August 15, 2016
Parents often point to teething as the culprit behind every fussy moment their baby experiences. “Oh, he’s just teething,” they say, or worse, they attribute a runny nose to those pesky emerging teeth. In reality, it’s usually just a cold, and suddenly, you have a room full of sick little ones. I’ve been guilty of this too—like many first-time parents are.
When my first child, Sam, was about two months old, he started drooling and fussing nonstop. My instinct? It had to be teething; poor kid! So, off I went to buy every teething remedy and toy I could find. Turns out, it was just gas. His first tooth didn’t arrive until he was nearly eight months old!
I made the mistake of thinking a cold was just teething too and took him to a playgroup, inadvertently spreading germs to other babies. As a new mom, I forgive myself now, but the guilt was real. While it’s true that some parents blame teething for everything, the pain is genuinely awful for many kids. In fact, some of my most vivid memories of parenting involve teething.
Imagine being a carefree baby, whose only responsibilities are eating, sleeping, and smiling. Sure, you get irritated when your parents leave the room or fail to understand your needs, but you’ve hardly experienced any real pain—maybe just a little gas. Then, suddenly, your gums become inflamed, and hard, sharp teeth start pushing through. The pressure is unbearable, sometimes radiating to your ears.
Those teeth then slowly tear their way through your gums—ouch! You’re left thinking, “Mom, what on earth is happening?” Some babies might sail through teething with just a little fussing, but I believe those are the exceptions. For most, it’s an uncomfortable ordeal, and they aren’t shy about expressing their discomfort.
When Sam’s top two teeth began to emerge, we were on vacation. You know how vacations tend to be anything but relaxing with kids? Those two teeth kept us up all night. He developed a low-grade fever and drooled like a faucet while writhing in pain. If I tried to nurse him? Forget it! I nursed both of my kids for an extended period, and the only time I experienced nipple pain was during teething. My second child, Lily, even managed to bite me a few times. No thanks!
Once Sam’s two teeth broke through, he was back to his cheerful self. But teething hell returned every couple of months. He didn’t get all 20 baby teeth until he was two and a half, and every tooth caused him distress. By that time, he could articulate his pain, describing the discomfort of his last set of molars as “feels like someone is sawing into my gums.” Ouch.
Teething is no joke. I often wished he could have told me what was bothering him, but instead, I had to guess until I finally saw the white tip of a tooth emerge a few days later. I can’t fathom why babies can’t be born with a full set of teeth. Their mouths need to grow to fit, and it would complicate feeding. Still, it seems a cruel fate for both the babies and their caregivers. Most babies will eventually forget the pain of teething, but we parents will carry that memory forever. And so will our sore nipples.
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Summary
Teething can be a challenging experience for both babies and parents. Many first-time parents often mistake other ailments for teething, but the reality is that teething pain can be severe. As babies grow and their teeth emerge, they experience significant discomfort, which can lead to sleepless nights for the whole family. While some children seem unaffected, most have a tough time with it, leaving parents with lasting memories of this trying phase.