your baby


YOU’RE A MOM


BY YOLANDI NORTH


NUBY TRIANGLE TEETHER R89.99 leading retailers


TOP TEETH AN TRUTHSD TRICKS


Cutting those little milk teeth can be trying times for babies and parents


S


ome little ones breeze


through


teething, but most are not that lucky. If your six-month-


old has gone from a content, happy little sleeper and eater, to a generally unhappy one, then chances are she could be teething. If you also notice red and swollen gums and a bump under the skin when touching the gums, then she is probably teething.


TEETHING IS AN UNPREDICTABLE PROCESS


Although it is rare, some babies are born with a tooth or two. “If they are loose or


106 YOUR PREGNANCY TRUTH


growing at an unusual angle, they will be removed so that there is no risk of them falling out and being swallowed,” says Dr Miriam Stoppard in her book Complete Baby And Childcare.


Having a child who starts teething as young as four months or one who has no teeth by her first birthday is also


rare, but both normal.


As a general rule however, teething starts at around six months. Although the order of eruption can vary, you can generally expect to see the


lower two front teeth


first, followed by the upper two front teeth. During your child’s second


year (specifically between 15 and Images: Thinkstock


19 months), most of the canine teeth will appear. These are often way more painful than the remainder of the teeth. By three years old, most little ones will have all 20 of their baby teeth.


1 EASING THE PAIN


APPLY A TOPICAL GEL WITH LOCAL ANAESTHETIC OR POWDER DIRECTLY TO


A LIFETIME OF GOOD ORAL HEALTH


Clean baby’s teeth from when you first notice the first tooth. Choose a toothpaste which contains fluoride and a soft special toothbrush for tiny teeth. Even if he has no teeth yet, cleaning his gums with a wet handkerchief or facecloth will help him to get used to the sensation. Healthy gums are the first step towards healthy pearly whites. “Always brush teeth at night, so that food particles are not left in the mouth overnight,” advises Dr Miriam Stoppard. When your child turns two, take him for his first “healthy” visit to the dentist. If first teeth are lost through decay, it can spread to the bone beneath and erode the support needed by the adult teeth.


TRICK


AMBER


BEADS (OR NOT)? Some mothers strongly believe


that amber necklaces do wonders for the discomfort experienced during teething. Paediatrician Dr Deon Smith argues that there is little scientific proof that it makes a difference and that it simply poses a risk of choking.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116