also, put teethers in the fridge, not the freezer. If they are too cold they can stick to the tongue and lips which is difficult and painful to remove.

Nurofen and anbesol oil (use from 5 months) are best for teething. Teething powders at best work because sugar can improve pain reaction for babies, amber necklaces don’t do anything and are a hazard.

Have you checked for oral thrush?

My LO seemed to be teething around that age too. He wasnt. He was more exploring his hands. He is now 10 months and cutting his 6th tooth. It's been relentless.

Everytime a tooth is coming he is off his food (solids not milk as bf), often sick, horrid nappies.

I tried the amber anklet and it made no difference. The teething powders are more a distraction I find.

As PP suggested a cold washcloth can help. Anbesol is good when needed.

@Bobbiepin just because some research suggests something, doesn't necessarily make it right. My fiancé works for the nhs both in hospital treating very sick people and outside the hospital dealing with medical emergencies - when our 16 month old son has a fever he gives him Calpol to bring it down.

@firstimemamma I didn't say not to give it, quite the opposite. I like to keep up to date with new research even if the advice isn't updated yet. I give my DD calpol when she has a fever but I do not expect it to fix the problem causing the fever.

I'd give neurofen or infant paracetamol for fever. There have been 3 times when I haven't because I'd read the research on using it for fever, and each time we've ended up in hospital with a very poorly child and they pump both in every few hours alongside antibiotics. Now I don't hesitate to try to get fevers down sooner and avoid hospital trips.