Teething

Pretty sure Brody is teething. After all, he is 5 months old and is a drooling monster, has a rash on his chin and constantly gnaws on his fists and chews on his fingers. Two things I'm wondering about though...he is playing with and rubbing his ear a lot and also is not eating much at all, which has decreased my milk production considerably. Any of you know if decrease in appetite and tugging at ears is related to teething? I know each baby is different and it's hard to tell. Pretty sure he doesn't have an ear infection because he hasn't been really fussy and doesn't have a fever. Maybe he just likes his ears (: But the decrease in appetite I'm worried about. He pretty much refuses bottles nearly all day and I am working 10 hour days right now! Then he nurses when I'm home but doesn't seem starving like he used to when I got home. He seems to be perfectly content not eating for hours at times! I don't know if I should be concerned or if this is all just related to teething. With all of the problems he has had, I worry about every little thing. Maybe it's best if I just contact his doc to see what she thinks but wanted to hear others' experiences with their babies first teething behaviors.

[kellym]

Oh, yeah, I know for sure that the tugging is ear related and I think the decrease in appetite is a sign as well. Accompanied by the drool, sounds like you should have a mouth full of swollen gums :(  I think teething is the worst!

[ponderousmom]

is he eating food yet?? thatll make them stop wanting the bottle--they know theres better out there!!  ive been thru 102 teeth so far, and that does sound like teeth--ive also heard an old wives tale that their butt will turn red--not a rash, just red, right before they pop thru, and it was actually true with some of them.  i dont know if anyone else has heard/noticed that....but docs are iffy on teeth, some say they dont cause anything--fever, runny nose, etc., but some say they do

[jenstam]

He's breastfed and is given pumped breastmilk while I'm at work only. Otherwise he is nursed. He has not had any solids yet. He does have a mild diaper rash but nothing major.

[kris123]

Little ryan is doing the same thing.  He has to wear a bib all day long. He put his fists in his mouth and gages at times :-)  As for the ears, he doesn't pull them to much but loves it when I rub them.  He will sit still for 10min while I rub them :-)  He is sleeping very bably too!!  He cries and cries and then goes to sleep - he is up three for four times a night.  He also has a little rash on his checks and chin as well.  Glad you posted because I want to know myself.  He is not eating much either but I did start him on baby food but not that much

[CYW]

my little Cameron is the same way...he has been exactly like this since he was about 7 weeks old..I know hard to believe right? he has the slight fever..wanting to sleep when he can, ear pulling, bitting on everything, the swollen gums/bumps, the red bum...he has it all lol...the runny nose-now that someone has pointed it...he even has diharea sometimes due to it...its pretty crazy the things they do...good luck...my lil guy get a lil cranky not overly but you can tell discomfort is accompanied..any ideas when these teeth will finlly come??? every day i check and every 3-5 days there is definately progress but no teeth thusfar.:S

[ponderousmom]

they come whenever there ready, theres no time table--it seems like you get a night or 2 of peace before they break thru--and as for the rash, especially now cuz everyones furnace is running--you can keep a thin layer of crisco--i mean thin--on theyre chin/cheeks--it works just like chapstick, but when they get it in their mouth, it wont hurt them, cuz after all, its meant to be eaten

[nanis]

Jenshim,Juliana is also teething!Only she has a fever,swollen gums & runny nose/stools.She doesn't tug her ears but all the other symptoms.She will be 5 months on the 28.Hope Brody & Juliana feel better soon!

[tiredbuthappy]

sara was 5 months this weekend, and i have been wondering about teething too. she eats her fingers, but i think it's normal baby stuff. occasionally she gnaws more aggressively, and did seem uncomfortable at one point this weekend, and i did feel bumps. i haven't felt them since but she doesn't really let me check though. the reason i wonder about the teething is because she has had an on and off runny nose for 3 weeks now. i really don't think she's sick because some days it's running more than others. she's happy as clam, never got the green boogies, etc. not that i'm in a rush to have her get teeth- she doesn't need them yet anyways :)

[girlybuff]

That';s definitely teething....... My DD has been teething for what seems like an eternity.  She started at 10 weeks and at 15 months is STILL teething!!  The ear tugging thing is a sure sign of it and rejecting food is too.  I was told by my dr and another dr I know that if people were to go through the pain of teething we would need morphine.  that really put it into perspective for me.  It's horrible and the worst is that they can't tell you what's wrong.  I'm sure you've heard all the teething tricks of the trade by now bbut can I make one grand suggestion??  Hylands Teething Tablets!!!!!!

[jenstam]

I did get the teething tablets. Sometimes they calm him and put him right to sleep, other times I don't notice much of a difference. I'm thinking that the times I don't notice a difference are when his problems are actually gas or something else. But I do notice they work.