Sometimes, it seems like parents attribute every little cranky moment of their baby’s day to teething. “Oh, she’s just teething,” they’ll say, and it drives me up the wall when every sniffle is linked to those pesky teeth. More often than not, it’s just a cold, and suddenly, you’ve turned a playdate into a germ-fest.
I’ve definitely been there — it’s a rite of passage for first-time parents. When my first child, Leo, was just two months old, he started drooling and fussing non-stop. My initial thought was that he must be teething. I rushed out to buy every homeopathic remedy and teething toy I could find. Spoiler alert: it turned out to be gas. His first tooth didn’t show up until he was nearly eight months old!
There was another time I mistakenly believed Leo’s cold was just teething and took him to a playgroup, only to end up with half the babies sick. As a new mom, I can forgive myself now, but I still feel guilty about it.
Sure, some parents lean on teething as an explanation for everything. But when it’s actually happening, it’s genuinely brutal. For many of us, some of our most challenging parenting memories revolve around teething.
The Teething Experience
Picture this: you’re a cheerful little baby, blissfully unaware of responsibilities, only focused on eating, sleeping, and smiling. Life is good, until suddenly, your adorable gums become inflamed. Those hard little teeth start pushing through, causing discomfort that feels like a mini earthquake in your mouth. Sometimes the pain even radiates to your ears — it’s no picnic.
For some babies, teething might be a breeze — a little fuss here and there, and then the tooth pops through. But I’m convinced those babies are rare. For most, teething is a painful ordeal, and they are more than willing to let you know about it.
I remember when Leo’s two top teeth were coming in while we were on vacation. And let me tell you, vacations are not really vacations with kids anyway. He was up all night, drooling like a fountain and screaming in agony. To make matters worse, he developed a slight fever, and all I could think was, “How do I soothe this little one?” Nursing him was a challenge; it was the only time in my experience as a mom that it hurt me. My second child, Mia, even bit me a few times during her teething phase. No thank you!
Once Leo’s teeth finally broke through, he returned to being the happy baby I knew. But every few months, we found ourselves back in the throes of teething hell. It took him until he was two and a half years old to get all 20 baby teeth, and those little devils gave him trouble right until the end. By that point, he could articulate the pain, telling me that it felt like “someone was sawing into my gums.”
Teething truly can be that painful! I often wished he could have communicated what he was feeling sooner; instead, I had to play detective until I saw the telltale white of a tooth breaking through.
Why Can’t They Just Be Born with All Their Teeth?
I don’t quite understand why babies can’t just be born with all their teeth. Sure, their mouths need space to grow, but it seems pretty unfair for both them and their caregivers. Most babies probably forget the pain of teething, but we parents will never forget — and neither will our bodies!
For more insights on parenting and teething struggles, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination from March of Dimes for some guidance on your journey. If you’re looking for more information about home insemination, visit our other blog post about the topic here, as well as this authority on the subject that covers everything you need to know.
Summary
Teething can be a challenging time for both babies and parents, often leading to confusion and frustration. While some parents may mistakenly attribute every fuss to teething, the reality is that for many babies, the process can be excruciating. Understanding the signs and being prepared can help ease the burden for both parties, and it’s important to remember that while babies may forget the pain, parents will carry those memories with them.