Teething in Babies: The Signs of Teething in a Four-Month-Old

Saturday, April 23, 2011

The Signs of Teething in a Four-Month-Old | eHow.com

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By Alicia Bodine, eHow Contributor

updated: April 10, 2011

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The Signs of Teething in a Four-Month-Oldthumbnail

Look for signs your baby is teething, such as chewing on her fingers.

According to BabyCenter.com, most babies experience their first tooth between the ages of 4 and 7 months. New teeth continue to appear through the child’s third birthday, in anticipation of your child has all 20 baby teeth. Parents can monitor their babies to learn a first tooth by watching for numerous telltale signs. Once the signs are spotted, it won’t be long before that pearly white is visible on the gum line.

- Four-month-ancient babies that are cutting their first tooth will often chew on toys and sometimes their own fingers as well. Instead of sucking on a bottle or pacifier, you may observe your small one chewing on them. The chewing applies pressure to the gums, which helps relieve some of the pain, as well as aid the tooth in breaking through the top layer of the gum. Repetitive chewing naturally leads to excess drooling. All babies drool, but parents can expect it in excessive amounts during the teething periods.
- Your pleased 4-month-ancient baby may change from being in a joyful mood to more of a cranky mood while teething. Precision is a common symptom because teething is quite painful. Of course, babies can’t talk and tell you what is going on. Instead, your baby will let you know something is incorrect by buzzing and crying. Sometimes you can spot the source of the pain by observing swollen gums or a bulge everywhere the tooth is about to come through the gum.
- By the age of 4 months, your baby should have established a routine when it comes to sleep. As soon as your baby starts to cut his first tooth, you may commence to see this pattern change. He may sleep less, waking up more often than usual. Again, this is related to that fact that teething is uncomfortable and painful. Infant pain medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help relieve some of the pain so your baby can delight in a excellent night’s rest.
- Although not all doctors agree, both Dr. William Sears and Dr. Mitzi Johnson believe a low-grade fever is a symptom of teething. The fever can also be accompanied by a mild case of diarrhea. Babies should be checked by a pediatrician to make sure an infection is not the culprit, but when these symptoms appear along with other teething symptoms, a new tooth is often the produce. It is vital to note that low-grade fevers are fevers that register below 101 degrees Fahrenheit.