Most children will get their first tooth between the age of 5 and 7 months. Each time a tooth breaks through or erupts, the skin over the tooth will become red, swollen and shiny. Some children may find this painful. They may fuss and have trouble sleeping. To reduce the pain of teething, the following measures are useful:
- Gently but firmly massage or press on your baby's gum with a clean finger or soft cloth. But stop if this upsets your child more.
- Give baby something cold to suck or chew on. If he has started solids, a frozen banana or a block of ice may be soothing (don't leave a baby on his own with these). You may also try freezing moistened flannel or plastic teething rings.
- Rub teething gel on the gums if the child is very upset. Use as directed on the packet. Teething gels can be bought over the counter at local pharmacies. Paracetamol drops or syrups may also help.
Take your child to the doctor if teething troubles last longer than three days, or if he has high fever, diarrhea, sore ears, or refuses to drink.
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