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Your little one will certainly be more fussy when he enters the teething period. Growing teeth can cause discomfort in children. Apart from having to hear your little one's whining that is more intense than usual, you will also have difficulty feeding your child as their teeth grow out.
If it's like that, many parents are overwhelmed and often end up stressing.
Signs of teething in a child
You should first need to make sure that teething is the cause of a decreased child's appetite by knowing the various signs. According to the American Dental Association, teeth usually begin to develop when a child is 6-12 months of age.
When born, babies actually have complete teeth under their gums. These teeth will gradually penetrate the gums.
Most dentition begins with the lower teeth followed by the upper middle teeth. Then, the rest will grow one by one until the child is three years old.
The symptoms of a teething child that appear vary. In addition to difficulty eating, children who are teething will also experience some of the following symptoms:
- Red and swollen gums
- Sore gums
- Saliva out
- Children often bite solid objects
- Fuss that can be followed by screaming
- Children are easily agitated and angry
The interesting fact is, most of the insomnia signs that children exhibit occur more frequently when their canines are about to grow, compared to incisors or molars.
How to feed a teething child
Feeding a teething child may not be easy, but there are a number of ways to get around it.
Choosing the right food is important so that it is easier for children to eat their food. Some of the options include the following types.
Fine food
Delicate foods will certainly be more acceptable to children who are teething. Sometimes touching the food with the gums will make the pain worse.
Therefore, provide food that can be swallowed immediately without having to hit the gums frequently.
For a few moments you may want to add soups that are textured like cream, blended fruit and vegetables, or macaroni and noodles that are cooked until soft.
Solid food
One of the signs that your child is experiencing teething is the habit of biting some solid textured objects.
This is believed to provide a feeling of comfort which will reduce pain around the gums. This habit also puts pressure on the teeth that will grow.
Try giving snacks in the form of vegetable sticks such as carrots or bread sticks. It's best to avoid packaged dry biscuits because these products usually contain sugar which can cause tooth decay.
Cold food
Pain around the gums is often followed by a burning sensation. Foods such as yogurt or fruit from the refrigerator may help restore a child's appetite.
Unfortunately, this type of choice is more limited because there are some foods that are best served warm.
Another way you can also do is to give him cutlery that has been cooled in the refrigerator such as a pacifier and spoon. However, do not chill the appliance in the freezer, as objects that are too cold can also injure the child's mouth.
Don't worry if teething makes your child eat less than usual. You can still meet your nutritional needs with breast milk or formula milk.
Also keep in mind to always supervise children when they chew their food so they can avoid problems such as choking and so on.
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