Xander Week 32 - Here Comes A Tooth!
April 23, 2007
After 4 months of heavy drool, Xander is finally starting to get a tooth! I’m starting to see that my child likes to do things in his own way - he’s happy to sit, but don’t ask him to roll over. A tooth decides to poke through, but not on the bottom where most babies start. Instead, Xander has decided to start working on the top row first - which is fine, just a little unexpected. I think his tooth started to bother him on Saturday afternoon when he started crying uncontrollably in the car. The rest of the afternoon and into the next day he was abnormally fussy. We had resisted using Ora gel up until now, but Xander seemed so miserable, that we finally gave in and bought some. We had tried cold washcloths, vibrating teethers, frozen teethers, plastic teethers, massaging his gums, but nothing seemed to help for very long. I think some better rest and the ora gel significantly improved his overall demeanor. The instructions say that we can only use the ora gel for 7 days in a row, so I’m not sure what we’ll do next week if Xander’s teeth are still hurting. It is exciting that he is finally getting a tooth, I just wish it wouldn’t hurt him so much…
I gave my James Tylenol on advice of my pediatrician for tooth pain.. We also tried some of the homeopathic teething tablets.. But what works BEST for James is apples.. We got a plastic thing that has a mesh bag on one end.. I cut up apples and put them in the fridge until they’re cold and then put them in the mesh bag.. He gums them and gets the juice. He loves them! I just make sure he’s in a diaper only and in his highchair.. Otherwise we end up with sticky apple juice everywhere! We’ve also tried ice chips in it, but apples have more flavor and he tends to liek them better..
Sara– I recently came across your blog and find it very interesting and well written. I think that we are about the same age and I also recently had a baby. You are several months ahead of me with your son though so I am learning what is in store for me. I find your writing comforting because I am quite a nervous mommy and I like to read that others are going through some of the same stuff as me. I related most to your post about tummy time. Please keep up the great work and know that someone who lives far away is getting something from it.
Sincerely,
Mary
Hi Mary, I’m so glad you are enjoying the blog. I have devoted myself to keeping up with this blog for 2 reasons - first, so that I can have a permanent record of what I was thinking or feeling any given week throughout my pregnancy and Xander’s childhood. I hope that someday he may find it interesting to read through as well. The second reason is so that other’s might benefit from my experience. We all know that there is no such thing as a perfect parent, but I find that the best advise and suggestions I get are from parents who have been through similar challenges. I am always thrilled when someone tells me that they found even one of my posts valuable - it means a lot! Xander is now 7 months old, and still doesn’t really tolerate tummy time. Our doctor doesn’t seem worried though, so I’ve stopped worrying about it. Good luck to you and your family!
Hi Sara,
I just spent the better part of my afternoon at work reading your blog. Start of pregnancy until now. It’s really amazing that you managed to keep up with blogging for so long. Xander is SO cute!
Three girls in my office are pregnant right now, all with due dates within days of each other… One of them has really bad morning sickness, and I think that’s how I found your blog.
Anyway, I’m going to direct them to it, you’re really thorough
Thanks for sharing!
Susie