babyblogo.com

Though your baby will eventually replace his primary teeth with permanent teeth they are still important for his development right now and are not just there for appearance. Primary teeth enable children to chew and speak properly, and these “baby” teeth reserve space in the jaw for permanent teeth. The proper care of baby teeth can be very important to the proper development of adult teeth.

Once the new teeth are in place clean them with a soft baby toothbrush or wipe them with gauze. To protect your baby’s teeth be sure to never allow your baby to fall asleep with a bottle because this will easily lead to tooth decay. Whether a baby is bottle fed or nursed, he will be vulnerable to “baby bottle tooth decay”. Such decay occurs when freshly sprouted baby teeth are exposed to liquids containing sugars (basically, anything other than water) for long periods of time. Bacteria in the mouth will grow in the sugar, which attack the tooth enamel and cause cavities. The best treatment for “baby bottle tooth decay” is prevention. Don’t let your baby use a bottle as a pacifier or fall asleep with a bottle. Also, be sure to gently clean his teeth and gums after each feeding with water.

Although you may have heard otherwise from well meaning friends and relatives, teething does NOT cause significant fever (over 100 degrees rectally). To help soothe your baby’s teething discomfort, here’s some baby teething pain home remedies:

• Gently massage the swollen gums with one of your fingers (be sure to wash your hands thoroughly).

• Take a clean, soft washcloth and soak it in apple juice. Wring it out, tie the cloth in a knot, and place it in the freezer for 30 minutes (it will not freeze hard like water does, rather, it will get very cold and nearly frozen). When frozen, give it to your baby, placing it first in his mouth, then his hands. You will see almost immediate results. Your baby will love the apple juice and most doctors approve it for even very young infants. The combination of the cold and the texture of the washcloth will begin to ease your baby’s pain right away.
• Give your child something cold to gnaw on like a Popsicle or a chilled teething ring (not a frozen one), or a frozen banana.
• Do not use lotions or ointments that are supposed to reduce teething pain in a baby less than four months. They wash out of the baby’s mouth within minutes. They may contain an agent that could numb the throat and cause the baby to choke.
• NEVER, under any circumstances, place alcohol into your baby’s mouth. Many well meaning friends and relatives (there sure are a LOT of those “well meaning friends and relatives”) may suggest a “dab of whiskey”, but this is NEVER ok. Alcohol can act like a poison to a young baby.
• Acetaminophen may be used for a few days if your baby is uncomfortable.
• Baby Advil (ibuprofen) can be used as well and can be more effective than acetaminophen because ibuprofen contains an anti inflammatory component and acetaminophen does not.

Babyblogo.com will detail what you can expect in the first year of your baby’s life. It will offer tips and advice on everything from baby feeding to baby sleep and baby safety. This is by no means a blog that dictates what you should or should not do.

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It is important to keep in mind that every baby is unique and will react differently from all other babies in all types of situations. Learning what works for you and your baby is what parenting is all about. Throw in love and patience and you have a formula that is sure to work for you.

In babyblogo.com you will learn all about:

• What to do during those first days at home, including the “blues” a new mother might be feeling.
• Getting your baby to sleep and whether or not it’s important to insist your baby sleep through the night.
• Using music to soothe your baby.
• What to feed your baby at each stage of development
• How much your baby should weigh.
• What to expect as your baby starts to roll over.
• The types of noises that babies make.
• What to expect as your baby masters those motor skills.
• Having your baby socialize with other babies.
• What to expect when your baby is teething.
• All about vaccinations: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
• What to do when your baby gets that first cold.
• Which toys are best for every stage of your baby’s first year.
• What games you can play with your baby to enhance his development.