Hi Moms!
I am a first time mom, and my 9 month is just starting to get teeth, so I am green in this area and have a couple of questions.
My daughter has 1 bottom tooth. I don't really know when it came through because she had a bad cold a couple of weeks ago, so it's possible symptoms were masked in that. I know her other bottom tooth is on the way because the pedi told me that on Friday at her 9 month well visit. On Sunday, she was drooling like crazy and sneezing quite a bit. She woke up last night congested, and she's had a really runny nose all morning this morning.
I've read a book by a doctor that says moms blame running noses, ear infections and fevers on teething, but there does seem to be a suspicious correlation! :)
My question is: do they actually get a cold when they are teething that I could catch and get sick too or do they just have runny nose that is not contagious, but if congested could get an ear infection? Also, how long does the runny nose usually last?
Thanks so much for taking time to answer my questions! I appreciate it!
Lisa :)
Yes, teething will make them have runny noses, run low grade temp and when they start to get their molars and some of the other teeth they will have diarrhea. Some doctors hold fast to the old wives tale effect of teething and these symptoms but some doctors will agree with moms that teething will bring on these symptoms. If the runny nose is not clear though you have an infection and it is more than teething. Best of luck.
C.
If it's just teething, the mucous will be clear and there won't be a high fever (100+). I've found that my little boy does have "cold-like" symptoms when a new tooth is about to appear though. Teething can also disrupt their sleep patterns and give them diarrhea...added bonus. I'd read this was just a wive's tale but asked our pediatrician and he said it's absolutely true.
Good luck! Hope this helps a little...
tetting does'nt make them sick. BUT it DOES make them more prone to getting sick. if she is having pain with teeting use and teething gel does not work, use a bit of vanilla extract. just put a dab on your finger and rub on her little gums. works wonders. yes it does have alcohol in it , but you do not use that much to harm her. also the top of a green onion helps the green part. just watch her and make sure she does'nt bite any off to choke on.you canalso put a cube of ice or even a cube of frozen apple in a wascloth in a wash cloth and tie it off and crush it so she can gum on it.
I am a first time mom as well and my son turns 1 this week!!! Woohoo! He started teething really early and usually the way we knew was he did drool like crazy. He never really got the sneezing or congested part. He did get a clear runny nose from time to time but nothing to serious that I was concerned he was sick. To be honest this weather isn't helping anyone as far as trying to not get sick. She coold possibly have another cold? My son is teething along with a cold. His doc sais that his symptoms were from the cold not teething. If it continues give your doc a call and see if he/she reccomends anything for her!!! Good luck, I know its over whelming!
Good morning Limrscaneage,
sounds like you child has allergies,I use to have to take alleregy med till I found out about this machine . Go to www.yourbestair.com/garrett check this out you don't have anything to lose.Most allergies are caused from in door air. good luck and God Bless
J. G
Lisa:
The most accurate info (IMO) that I found on this topic was that teething wears down the immune system and this wearing down can cause many effects different for each body and each situation.
The body sees these teeth as new and foreign and goes into full-gear protection (code red) against foreign objects. Because the body thinks teeth are foreign (just like the body does for an allergin), the body may try to "attacks them" like it "attacks" allergins and this "attack" causes allergy-like symptoms (runny nose, congestion, cough, etc)! These symptoms are how the body feels it may be able to get rid of this "bad" foreign object: fever (shows the body's deffenses are working over-time, ie: Over-heating, to get "the bad" out), congestion (mucos is the body's super-highways to try to move "bad" things out of the body), sneeze/cough (expell the "bad"), etc.
Over time, all of this over-time work of trying to expel that "bad" from the body exhausts the immune system's resources making the teething child more vulnerable to getting virus/infection. Thus, they are more likely to get sick during teething.
So: CAN YOU GET SICK FROM THEM (ie are they contagious)? If their immune system can't fight off a virus (ie: cold) because it has been over-worked and tierd, and then virus takes over, THEN YES, THEY ARE CONTAGIOUS. BUT, if it is just "allergy" symptoms, there is nothing there to catch. The problem arrises not only in knowing what exactly is going on (why many drs. say teething doesn't make babies sick) but also in what possibly can develop: cause and effect. "Allergy" symptoms can harbor germs (thick mucos and congestion make prime breading ground for bacteria to grow in ears, throat, sinuses; cough/sneeze can irritate throat, lung and nose lining breading its defense against bacteria, etc) that then can turn into a virus (which in turn can be contagious)!
So: See teething as the baby's body going into battle! If the body is well ready for battle, it can defend away or push back the symptoms BUT if the body is not well prepared, it may loose a battle or two or the whole war!
I know this does not answer your questions on whether you will catch something from your teething baby or not, BUT it does show how it is possible.
As far as how long the symptoms will last, again, it all depends on how your baby's body can handle the stresses!
Confussed? This is why drs can't even give a good answer. However, my pedi says (and most of this explanation is from him with added research by my psty) THAT MOST CERTAINLY TEETHING CAN CAUSE SICKNESS BUT DOES IT ALWAYS OR EVEN OFTEN, THAT DEPENDS ON THE CHILD AND PARTICULAR CASE!
Good luck!
T.
Make sure you are doing the saline wash and aspirating her nose frequently. When my 6 month old has a cold I do a saline wash before every bottle feeding. That helps her breath better and prevent her from getting worse. It took a month for her finally to get through the congestion. Just remember we are in cold season and they are destined to get sick. Plus they are teething at the same time. While there is no evidence to support the fact that teething brings on congestion it does seem like they align very nicely! It probably is more of a coincidence more than anything. Babies have weaker immune systems than adults so they are more prone to getting sick. And when they get sick it usually is much worse in an infant than older child or adult b/c it takes more for them to fight it. My personal thought is that b/c of teething they are getting less sleep so they could be more prone to sickness b/c their body is tired. However, this is just my own personal theory!! Good luck!
Hi! Yes, the babies do get the symptoms of a "cold" I went threw it with both my children with every tooth. My doctor said that is not the case. I DISAGREE!! They always had runny nose, congestion type symptoms with lots of drooling! Don't sweat it! completely normal! If your baby is in pain, I do recommend the "smile o mile" i think that is the name, at the health food store. It calms the pain and it is organic.
