Teething

  The arrival of your baby's first tooth is one of those milestones that will have you taking a million photos, and telling the world. Unfortunately, in most cases the tooth doesn't just miraculously arrive - it can be an uncomfortable or even painful process for your baby, which will also mean a testing time for you!

Symptoms

  Symptoms of teething can appear a month or so before the first sign of a tooth, and can include:

• Increased drooling
• Swollen gums / flushed cheeks
• Biting of objects and people
• Loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping
• General irritability

  It's commonly believed that teething can also cause diarrhea or stomach problems, but most health experts say that there's no connection between teething and other symptoms of illness. It's probably just a coincidence, they say, but our own daughter certainly seemed to be generally more sickly before a new tooth appeared.

When it happens

  A small number of children are born with a tooth or two, but most babies will have to wait a bit longer. Expect to see a first appearance of a toothy grin at 6 or 7 months, although as with all things babylike it will vary from baby to baby.

  It's not unusual for it to take up to a year for the first tooth to arrive.

  Once teeth start to break through the gums, it can all happen very quickly, and most children will have a full set of 20 milk teeth by the age of three. These teeth will last until the adult ones begin to arrive at age six or so.

What can parents do to help?

  Teeth will come at their own pace, and unfortunately there's nothing we can do to speed up the process. However, there are ways of making it easier on your baby.

Teething Ring

  You'll notice that your baby will be biting down on anything and everything she can - get her a flexible teething ring to stop her from hurting herself. Keeping it in the fridge can also help, as the cold will soothe the gums.

Teething Gel

  Rubbing a teething gel onto her gums can help soothe away discomfort. If you don't want to risk your fingers being bitten by those sharp new teeth, try smearing it onto her dummy instead!

Teething Powder

  Teething powder comes as a sachet of crystals that you pour into your baby's mouth. Some babies seem to find crunching on these crystals helps more than a gel.

Pain Killers

  If your baby seems particularly distressed by teething pain, it may be worth giving her a pain killing medicine such as Nurofen or Calpol (but make sure you only give her a baby formulation, not an adult product). This may be especially worth trying at bed time, as it will hopefully help both of you get a decent night's sleep!

Teething Rail

  Once they can stand up by holding onto something, many teething toddlers will bite down on the edge of their cots. A rubber teething rail can be fitted which will protect both your child and her cot.

  For more teething products, browse our range of teethers and rattles.