Teething: One of the Toughest Phases in Your Baby's Development

It's been more than two months that my daughter has been teething, and still no actual teeth! I remember hearing some faint whisperings from friends and family that teething can be tough, but I never imagined that it could go on for so long or cause so much discomfort. My poor daughter is of course the one suffering here, and for that I feel terrible and do whatever I can to take care of her. That being said--this is rough! Did you know it can go on for months with no visible results? Did you know that your little one can suffer awful symptoms and there's very little you can do to ease their discomfort? I sure didn't, so I share with you what I've learned.

You can read in your books, go online for research, or talk to your friends, but the reality is that everyone's situation is totally different. Every baby is different, that's what I keep repeating in my head so as not to compare. We have some friends with a daughter of a similar age, she had exhibited no signs of teething and "pop!" she woke up one morning with two teeth. My poor daughter has been at this now since she was four months old and you can see that the teeth want to pop but still nothing. I asked our pediatrician about this and was assured that this was all perfectly normal and that it could "go on for months". I think that I panicked a little bit, but I also learned what to do to try and ease her pain and make sure she gets through this as smoothly as possible.

It seems that almost every symptom a baby exhibits around this age can somehow be related to teething. Though the books will tell you differently, I've learned that everything from a stuffy nose to a low grade fever to diarrhea to excessive drooling can all be a part of the teething process. Of course if something doesn't feel right or is out of the norm, such as a high fever or symptom that persists for a long time, then you should get it checked out by your pediatrician. You name the symptom, we've probably had a run in with it.

All you can do is try to make your little one comfortable. If your baby is anything like mine, the teething ring won't do a thing for them, but I've heard great success stories. A little bit of Orajel can go a long way, so invest in some of this numbing gel and use it when things get really bad. (just don't overdo it!) I've heard some say that their doctors have advised against this, but ours supports it and I swear that some days this is the only thing that helps her. You can also try some of the long held tricks like a frozen washcloth, an ice cold sippy cup of water, or in our case just your fingers (clean of course) or burp cloth for her to gum on.

You'll find what works for you, but just know you're not alone! I've heard that the pain of teething is something that an adult could not bear, so just remember that your little one is having a rough time and your job is to make them comfortable.