Each year, many parents welcome their first child into their family and learn how hard it is to perform their usual activities while also caring for the kid, especially at nighttime. Once they've successfully passed that stage, parents mistakenly believe that they'll now be able to sleep normally, and forget about the teething part of their baby's growth. This lack of preparation leads to lack of sleep since this phase of child's teething lasts for up to 18 months. To face the tough times with confidence, prepare yourself mentally and physically by doing the following things.

What are the signs you must look for?

Education is the best way to prepare yourself for the issues associated with your kid's first teething period. At the age of 6 months, your baby's behavior will start changing progressively, which will indicate that the first teething period is actually taking place. The second teething phase will occur with the development of molars. Since each baby is different, your child's behavior may change when they turn 8 months, or after their 1^st anniversary, for instance. Here are a few signs you must look for:

• Disrupted sleep
• Irritability
• Gum swelling
• Excessive formation of saliva
• Higher tendency to chew whatever they can hold in their hands 

How do you comfort your baby?

Learning how to provide your baby with comfort is also important because it'll allow you to have more time to rest. One thing you need to do to alleviate the pain your baby is feeling around their gum area is gently applying your clean finger on that surface. Another way to provide them with relief is by using a tiny, wet washcloth that you'll then clean and keep in the fridge for another day of usage.

A third way to reduce their pain is by feeding them with soft foods, such as their favorite dessert. If they're old enough to be fed on solid foods, it'll give you even more options. Simply make sure that the food you give them is sufficiently cool to reduce the inflammation.

Experience with your child's first teeth will help you deal with another sensitive stage of your kid's growth, which is the development of molars. Indeed for most kids, molars start emerging after after 13 months. By the time this stage arrives, you'll have certainly recovered from your current stressful nights. Or if you're lucky, both teething phases will happen approximately at the same time. 

For more information, contact Montillo Dental Associates Braintree or a similar location.