Toothache in Babies

Share

Tooth decay as well as teething can cause toothache in babies. Babies may feel pain in their mouths even before they have their first tooth. As their gum erupts for the new tooth, they may feel the pain. After their teething pains, they may again feel more pain especially when their baby teeth will decay. Although their first tooth does not appear until they are about six months old, their tooth buds have already been formed before they are born. Babies usually have all of their teeth by the time they reach three years old.
Toothache in babies that are caused by teething or by tooth decay can make their gums swollen and tender. Babies may also have some slight fever during the teething stage. They often are irritable and they cry more often than usual. Babies are expected to drool and at times they grab things that they can chew. Toothache in babies that is caused by tooth decay can make the gums bleed or it can also cause pus build up around the tooth. It is important that tooth decays are treated because it can lead to infection aside from the tooth falling out.
Toothache in babies may develop because of prolonged use of baby bottles or baby sip cups that are used for baby formula and juices that contain sugar. In time, this will cause their teeth to start decaying especially when the babies are put to sleep while their baby bottles are in their mouths. Tooth decay may also develop in toddlers who are given something to drink before they sleep at night. When the babies sleep, bacteria work on the teeth and this causes it to decay.
Toothache in babies may be prevented. Mothers may clean the mouth and the tongue of their babies even if they do not have any tooth yet. They may use a very soft brush on the teeth that have emerged and they may use a strip of gauze to wipe the gums as well as the inside of the mouth and the tongue.

Parents may let their babies take some medication after being advised by their pediatrician.
Toothache in babies that is caused by teething may be eased by massaging their gum lines. Parents may also give them a rubber teething ring that they can chew. However, parents have to see to it that they are made of safe rubber material. Although medications can be applied on the painful gums directly, it would be better for parents to refrain from using it because it does not stay long on the gums and it may just be swallowed by babies.

Share

Taking Care of Twin Babies

Share

Parents especially mothers may be overwhelmed at the thought of taking care of twin babies. They know that one baby to attend to will take much of their time and energy but with two babies at the same time will require them to render twice the effort and twice the exhaustion to be felt. Mothers in this particular situation need more support aside from what their husbands may provide them.

Parents need to make some arrangements in this case especially while the mothers are still recovering. They may also try to check if their insurance plan would cover home visits from a nurse during the first days when the twin babies are brought home. Mothers have to be humble enough to accept that taking care of twin babies maybe beyond their capacity especially if they have to do it alone. They may enlist the help of friends and relatives who can spare a few hours to come and help them.

Mothers who choose to breastfeed their twin babies may also do so as they will have sufficient supply of breast milk to feed two babies. Simultaneous breastfeeding is possible as mothers can make use of twin nursing pillow. Taking care of twin babies is challenging and exciting as well. However, parents have to plan ahead of time and prepare themselves before their twins arrive home. While mothers are still pregnant, they can make their plans already. Accepting the help of others will make things easier when the time comes.

Other people may also be able to adjust their activities in time when they need to render their help to mothers who are taking care of twin babies. Mothers may also get more information about taking care of twin babies. They may be able to prepare all the things that they need before they give birth. They also have to talk to their husbands or partners especially when it comes to waking up during the night for feeding and changing diapers. Mothers may also be ready about the things that they have to do for their twin babies.

They will be tired most of the time but it is possible to take short naps when their babies are having theirs too. Taking care of twin babies may also bring some negative feelings as in the case of mothers who only have one baby to take care of. If there are older children at home, they can help too and this would also give the opportunity to build better bonding moments among all of the family members. There are lots of things to learn about taking care of twin babies but with some help, parents especially mothers will just be fine.

Share

Baby Talk

Share

There are various speech sounds that babies make such as babbling or cooing and these may be considered also as baby talk. It is interesting to know that babies around the world produce sounds that are more or less similar. Parents may just be very excited waiting for their real first baby words.

However, babies’ speech development may depend on the baby talk skills of both the babies and the adults around them.
Parents though have to understand that baby talk starts at birth through the non-verbal cues that their babies are manifesting. Babies smile, they cry and squirm and at times make faces like grimaces. These non-verbal cues tell parents of their emotions and their needs. Parents have to learn more about these types of first signs of baby talk so that they may be able to provide all of the needs of their babies.
There are also developmental tasks that parents should be aware of especially those that are related to speech development. The rate at which babies learn to communicate starting with their baby talk may vary from one baby to another. However, if parents observe that their babies are somewhat delayed in their speech development, they need to consult with their doctors to determine what is causing it. There may be problems with the parts of their speech organ that need to be dealt with medically.
Baby talk is improved by the time the babies are about three months old. They begin to coo especially when they are happy and playful. At six months, they should be able to babble different sounds although they are not yet able to associate it with any meaning.

They also start to respond when their names are being called. Baby talk is further enhanced when they reach 9 months old. They are now able to identify a few words that are used often like “no” or “bye-bye.” At 12 months old, they can already use a combination of consonant together with vowel sounds that they can form into simple words like “mama.” They also begin to understand very simple instructions.
Baby talk continues to develop as babies grow physically and mentally. When they are about 18 months old, babies are already able to say at least 10 simple words though they may have their own versions of the words that the adults use. At the age of 2, they can now put together words to form short phrases. They also start understanding not only the physical objects but simple abstract concepts as well.

As they grow, their baby talk advances as well and in time, they learn to communicate not only with a few words but are already able to completely comprehend what the adults around them are talking about.

Share