Between You and Me, I Think Teeth Are Highly Overrated

Since enduring two straight years of what I call "Teething Induced Insanity" you'd think I'd be able to recognize a teething baby from miles away.

- Hand attached to mouth

- Hard gum indentations on my nipples

- Drools as deep as the Nile

- Snot central

But alas, all that and what I think is my son teething his heart out at a mere 4 months old and I'm baffled. Maybe it's because my daughter didn't really start TEETHING until around 6-7 months. And so begins my college educated analysis of the situation which includes a Light Iris search of "4-month old teething symptoms does God hate me?"

Is it a cold? Is it a stomach virus with no symptoms? Is he growing? Is he just grouchy?

*Feels gum 14,701 times a day*

I thought that I had forgotten wiped clean all the memories of my daughter's difficult infancy. I saved the important snippets in her book and left all the ridiculous mind games and confusing developmental milestones in the back of my brain (and on my blog -- you know, so we could all laugh or better, cry, together). But alas, apparently you can't wipe away everything. And so, now that my son has EXACTLY the same teething symptoms as my daughter, I'm still thinking "it's a bad cold" because he's only 4 months.

Damn kids. Why do they have to go and be different? I mean, why would we want life to be easier? Or predictable?  Or even comprehendable?

So, here I sit, in a pile of snot and drool, waiting for a little tooth to emerge and trying not to get ticked off (yes, I get  little ticked off at my little baby who must be held by mommy 24 hours a day) for not wanting to eat, not wanting to sleep, and blowing snot balls all over my shirt. 

I hope this isn't that BS they call "pre-teething."

Or "A Bad Cold."

Comments

[Bobby Schaeffer]

Just think of how it was like for your mom when you were teething. Your kid needs your patience now more than ever. A little goes a long way! Soon enough, you'll be having fun teaching your child how to brush his own teeth. And soon after, the tooth fairy saga! :)

[Stacy]

Sounds EXACTLY like what I'm going through! Wondering (and googling) if my 4 mo. old could already be teething (constantly drooling with fist in mouth - a thumb won't suffice), baby who must be held by mom 24/7, wondering how my 2nd child could be so different from my 2 1/2 year old already!

[gina b]

Oh I can totally relate. Both my girls got their first teeth around 11, 12 months old even though the teeting started around 5 mos. But now Zoe is 20 months and she's got - God help me - molars coming in and screams for record amounts of time. Like 40 minutes today, and that was just the longest bout. Plus she tantrums with her HEAD...hon, that's NOT going to help the pain...

[Dawn]

I got the Nile drool, the gumming everything he can get his hands on, and yes, his hands. He sucks on my shirt, his blanket, anything.

hellllp

dammit

& he's not even 4 mos yet

[Damselfly]

Hee hee, I relate. At least on the level of one kid. Mine started teething at three months. He's now just shy of nine months and has seven teeth. Seven! (or eight) What do they really do with these teeth, anyway? Nothing but bite you!

[jodi]

I think I remember you saying your son was big. My ped said the bigger they are the earlier they teeth. I think my son has been teething for the past two years, and hes two years and 3 months old.

[Amy H]

Avery started teething at 4 months also. Her first tooth didn't actually arrive until just after 6 months. She is my first child so I didn't know any better...I thought it was normal. 2 months of teething sucks.

[Jennifer]

My daughter cut her first tooth at 3 months old. She started loosing her teeth early, too. It's a sign of high intelligence;)

[Heather]

Yeah, why DO they have to go and be different? Then again, I'm glad ds#2 is different than ds #1. I would be in a mental institute right now if he weren't b/c I couldn't handle two of those kinds. hehe!

Teething is a total pain...and not just for the baby!

[Wendy]

Sounds like my son. I kept waiting for that first tooth and it didnt arrive until he was almost 12 months old. He would chew on his hands, drool all over and scream at the top of his lungs. It turns out it was just his personality.

I am sure your son will be different, because it appears that my son has taken up my crabby genes.

BTW, my daughter got her first tooth around 6 months old. The big reason I thought all his angst was because of a tooth.