Teething sucks balls. I'm afraid I have nothing better to offer than that. You came for honesty so let me tell you, everyone is winging it - counting the seconds between Calpol doses, dancing to the Cherokee gods, whatever it takes. When it comes to baby teeth the only reliable apparatus is one wing and one prayer. So here's my list of 5 things that might make enduring teething a little more palatable... at least for as long as it takes to read them:
One of the scariest parts of motherhood is not knowing why anything is happening - Why are they crying? What's that rash? What's that smell? Teething is a one size fits all explanation for all those questions. Not sleeping, it's teeth. Not eating, it's teeth. Poop funny, gotta be the teeth. Babies are often a maddening mystery and every once in a while it's nice to have something to pin their unpredictable beahviours on.
Teeth are a wonderful lesson in the inevitable variety of life. Some babies are born with steak-ready gnashers; others remain toothless for months and months and then several sprout overnight like mushroom. If you're one of those parents with a tendancy to compare and have convinced yourself that the whilst you're waiting for your tot to roll her peers are reading Tolstoy, just check out their mouths. Babies grow at their own rate and in their own way - teeth are the proof.
Teething also provides you with some preparation for coexisting with a teenager. You know - snarling, crying and kicking off at the drop of hat and with very little provocation. If you can't find a way to manage the unfiltered emotion of your child when they're small enough to shove under one arm, you will have no chance when they're towering above you and fuelled by supermarket vodka - just sayin'.
If your little one is taking a while to cut them gums at least you're spared the pressure of tooth brushing twice a day. That, my friend, is another ridiculous state of affairs but we'll save that for another day shall we...
This question comes from the lovely K who blogs about life (including teething) with her husband and baby over at Eat.Love.Live. And gives good twitter if you're asking.
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Love these, especially 1. Although it could always be my personal favourite, a growth spurt! ;-) Fab post
ReplyDeletex Char http://charlotteskitchenblog.blogspot.co.uk
#MMWBH
Ha ha, I love the growth spurts! Seems like there's one every other month x
DeleteThank you for the tips lovely. I am still waiting for any teeth appearances but dealing with the symptoms daily. Your words are going to help me get through one day at a time xx
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up! We can only take it one day and one tooth at a time :) x
DeleteThere is nothing worse than teething. A million yrs of evolution and our teeth still just smash through our gums?
ReplyDeleteIt's brutal right?! All that just to lose them all again!
DeleteI always say my children are tired. It doesn't matter what they do, how much of a little shit they are being, I will just excuse them with 'oh she's tired'. Teething can work for this too though!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Yeah always say, 'oh he's tired..' and assume everyone around me knows I mean 'this child is out of control'.
DeleteUgh yes, my nearly 11 month old has been teething forever but only has 3 teeth. 17 to go. How have we not evolved to make this a straightforward process by now?
ReplyDeleteIt's so odd, you'll have weeks of fuss and then one little peg pops through. My son is nearly 18months and still has a way to go, doesn't let it hold him back with the chomping though!
ReplyDeleteYuck, it is hellish isn't it. Poor little things. Thanks so much for linking up to #TheList x
ReplyDeleteThanks Aby! Was excited to have a list to contribute :)
DeleteIt's funny that it doesn't matter what is wrong with a baby, someone will always say 'they must be teething'. The teething stage was a real pain in the bum, my son had symptoms for ages and then suddenly had like 5 teeth at once, never heard screaming like it!
ReplyDeleteAh poor poppet! Yeah the teething is defo the one size fits all baby answer x
DeleteIt's awful isn't it. I'm now at the other end where they're causing problems getting wobbly and falling out but at least they're old enough to tell me what's causing the pain!
ReplyDeleteOh teeth are pesky things aren't they. I guess at least now we have the words to complain about it!
DeleteOh gawsh! I don't miss those days at all! That being said - did you know that kids go through teething AGAIN at around 6? My daughter just cut another molar and she was a grouchy grump! I thought it was an ulcer until I hit the answer to all problems a.k.a Google!
ReplyDeleteNo way! Dr Google to the rescue! I thought it was a lot of fuss over nothing until my wisdom teeth came through :)
DeleteGreat tips and teething is a BITCH! You're right on that one!! Thanks for linking up with #MMWBH xx
ReplyDeletehttp://www.superbusymum.net
Especially good point about the prep to teenage-hood: a keeper point for the parenting road. Lovely writing style too! #TheList
ReplyDeleteAw, cheers lovely x
ReplyDeleteThank you for the mention! Nothing wrong with dressing a small child like a cowgirl at all ;-)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.skibz.co.uk/shop/skibz-products/cowboy-star
This is possibly the best advice on all things teething - or just telling it like it is so you can at least cope with the untold horrors of teething. I just had to click on the word balls too, when it was highlighted so nicely (I had to look over my shoulder to check no one was watching just in case it was something dodgy - it wasn't by the way, if anyone is reading this).
ReplyDeleteTee hee, glad someone was brave :)
ReplyDelete