Surviving teething and the lies we tell ourselves.
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Showing you his teeth! |
I’ve never really understood teething. Yes I’ve blamed many the restless nights on the impending chompers but mostly, I’ve had no idea whether that was the real reason for his sleeplessness or not. Usually the reality is I just like to tell myself that it is teeth causing the midnight (and 2 o’clock, and 4 o’clock, and 5 o’clock) wakings so that I can believe the lie that he is going to return to my baby who used to sleep through the night soon.
Things have changed recently though. Just before Christmas the dreaded eye teeth started making their appearance. His gums have been red raw and there has been no question that he is pain with hand constantly in his mouth. He has even taken to pointing to his mouth and crying, especially after eating anything acidic (is this normal!?). Nurofen has been our only saviour as it’s also the only thing that brings down his temps as well (something he has always gotten when teething – or something I have always attributed to teething anyway – am I the most clueless parent or what?! Practical parenting classes for me I think!).
This post was sponsored by Nurofen for Children but all opinions are my own (ain’t nobody can afford to buy those!).
I completely agree with you that it’s difficult to tell what’s teething and what’s growing and what’s learning and testing boundaries, etc. We’re finally coming to the end of Dear Boy’s teething with his last set of molars coming through. Those bad boys were quick but they did a number on my boy’s personality that shocked the hell out me. After a week of massive tantrums and whinging (OH GOD THE WHINGING) I discovered his lower ones were through already and one set of points were through of the top ones – completely unobservant of me not to notice. Now he can actually say “sore teeth” or “sore mouth” it makes it a bit easier to figure out what’s what.