Teeth, already?!

Yup. My 4 1/2 month old is teething. And not just that teething, where it goes on for 4 months until they get the first tooth. I can SEE two teeth on the bottom under the gums, and can feel one of them as of today. Isn't it a little early for teeth?! I was hoping I'd get a few more teeth-less months before he starts chomping on my nipples as he occasionally likes to do.

Here are 5 Signs Your Baby is Teething from Dr. Sears:

FIVE SIGNS YOUR BABY IS TEETHING

• Bulging gums – you can actually see the outline of the teeth as they are bulging inside the gums. The middle bottom teeth are usually the first place this happens.
• Drooling – it will seem like someone left a "drool faucet" on inside your baby's mouth.
• Fussing – baby often will become cranky and more difficult to console.
• Night waking – most babies sleep fairly well between one and four months of age, but now the honeymoon is over! Beginning around four months of age, baby may start waking up much more frequently at night.
• Biting – baby will start chewing on everything he can get his hands, or gums, on – his fingers, your fingers, toys, and especially the breast.

 Well, I can see the teeth underneath. He is drooling like CRAZY. He isn't very fussy, but more so than NEVER being fussy like usual. He is not waking more during the night, that's the only sign he does not have. And Biting. Yes. I think I'm going to look at him one day and he's just going to have consumed both his hands. Gnaws at them all day long, and if he can get ahold of my fingers those get gnawed to death too. He also has a low grade fever of about 99.5.

FOUR TEETHING SYMPTOMS THAT ARE HARMLESS

There are several symptoms most babies exhibit during teething. DON'T WORRY. These are only temporary.

• Drool rash – your baby may get a red, raised rash on the face, lips, chin, neck, and chest. Gently wash with warm water and pat dry. A lanolin ointment is a good treatment.
• Diarrhea – this is generally mild and does not require any special treatment.
• Cough – the abundance of saliva often drips down baby's throat and can cause coughing or gagging.
• Fever– baby may experience low-grade fevers less than 101. If your baby has a fever higher than this, click on fever for more info.

I was told to buy Hyland's Baby Teething Tablets to help. Also to get an amber teething necklace, which I had planned to buy but didn't realize I'd need one so early! I'm going to order it today. Or right now, from Inspired by Finn. Some other suggestions were freezing a pacifier (he doesn't take a pacifier, so nope!), freezing a washcloth, which is a good idea, I tried to give it to him but he made a face at me so I'll try again later. One thing I found sounded really cool! You pump a little breastmilk and put it in a bottle nipple, then stick a pacifier in and it makes a "momsicle" haha I think I'll try that later on just because it's funny.

Kellymom also has a good article about teething here. Including what to do about biting while breastfeeding, sore nipples, and if your baby refused to nurse due to pain.