Over the last few weeks we've been umm'ing and arr'ing over whether Theo is actually teething - after all he is only 3 months old. The dribbling, the irritability and the sudden awkwardness when it comes to sleeping and eating were dismissed by health visitors and random strangers alike. Until they saw him in person. My usual happy chappy can turn into the devil child in a matter of seconds and nothing settles him. It's bloody heartbreaking - and bloody hard work!
It all started one Sunday night when Theo suddenly dropped half his milk intake. This in turn had an effect on his sleep i.e. he didnt sleep! He had been dribbling for the last week but this was the first time my routine sleeper had differed since his colic disappeared.
After a short Google, we saw that the signs of teething were very similar but he wasn't even meant to be showing signs for another 3 months! At his next doctors appointment I took him to, I asked the nurse to have a quick rummage around at his gums and her response was that his gums were hard but it's very rare to start teething this young. Over the next couple of weeks when we told anyone he was teething it was met with "Really? This young?" or when we were asked if they had come through yet "Well they should of come through by now". It was exhausting.
However not as exhausting as going from only waking up once/twice a night to constantly not being unable to settle all night. In the end we decided to stock up on teething supplies and just see if it helps! I already had some Calpol stashed away from his injections so we bought a couple of teething toys (which are suitable for little tiny mouths as Theo can't hold things in his mouth for long), some teething powder and some teething gel. We were ready to face it head on.
After a couple of weeks it just disappeared one night. He started drinking his 6oz's again, sleeping like the angel that he is and then a couple of days later BOOM it hit again. He now has good moments but as soon as them gums hurt nothing will settle him. He's also become really clingy when he gets tired which again isn't like him as he's quite independent really.
From what I've learnt over the last few weeks is it's just trial and error. Like when he was first born, I just work my way through the options of what could soothe him. Nappy, nope. Food, nope. Tether, nope. Let's try some Bongela. I also find that when he's inconsolable cuddling him whilst doing a little bounce and shhhh'ing helps (eventually, after maybe 3 minutes of whaling down my ear).
I also give him Calpol and teething powder every morning when he wakes up and every night before. Ed if he's showing signs of being a little grumpy.
The signs that signalled our terrible entrance to the world of teething were gradual and were: Dribbling, blowing bubbles, chewing hands, not eating or sleeping (as much), screaming and chewing teat when feeding, unexplained bouts of crying, general grumpiness towards things that didn't bother him before.
My only advice is stock up on teething related items at about 2 months ish - we did this by fluke and POW it started 2 weeks later. It was a godsend as this meant we didn't have to fanny about searching
for things with a screaming child attached to us.
To sum up, teething is hard work. Please send sanity. And alcohol (for you, not your child!)
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