So I've been babysitting part time for a family nearby that allows me to bring my baby with me. It's only temporary for now, but it's been a nice set up and a good way for me to start working again almost 3 months after my own baby was born and still have her with me. My question is about their 6-month-old girl (they also have a two boys, ages 3 and 5). She has a few teeth already and still cutting more obviously. I usually am able to give her infant Tylenol or Ibuprofen (with permission from their mom) to help her. But sometimes including today, she still screamed incessantly for an hour while biting down on her fist or a toy really hard no matter what I did to comfort her. She also is not feeding well. She acts hungry, but then spits the formula (which she normally takes fine) back out. She spits with her tongue a lot actually especially lately when I give her a bottle. Is it normal for a teething baby to spit like that and scream so much? I used to nanny for twin baby girls who never did that while teething. They were fussier, but not screaming. She likes grunt loudly too. She just seems to like to be as loud as possible. But I am concerned that something more is going on. Should I be? Sorry if this seems dumb to ask, but I have not encountered a teething infant who acted this way before.
ETA: Thanks ladies! I'll try the frozen wash cloth and/or teething rings. We do use Orajel, but she spits it out and it's near impossible to get onto her gums with constantly spitting. I feel so bad for her. I just pray my baby doesn't have as hard of a time when she begins teething.
Could she have an ear infection and the movement of swallowing is causing her pain? Babies don't usually scream like that for that long becaus of teething. Ear infections are what I know that cause that sort of screaming.
http://www.hylands.com/news/teethinginfo.php
In case people are worried about Belladonna in teething tablets.
Good lord.
Freeze some baby wash towels. Let her chew on them..
Baby teeth feel like little needles cutting through her gums,, It can be excruciating. With all of the drainage, she could also have fluid in her ears. Ear aches also hurt.
The bottle may irritate her gums.. So just make sure she can get enough formula or breast milk, without having to chew on the nipple very hard.
Poor baby.. Will they allow some of the teeth tablets? Hylands makes them..
I had to take my granddaughter to the ER one night with a high fever. They asked what she was taking OTC. I mentioned the teething tablets. The doc got irate and asked me if I had done any research on them. They are Bella Dona. It is a poison and it can build up in the kiddo's system and become toxic. He told me to never use them again. He said most people today have never seen bella dona as a drug so they don't know the side effects or what a possible overdose of it looks like.
He was right. I had no idea. So I don't recommend you use them at all. There are a lot of other meds that work just as well. Motrin reduces inflammation and that's usually why they are hurting.
My babies didn't like frozen washcloths, but they did like to chew on frozen bagels and frozen waffles. Can get very messy very quickly!
How about baby Orajel? I used it for my daughter and am now for my son. Also try the frozen washcloth. That was my daughters favorite teething toy. Lastly, you might want to use one of those feeding things with the mesh net (forget what they are called). I put frozen fruit in them and my 8 month old loves to chew that. Be care careful what fruit you use though, it sure can get messy!
I always used the teething rings that you can put in the refrigerator or freezer. I have heard great things about the mesh feeder too. My pediatrician told me NEVER to use the teething tablets. I also would use Baby Orajel when nothing else seemed to work.
They are all different. Poor baby.
sI second the Hyland teething tablets! but, also, NO they don't usually scream like this. She may have developed a milk allergy to her formula, it happens about that age I think if they aren't born with it like mine were. You could suggest switching to a hypoallergenic formula to see what happens. Usually you will see a difference within 36 hours. Soy is another option unless she happens to be allergic to that as well. 1 of mine was, 1 wasn't. Also, could she have gas or be constipated? those will also make a baby scream for hours.
Something's up T.. That's excessive teething behavior, IMHO.
We use Hyland's teething tabs, or Orajel, or frozen teething rings. It all took enough of the edge off to sooth our babies.
What you describe is severe pain, quite possibly an ear infection. Maybe you could take a quick video on your phone and show the mom, so mom can take her to her Pediatrician.
GL!
