What are some symptoms of teething?

Question

My 5 1/2 month old son all of a sudden woke up today with a runny nose. He's never been sick before and that seems to be his only symptom -although his cheeks look a little flushed. I was just wondering if this could be a symptom of teething - I've read conflicting articles. He seems miserable though and I'm not sure if I should take him to the doctor or just wait it out and see if a little tooth erupts. I would just like to hear some other parents' experiences with teething. Thank you!

Answer 1

I have 3 children. The symptoms I have seen with them are runny nose, swollen, red gums, drooling enough to fill up a swimming pool, chewing on everything like mad crazy (and I don't mean the "hmmm..I wonder what this is" kind of chewing, it's more of a "I am gonna chew this thing all the way up"), crankiness, tugging on ears (bad enough I brought one in to have his ears checked), a low-grade temp. I think that is about it.
When they are teething, the gums are usually kind of red and swollen and you might be able to see the shape of the tooth. The doctor I had for my older children when they were babies always said that teething doesn't really bother babies and that the runny noses and drooling and all those things weren't signs that the baby was teething. He said there weren't any really signs. When I told our new doctor what the old doctor had said, her response was "Did he have children of his own?" and she giggled. There is lots of conflicting information out there, but I think with this subject we have to trust all that information that has been passed down from mother to daughter for many generations.

Answer 2

Last week I thought my 8 month old was also sick. He had a snotty nose and a low fever. I was going to take him to the doctor but he woke up the next day with his first tooth.Then he was fine. Now the snotty nose is back and I noticed his other bottom tooth is trying to pop out. I would say all kids are different. My oldest son never had cold symptoms during teething, but I have met many babies that do including my youngest. Just watch him closely and if he seems worse do get him in otherwise try waiting it out and see if a tooth doesn't pop through.

Answer 3

Experts disagree about whether teething actually causes symptoms — like fussiness, diarrhea, and fever — or whether these common symptoms are not related to teething at all and just coincidentally appear at the same time as emerging teeth. Regardless, many parents maintain that their teething babies do experience discomfort (though some babies get through the process with no problems at all). The symptoms most likely to trouble a teether include:
• Drooling (which can lead to a facial rash)

• Gum swelling and sensitivity

• Irritability or fussiness

• Biting behavior

• Refusing food

• Sleep problems

Though many parents report that their babies have loose stools, runny noses, or a fever just before a new tooth arrives, most experts don't think teething is to blame for these symptoms. But I think it can be.

Answer 4

My 5 month old is starting to teeth and his symptoms are: excessive drooling, chewing on hands, swollen gums (where teeth are coming in).......it sounds like your son might be sick....take his temp and go from there. Call the ped too, just in case.

Answer 5

crankiness and sometimes even fever there is some natural teething stuff you can find somewhere on the net.I actually remember that teething hurts like hell and can practically put a baby in shock from the pain, i was going into shock once from a wringer washer so i know what that is like too, had to get a blanket on me in warm weather.

Answer 6

runny nose, swollen gums, crying for "no reason", not wanting to eat, biting when nursing, clentching teeth....these all happened to my kids when they were teething. Some Baby Orajel and/or Tylenol work great

Answer 7

Constant crying,chewing, sucking and drooling.