Anybody's Baby Get MEAN With Teething?

[AC7179]

My 15 month old has been slow to get her teeth, and so far just has the bottom two. They came in without too many problems, but now it looks like her top right is coming in. The past three days have been horrible. She hasn't eaten, she hasn't slept, and basically I think she feels miserable. The big thing is that she has been throwing the mother of all fits just about every hour. She cries and screams and swats and you and kicks her feet whenever I tell her no. Today she head butted me (HARD) in anger. Is this normal? I put her in timeout for one minute for doing it---but I feel badly that I am putting her in timeout when she is already in pain. We have tried tylenol and teething tablets. Tonight I gave in and gave her some Children's Nyquil. Is the behavior normal? I just want to make sure it is from the teething and not from something else.

 

[belle&beast]

I had a similar experience with teething. My son was miserable- threw tantrums, bit, head butted, hit- pretty much anything he could do! Kids actout this way because they do not have the ability to express themselves and their pain. Continue the pain medicine, we found that ibuprofin like children's motrin or advil worked better than tylenol, and hang in there, it will get better! A friend of mine used oragel to numb the gums, but I couldn't get close to his mouth. Good luck!
Kim

 

[las3888]

I was going to mention the baby motrin as well. We gave DS baby tylenol for first 6 months per our pedi but switched at 6 months to baby motrin. It has worked MUCH better. We try not to give it to him too often but it lasts 8 hrs when we do which is nice. Good luck! I hear molars are a bear!!!

 

[FSUGrad97]

When my DD2 was teething, we always used motrin since it helped her so much better than Tylenol. I would suggest taking a wet washcloth and freezing it (not rock hard, just really cold), and let your baby chew on it.

The molars are tough, and my DD got hers all at once, but with motrin, cold washcloths and hugs, we made it.

One thing I would suggest is to be understanding of their pain - I have braces and when my DD was teething, my teeth were moving so we were both miserable. That day, the rules weren't as enforced since I knew her teeth had to be hurting her as bad as mine were.

Hang in there!

 

[AC7179]

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. I had a feeling it had to be related to the teeth, but thought generally babies acted sad, not bad, when teething. Thanks for letting me know she is not alone! She is doing much, much better today. We have decided to stay at home a few days until she is better so she can play, run, or meltdown as needed. Thanks again.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

When my DD2 was teething, we always used motrin since it helped her so much better than Tylenol. I would suggest taking a wet washcloth and freezing it (not rock hard, just really cold), and let your baby chew on it.

Although my boys are older now, I can say that both Motrin & a frozen wash cloth worked wonders.

Also might want to try frozen waffles & frozen whole wheat bagels. Both will turn to mush so as not to pose a choking hazzard. I used to cut the bagels in half after they were sliced so baby would have something that was easy to hold on to.

Good luck!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Don't forget however that ear infections have symptoms very much like teething. I took DS to the dr once because his teeth seemed to be bothing he too much. Turned out to be a eaar infection.

BTW- DS always ran a fever when teething though drs say that is not the cause.

Prayers that she feels beter.

Jordan's mom

 

[tracilicious]

My 15 month old has been slow to get her teeth, and so far just has the bottom two. They came in without too many problems, but now it looks like her top right is coming in. The past three days have been horrible. She hasn't eaten, she hasn't slept, and basically I think she feels miserable. The big thing is that she has been throwing the mother of all fits just about every hour. She cries and screams and swats and you and kicks her feet whenever I tell her no. Today she head butted me (HARD) in anger. Is this normal? I put her in timeout for one minute for doing it---but I feel badly that I am putting her in timeout when she is already in pain. We have tried tylenol and teething tablets. Tonight I gave in and gave her some Children's Nyquil. Is the behavior normal? I just want to make sure it is from the teething and not from something else.

First for the pain, I highly recommend Hyland's Teething Tabs. They are a homeopathic remedy that can be found in nearly every health food store. They are miraculous!!!

Even though you feel your baby is being "bad" I think one is way too young for a time out. She's expressing her pain the only way she knows how. She needs to be hugged, not punished. Even though I practice non-punitive, gentle discipine, most people that believe in time outs don't even recommend it until two. There is no way that she has a clue why you are ignoring her. And to be in pain on top of it? Poor baby.

I hope your teething troubles end soon.

www.positivediscipline.com

 

[AC7179]

Thanks again for the advice.

Tracilicious, I've been using Love and Logic---basically just natural consequences. If she starts throwing her food on the ground, then we say that she's done and take the food away. Most of the time she is doing it because she is full anyway.

The timeouts I only do for hitting or hurting (headbutting). I was told to put her in timeout for 1 minute for each year of age (1). I hold her in my lap and tell her, "You're in timeout for one minute for hitting, because hitting hurts." She seems to understand. Plus, generally it just last for 30 seconds since she can't tell time. But, I am sympathetic to her pain, I promise. I will check out the positive discipline website. Thanks for the link.

Again, thanks for all the help! She is much better today, thank goodness. Appreciate all the prayesr and well wishes!

 

[LisaNJ25]

Yes, My Belle has not been a princess while teething. She is also 15 months and has 16 teeth. I hope this is it for awhile. It has not been fun.

 

[tracilicious]

The timeouts I only do for hitting or hurting (headbutting). I was told to put her in timeout for 1 minute for each year of age (1). I hold her in my lap and tell her, "You're in timeout for one minute for hitting, because hitting hurts." She seems to understand. Plus, generally it just last for 30 seconds since she can't tell time. But, I am sympathetic to her pain, I promise. I will check out the positive discipline website. Thanks for the link.

I wouldn't necessarily call that a time out. Some gentle discipline advocates say to hold a hitter, as it gives them a chance to release the emotions that cause that kind of frustration by crying anyways. We went through a hitting stage at a bit older than that and it sucked!

I'm really just getting started in my gentle discipline research, as I found that time outs were causing more problems than they solve. I've found it to be the most nurturing way to treat a child and still acheive results. I've found the gentle discipline boards at www.mothering.com to be a HUGE help. Many loving mammas helping each other out. If it is something that you are interested in, then check it out. I doubt you'll be sorry. It's the best thing I've ever done for my two year old.

 

[barkley]

BE VERY CAREFUL WITH A HEAD BUTTING BABY!!!!

my ds did this (not in anger or to hurt, just that thing where they throw their head back and kind of arch their backs). the little darling BROKE MY NOSE TWICE

yup-valentines days and a few days shy of mother's days in the same year.

if you can, keep them sitting with their head to the side of your head.

p.s. it's a toss up which is worse-getting your nose broken or hearing the crunch as it breaks (and then having you spouse gag over the sound ).

 

[NotUrsula]

Yep, my head-butter did the same thing to me. I was walking around with a hideously bruised face for a good chunk of his babyhood. My poor DH; there are people we know who are still convinced that he must have hit me, because they didn't believe that a baby could do that much damage.

 

[AC7179]

Oh GEEZ! Ouch! Thanks, I will be cautious!

 

[barkley]

Yep, my head-butter did the same thing to me. I was walking around with a hideously bruised face for a good chunk of his babyhood. My poor DH; there are people we know who are still convinced that he must have hit me, because they didn't believe that a baby could do that much damage.

yup-my dh got a lot of ribbing about it. my co-workers knew how active my son was and the secnd time i came in with the black eyes and purple nose they asked if i needed an "elder abuse" referal (we worked for social services)