{Time for a Little Teething Shock and Awe}

Anyone can tell you the standard teething symptoms.

(Like me, for example.)

Sorry, but I find this disturbingly hilarious. (Click the picture to get a jump on her Halloween costume.)

You know…the drooling, the fussiness, or the dead give away: spotting a tooth.

But what about those baby teething symptoms that aren’t so obvious?

The ones that you can’t find in The Big Book of Baby or http://www.MegaBabySite.com?

What about the weird ones?  The shocking ones?  The eeeewwwww‘s of the teething world?

So glad you asked.

Here are 6 of the world’s most neglected teething symptoms. 

Blood Blisters

This is the weird teething symptom sends most moms into hysterics.

Especially when the blister pops.

It’s pretty nasty.  Your infant looks up at you with a bloody mouth that looks like…

Well, I think you know what it looks like.

Freaky.

Here’s what happened:  the tooth starts moving toward the gum line.  The tender gum tissue bruises a little, turning a purplish color.  (One mom thought her son had been chewing on an ink pen.)

As the tooth erupts through the skin, it “pops” the balloon, so to speak and a little blood comes out.

This doesn’t hurt your baby any more than the usual teething experience.  Letting him suck on a cold damp (or partially frozen) washcloth will reduce the swelling and help with pain.

NEVER poke or try to drain the blister.  This can lead to an infection, which is bad news bears.

Take a brief second to write down in your tracker the date you first notice the blister.  That way, if it sticks around longer than a month with no tooth, you know to give your dentist a call.

The So-Called Ear Infection

I’ll take “Infant Anatomy” for 300, Alex.

The nerves on the gum line, below your infant’s budding nubs travel up the jaw and behind the ear.  By tugging on the earlobe, your smart infant has figured out a way to provide some relief to those nerve endings.

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve taken my babies to the doctor convinced of an ear infection, only to leave with a “just teething” diagnosis.  Frankly, it’s embarrassing.  I have a website about babies, for goodness sake!

Eventually, I got smarter and picked up a good otoscope.  Being able to actually look inside her ear eliminated all those extra co-pays!

The Diarrhea Conspiracy

Why is diarrhea listed as “weird” in my list of teething symptoms?

Because, according to the medical community, it doesn’t exist.

Just like Area 51…

And yet, a strange  number of otherwise-happy teethers will suddenly experience leaky bowels.

So do we ditch the doctors? or look suspiciously at the parents?

Do UFP’s (Unexplained Flowing Poops) really exist? 

I’ll let you decide.

Be on the look out for some loose stools, and if you spot them take a picture as medical proof concentrate on keeping your baby well-hydrated.

The Mother of all Rashes

Rashes.

Oh, how I hate thee. 

Little red bumps of torture. 

I consider rashes one of the weird teething symptoms, because, frankly, these rashes are just hideous.

The “bucket ‘o drool” look your baby is going for these days has some side effects.  The chin, the neck, or even his hands can all start to turn blotchy, red-chapped, and bumpy.

And those are just the rashes on the top half of his body.

Some babies will also get rashes on their bum.  Probably due to the increased acidity of the diarrhea-poop (that doesn’t exist, remember?).

For the mouth, hands, and neck rash: dry off his skin and then smear on a layer of Vaseline or Eucerin to protect those fragile skin cells.

For the bum, try my favorite bottom balm and use it faithfully until the rash heals up.

The Digs on Drool

As much as you may hate the fact your baby is nearly as drooly as your basset hound, drool is actually a good  thing.  It acts as a topical cushion of gel between your baby’s tooth-bergs and his tender gums. 

You think he’s Mr. McCrabby Pants now?  Trust me, he would have been beyond tolerable without the river of drool!

Sleep Schmeep!

Why is sleep considered a weird teething symptom?

Because it’s usually not your baby who loses sleep.  It’s usually you.

Some babies will be champion sleepers…until teething hits.  Then they’ll wake up fussing until you rock and shush them back to sleep.

Yes…be surprised.  I’m actually encouraging you to rock your baby to sleep.

It’s usually a training mistake, but in this case your baby is hurting and needs your physical touch and perhaps some teething medication to comfort into slumber again.

• If your baby has already started teething…try these sleeping tricks for immediate help.
• If your baby hasn’t already started teething, but it’s on the horizon…start now to teach him how to fall asleep.  (Falling asleep on his own is a skill he will need to master if you want to avoid getting up 2-3 times a night when he’s two or three.)

A baby (and parent!) who has been getting the sleep he needs on a regular basis will be able to weather the rough waters of teething a lot better.

Teething isn’t for Sissies (Time to Arm Up!)

When it comes to The War of the Tooth, your infant will fall into two camps.

1. He will hardly break a sweat.  You won’t realize he’s teethed until he smiles one day and you realize they’re all there.
2. He transforms into Mr. Furious.   Nothing pleases him.  Nothing satisfies.  And your wondering who took your content little angel-boy away.

If your baby is the first category: Congratulations.  95% of the parents reading this hate you.

If your baby is in the second category:  Be encouraged.  This will pass and your fat-cherub-of giggles will return.

In the meantime, you have some options…

1. Browse through my other articles the subject of teething.
2. Hop on over to my editorial calendar to see which teething articles are being written, but aren’t yet ready for prime-time.
3. Join me and get teething blog posts (and other fun stuff) emailed straight to your inbox.

Photo credit: clappstar

What weird teething symptoms did your baby have?

Share them in the comments!

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