Teething is a normal process of baby growth which is characterized by new teeth rising and erupting through the gums. Usually, babies start to teeth after the age of 6 months old. You noticed that your baby is drooling and is also fussier than before. But your baby is only 2 months old. Can your baby start teething at such a young age?
Can Babies Teeth at 2 Months Old?
As mentioned, the first tooth usually is not shown before the age of 6 months old. However, babies can start teething at 2 months old. By the age of 3, your child will have all the teeth in their place. Babies are born with 20 primary teeth under the gum line. For some, the teething process starts early on, while for others it might take some time.
Here are some signs that you need to look for when determining if your baby is teething or not:
- Drooling
- Swollen gums
- Bulging gums
- Difficulties sleeping
- Irritability
- Constant need to chew, grab or suck things
- Face rubbing
- Ear-grabbing
- Inconsistent feeding
- Rash around the mouth due to constant drooling, which is usually a mild rash from secondary skin irritation
If you noticed several of the above mentioned symptoms, it is more likely that your baby is teething. Can babies teeth at 2 months old? Yes, it is possible, but it is also possible to be something else and not teething.
What’s Not from Teething?
If your baby has a fever, a runny nose or even diarrhea, you should get medical help. These signs are not teething signs; it probably is something else. This is especially true if the symptoms last longer than 24 hours.
The American Academy of Pediatrics claims that fever and diarrhea are not normal signs of teething. As babies tend to grab, suck and chew things while they are teething, they probably grab a virus and other germs too, causing fever and diarrhea.
Seek immediate medical help if your baby has a fever higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, lethargy, etc.
How to Soothe Your Baby’s Teething Pain
Can babies teeth at 2 months old? Yes. If you are sure that your baby is teething right now, here are ways to help soothe the pain and comfort the baby.
1. Ice
Ice and cold are a well-known soothing remedy for teething pain. By freezing some safe items, you can help your baby relieve the teething pain. Just give these frozen things to your baby while he/she wants to chew things. However, be aware of choking hazard when giving things to your baby.
Many parents prefer frozen washcloths. Get a washcloth and put it in the freezer for about half an hour. Once the washcloth gets cold at stiff, give it your baby to play with it and hold it while chewing. Or you can touch your baby’s gums with the washcloth. Your baby can’t swallow the washcloth as it is big enough and it will probably stay cold for several minutes.
Cold fruit pops, hard vegetables like carrots or frozen bagels are also recommended to relieve the teething pain. Be aware of a choking hazard.
2. Pressure
A gentle pressure or massage directly on your baby’s gums will help ease the pain. A wooden spoon or wooden teething rings also offer pressure while teething.
3. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is known to help while baby teething. Some natural teething products also contain chamomile as one of the ingredients. When giving your baby chamomile tea or any other tea, make sure that it is decaffeinated. Don’t give your baby tea made from plants on your garden as there is an increased risk of botulism.
4. Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding often helps your baby calm down while teething. However, there is no need to keep nursing all the time if you notice that breastfeeding is not helping to calm down your baby. Some babies also prefer to bite mom’s breasts, which can be quite painful. Move on to other solutions for your baby’s teething if necessary.
5. Painkillers
Can babies teeth at 2 months old? Even though this is less likely to occur, yes, babies can start teething at 2 months old. Over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen are sometimes recommended for your baby if other conservative treatments are not helpful and your baby is constantly crying. However, talk to your doctor before giving any medication to your baby. A proper dosage is very important, especially in babies and in children under the age of 2.
Warning Against Certain Medications
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is against using these topical medications in children younger than 2 years old, as they contain benzocaine. There is a big concern that your baby will swallow a certain amount of this gel or cream with saliva. This can lead to throat numbness, affecting the gag reflex, putting your baby at a greater risk of choking. Rarely, benzocaine can lead to a serious medical condition known as methemoglobinemia, characterized by very low levels of oxygen in the blood.
- Ibuprofen is another option among many painkillers available. However, ibuprofen is not recommended for babies younger than 6 month’s old. Ibuprofen can irritate the baby’s stomach, which can make your problem get worse as babies while teething, have a very hard time eating.
- Aspirin is not recommended under the age of 19 years old. This means that it is forbidden to give it to your baby while teething. Aspirin used under the age of 19 years old can lead to the development of a life-threatening condition known as Reye’s syndrome.