Teething Diaper Rash: How To Deal With It Like A Hero

Some symptoms of teething are not as common…

They are possibly leftover from old wives’ tales passed on through time. We all know how stories passed down through generations are not always as told.

This is also true for things said about teething.

We looked at the possible reasons why certain symptoms are always associated with teething. Just like how our parents told us carrots can help with eyesight. These accepted facts may only hold some truth to them…

Irritability and Crankiness: True

This makes total sense, teeth are coming out of your child’s mouth after all.

We all know how much tooth pain hurts!

Even as adults, tooth and gum pain can be too much to handle. Should you feel that they are experiencing extra discomfort?

Consult your doctor about possible over the counter pain medication, like ibuprofen. Some babies are more sensitive to pain and may need a bit of extra help.

Coughing: True

Extra saliva will irritate and cause extra coughing.

This is normal, and unless accompanied by a fever, or excess diarrhea, there is less cause for concern. Babies’ mouths are not completely developed and the saliva can accumulate.

We found that patting their backs gently, can help the saliva move forward.

Keep in mind…

Again, if you notice abnormally long periods of coughing, it never hurts to consult a doctor.

Irritability, Drooling, Biting Raw Cheeks, & Swollen Gums: True

All these surface-level symptoms are all common and basically saying all is well and normal.

However…

To help soothe your child during this time, they may need some extra lovin’. For example, when they are cranky, we suggest being especially patient.

Physical comfort also shows them that you are always there for them.

Show them support and love and talk things out with them. Reassure them that this growing pain will pass. There are also some products on the market that could help soothe their pain.  

Keep their mouths dry and free of drool (see below). If their cheeks or gums are raw, give them something cool to chew on to help soothe the area.

Teething rings or cold foods can be helpful.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, It is recommended to use gels or topical ointments to treat them. As this could affect their digestive system. We found that frozen fruits or veggies are a great option.

If your baby has a specific food that they like, you can mash it up and freeze it. They can get a little treat and forget about their tooth pain for a little. 

Red Splotches on Mouth: True

In some situations, you may find them with a condition called “teething rash” or “drool rash”. The extra saliva they swallow as a result at this time can lead to irritated skin.

And when it ends up on their mouth, neck, or chest, it can cause a rash and red splotches.

This is because the drool can still have little bits of food in it. They are not able to completely break down the food. The saliva mixed with food and digestive enzymes cause rash. This combination is irritating to your baby’s skin.

Do not worry though, as this will come in and out of this teething period.

It is possible that other issues could cause it, such as eczema or a yeast infection, which causes yeast diaper rash that are so similar to the teething ones. For persisting rashes, we recommend consulting a doctor to help you figure it out. Any red bump, lump, or rash is scary, especially for new parents.

This is completely normal.

We want to reassure you that teething rash is a real thing. It is very common, so there is no need to worry. It may seem wild that the rashes could occur in other places on the body, but it is very common. When I first saw this, I definitely freaked out.

Hopefully, after reading this, you will be less scared as I was.

To avoid this drool rash, be sure to keep your child’s mouth clear of drool. If it gets around your baby’s clothes near their neck or chest, we recommend having extra cloth around to catch it.

You can also clean the mess quickly.

If their shirt gets especially saturated, be sure to change it so it doesn’t irritate their skin.

Diarrhea: False

Many believe that the extra drool from teething causes a baby’s stool to loosen. They claim that this results in wetter poops.

This may be true, but only if this happens within the window before or after a tooth appears.

We do not believe that teething and diarrhea are directly related. Your child is going to be going through a lot of other changes during this time. Including a change in diet to solid foods.

It is more likely that with the change in your baby’s digestion, you run the risk of diarrhea and more often. These two can seem correlated only because your baby is going through other changes.

If your child is having diarrheas, make sure to be aware of other factors. If it continues to persist, always call your doctor to make sure.

Loss of Appetite: True

During this time, a baby’s shift in foods can make them lose their appetite. They may not want to drink any liquid foods for a while.

This can be due to their swollen mouths made raw by chewing.

This is often not a cause for concern. If their loss of appetite persists for a long period of time check in with a doctor. Especially if their poop starts to change and look different.

Just like when we feel a toothache, we may not want to eat as much.

Since a baby is growing all the teeth at the same time, their whole mouth hurts. A good tip is to not push your baby to eat if they really do not want to.

Frozen fruit and veggie popsicles are always a good option to help get their nutrients in.

We also found that veggies with some chicken broth in popsicle form were great for our kiddo. They are able to get a meal in, even if their mouth hurts. 

Inability to Sleep: True (Sort of)

Irritability and crankiness can definitely affect your child’s sleeping patterns. Since they are constantly in pain, it is harder for them to fall asleep.

When they do not get the sleep they need, their body will not function as well.

This will not be a sudden thing though. If your child is waking up irregularly, at times they have not before, this may be from teething or irritation.

This is usually brought on by an emerging tooth.

We recommend soothing techniques like a cold teething ring. One way to tell is to check for sore gums to see if that is what is causing the crying.

Another way is the pick up test.

If they stop crying immediately after you pick them up, that is a way to tell that they are not bothered by teething. They are most likely just looking for comfort.

Low Grade Fever: False (Sort of)

So a 2011 study of Brazilian researchers found that the temperature of a baby slightly increased the day a tooth popped up. Yet, this did not constitute a fever.

In our research, we did not find that teething causes fever.

Should you find your baby’s temperature is higher than 100.4F, please consult a doctor.

People associate fever with teething, since the baby’s body may be working a bit more. Their body is going through a huge change, which can account for minor temperature changes.

It is not usually cause for concern.