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Blessings Overflowing

Faith~Family~Creativity

May 1, 2012 By Jackie 2 Comments

Baby Basics: Teething

I am now on my fifth teething baby. Each of my children has had their first tooth come in at different times. Julia didn’t get her first tooth until she was 9 months old. We thought she was teething for 4 months with not a tooth in sight. My brother nicknamed her “Droolia” because she would soak her shirts with all of her drool. 🙂 She ended up having all 20 of her baby teeth by 18 months of age.

James and Joshua got their first teeth when they were 5 months old but were 2 years old before all of their teeth had come in. Joseph and Janna were somewhere in between. This goes to show that each child is different and develops at different rates. Teething is no exception.

The average age for babies to get their first tooth is about six months of age. However, anywhere from 3 months to 12 months is considered normal. The two bottom teeth in the middle are usually the first to arrive followed by the top middle four teeth coming next.

Symtoms of Teething

  • Drooling
  • Biting/Chewing
  • Fussiness
  • Disrupted Sleep
  • Swollen Gums

One thing you will find of teething babies is that they often want to put everything in their mouths. This can be attributed to teething but is also a completely normal part of their development. Babies learn about the world around them when they “mouth” objects. Just be sure that anything your baby is allowed to chew on is safe and not a choking hazard. If it will fit through a toilet paper tube, don’t allow your baby to chew on it.

A few symptoms of teething that are less common but can be associated with teething are low-grade fever, diaper rash, cough, rash on face, diarrhea, and/or loss of appetite. Several of the previous symptoms are directly related to drool/excess saliva.

While doctors will say that teething doesn’t cause illness, I do believe that babies are often more susceptible to illness due to putting everything in their mouths.

I would also like to note that just because a baby appears to be teething and has a fever, rash, or other similar symptom it doesn’t mean that you should always attribute it to teething. It may very well be that your child is actually sick or even has a food allergy.

Some babies make it through the teething phase with very little issue while others seem to really be bothered by the whole process. There are some things you can give your baby to ease any discomfort they might feel

  • Teething Toys
  • Frozen Wash Cloth (Wet a wash cloth, ring it out, and stick it in the freezer for 15-30 minutes.)
  • Your Clean Finger 
  • Frozen Banana
  • Hyland’s Teething Tablets
  • Acetaminophen

I also can’t say enough about the value of breastfeeding, especially when a baby is fussy from teething. Breastmilk has a soothing effect on babies and I have found it to be an invaluable resource for a teething baby.

Once those first teeth are in be sure to keep them clean. A soft toothbrush and water should be enough to help keep your baby’s teeth clean. There are training toothpastes available that do not contain fluoride that are good for the toddler stage.

Remember that while baby teeth do fall out, they are placeholders for adult teeth and should be well taken care of.

What age did your baby get his first tooth? What did you do for your baby to help ease any teething discomfort?

 

Previous Baby Basics Topics:

  1. A Brand New Baby
  2. Cord Care
  3. Newborn Skin Conditions
  4. Tummy Time
  5. Clothing a Newborn
  6. When You Suspect a Problem
  7. Essential Gear
  8. Knowing Your Baby
  9. Trimming Nails & Suctioning Noses
  10. Baby Learning
  11. Jaundice
  12. Attachment Parenting
  13. Sleeping Like a Baby
  14. Traveling with Baby
  15. Pacifiers
  16. Crying
  17. Breastfeeding
  18. Diapering Choices
  19. Babywearing
  20. Starting Solid Foods
  21. Baby Learning Recap

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Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Baby Basics

