Growing Teeth in Babies
Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahimi
Teething usually starts around four to eight months and some babies suffer while they are teething.
AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some parents and a physician about this issue.
A mother, Atifa, a resident of Kabul city says, “My baby is teething and he is suffering from fever; throat sore and vomiting and he cannot be breastfed.”
Haroon, a resident of Chaharasiab district, Kabul province says, “I am four children's father and all of my babies were suffering from diarrhea, vomiting, and swelling of gums when they were teething.”
A pediatrician, Ajmal Ghairat talks about this problem, “During the teething period there are symptoms that include irritability, disrupted sleep, swelling or inflammation of the gums, loss of appetite, rash around the mouth, mild temperature, diarrhea, increased biting and gum-rubbing and even ear-rubbing and the baby could not be breastfed easily.”
What do people think about the causes of this issue?
Ahmad Jawad, a resident of Chaharasiab district says, “My baby had the same problem during teething but I don’t know about the cause of it.”
Farida Wardak says, “When mothers and other members of the family do not care about the cleanliness of baby during teething, the baby might face some health problems.”
Doctor Ghairat says, “One reason that babies are facing problems during teething is the deficiency of calcium. Taking dirty objects to mouth causes diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and some other problems and not well-breastfed by mothers would also cause the mention problems to the babies.”
How do people find solutions to this issue?
Farida Wardak says, “I have 3 sons and 4 daughters. When my babies were teething, I was washing my breasts before breastfeeding. I have never given them a pacifier and I was always taking care of their cleanliness. I was always breastfeeding them after 2 hours and they had not faced serious problems during teething.”
A mother, Mubaraksha says: “When my baby is teething, I take him/her to the doctor and the doctor advises him/her medicines and my baby has not faced any health problem during teething.”
Doctor Ghairat says, “If mothers eat vegetables, fresh fruits, liquids, and dairy during pregnancy; take care of their babies foods and feed them with healthy foods, their babies would not suffer during teething. Taking care of their cleanliness and start complementary foods to their infants after 6 months, help the babies during teething."