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jackiesblessings

I have mixed emotions when I reflect on all that h I have mixed emotions when I reflect on all that has happened in 2020. There have been so many negatives for so many people. I can’t say it has all been positive for me either. However, there are some things that have happened in 2020 for which I am so grateful. 
.
The main thing I am grateful for is the extra time I was able to spend with my kids. We had so much fun during quarantine and this summer. I know this wasn’t the case for everyone, but I do not regret the days when we had nothing planned and could just have fun together. Whether it was walking in the woods, playing games, watching a movie together, or even doing chores, I never once heard an “I’m bored.” 🙂 
.
In addition to the gift of more time together, I am also grateful for all of the milestones we have celebrated this year. In June, my parents celebrated their 50th anniversary, and then we had four milestone birthdays. Julia turned 21, James turned 18, Joshua turned 16, and Joseph turned 13. (Janna felt left out, so we told her that her birthday was special because it was her last birthday in single digits.) Also, today marks 25 years that JT and I have been married. 
.
While I won’t be sorry to see 2020 go, and I hope
and pray 2021 is better for so many people who are hurting right now, I don’t ever want to forget the good times we had this year. 
.
P.S. I took all of these pictures over fall break.
The girls and I recorded our parts for our virtual The girls and I recorded our parts for our virtual church service yesterday, and I couldn’t resist getting a picture with them in front of this beautiful Christmas tree. ❤️
James has been playing school basketball since he James has been playing school basketball since he was in the fourth grade. Tonight he and his fellow Seniors  were recognized at their game, and I just can’t believe James is this old. 
.
Normally, Senior Night is the last game of the season. However,  because everything in the world seems so uncertain right now, we wanted to make sure the boys got a chance to be recognized. We wanted something “normal” for them. I am thankful James and his teammates not only got recognized but also won their game. 
.
P.S. We had our masks on at all times other than when we took pictures.
We have another teenager in the house! Joseph is t We have another teenager in the house! Joseph is turning 13 today, and it just doesn’t seem possible. The beautiful baby boy who was placed in my arms on a cold and foggy day in December is still my “little” guy. However, after looking at this picture of the two of us, I don’t think he will be shorter than me for long. Joseph is still my shy guy, but he is also sweet, loving, kind, and just an all around good kid. We also lovingly refer to him as the cat whisperer because the kittens and cats follow him around like puppies. 🙂 It has been so much fun to have Joseph at school with me this year now that he is in junior high, and I am so thankful that I get to be his mama. Happy birthday, Joseph! ❤️
2020 has been challenging in so many ways. One of 2020 has been challenging in so many ways. One of those challenges was self-inflicted. 🙂 I just finished my fourth master’s level course of 2020 through Ball State, and I passed the high ability licensure exam last Thursday. This means that I will soon have high ability added to my teaching license. 
.
When I signed up to take my first class in January, I had no idea what 2020 was going to entail. Teaching in a pandemic isn’t for the faint of heart. Taking classes and caring for five kids while teaching in a pandemic has allowed me to see what I am really made of. I don’t mean to brag, but I am pretty happy that I received straight A’s. Beyond that, I learned so much, and I am grateful for this opportunity even though I felt stretched to my limits some days. 
.
Yes, 2020 has been challenging, but I have been blessed with more time with my family, knowledge gained, and challenges met and overcome.
I almost forgot to post this here. 🎂 Joshua is I almost forgot to post this here. 
🎂
Joshua is 16 years old today. It doesn’t seem possible that my little pip squeak of a baby boy is now about 6’4”. Joshua is now the tallest of the family, and I’m not sure he is done growing. There hasn’t been a dull moment since Joshua arrived, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. He is a fun-loving, hard-working, kind-hearted, and intelligent young man. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. I am so thankful God thought I was up to the task of being Joshua’s mama. ❤️
My little 7 pound 20 inch baby boy, who didn’t c My little 7 pound 20 inch baby boy, who didn’t cry as soon as he was born but first looked around to see what was going on in the world, is now a 6’2” handsome man. I truly never thought the years would go by so quickly, but here we are. James is 18 today. 

There are so many words I could use to describe James: hardworking, dedicated, persevering, intelligent, funny, curious, kindhearted, dependable, respectful, and helpful. I could also expound upon his accomplishments, and I could tell you how great he is. However, I don’t love James for what he has accomplished but simply because he is my son.

I have been so blessed to be James’s mom, and I thank God every day for entrusting him into my care. I don’t know what the future will hold for him, but I know he will do great things. 

For anyone reading this who is struggling with a tantrum throwing toddler, a strong-willed child, and/or a child who questions everything, I would like to encourage you. Look for the positive qualities your child possesses such as perseverance, dedication, and curiosity and build upon that. I will never regret the hard days of parenting because my prayers and hard work have paid off. Helping James reach his full potential and keep those qualities without breaking his spirit has been worth the effort.

Happy Birthday, James!
I’m not going to sugar coat it. Today seemed sur I’m not going to sugar coat it. Today seemed surreal. It felt chaotic. Nothing was normal. We are all exhausted. However, it was wonderful to be with my students again after five months, and my own kids enjoyed seeing their friends. I don’t know how this school year will play out, but I am ready to go back tomorrow and try to make teaching virtually and in person work to the best of my ability. My students are worth the effort. 
.
James is a senior, and this was his last first day of school. Joshua is a sophomore, and Joseph is in 7th grade which means I have all three of my boys in the same building with me. Janna is in fourth grade, and she was very excited to be back at school. Julia will be a senior in college when she starts back next week. 
.
I am praying we all have a safe and healthy school year. I plan to try not to think about the unknowns and what-ifs and take it one day at a time.
This morning I told four of my kids we were going This morning I told four of my kids we were going to go on an adventure. (No, I didn’t leave one out of the fun. James played in a golf tournament with his dad. 🙂) Anyway, it was quite an adventure. It started with my vehicle telling me one of the tires needed air, but it must be a bad sensor because it was fine. Then I almost ran out of gas. I drove us on all sorts of country roads we had never been on, and I even thought I was going south when I was actually going north for like 10 miles. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It was very obvious I have not been many places since March. 
.
Anyway, Julia, Joshua, Joseph, Janna, and I went to @maxandhoneys where we took some pictures and picked a beautiful bouquet. It was really fun. After that, we went to Greencastle and then to Lieber State Recreation Area. We finished by stopping to do a few things in my classroom, and we made it home before it started raining.
.
I am so thankful for a day of doing something fun and “normal” but out of the ordinary. I don’t know if that makes sense, but that’s the best way to describe it. Yes, we had to wear masks sometimes and practice social distancing, but it was still a good day. 
.
Here are some pictures from our day. The last picture is of James before he went to play golf. How is he old enough to be a senior? 😢 I am so thankful for my family. 💕 Also, kudos to Joshua and Joseph for being good sports about picking flowers. Their future wives will thank me. 😀

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