What is teething pain?

Teething pain results from pressure exerted on the gums from the tooth below. Just before each tooth pushes through, the gum above it reddens, swells and is tender to touch. The eruption of each tooth is uncomfortable for many babies, causing pain and a few minor symptoms for 2 to 3 days. Almost all parents report the presence of teething symptoms and most use some form of medication to manage them.

How will I know if my baby has teething pain?

What else might it be?

You should never assume that symptoms other than those mentioned above are due to teething. Teething does not cause diarrhoea, breathing problems, earache, fever or convulsions. If your baby has these or any other unusual symptoms, they need to see a doctor.

What to expect:

At most, teething is associated with minor symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually last for 2 to 3 days per tooth and disappear after the tooth appears.

How to Treat:

Encouraging an infant to chew can help the teeth cut through. Teething rings such as a bonjela teething ring can be cooled in the fridge and given to the baby to chew on to soothe the pain. Just make sure it’s clean and definitely not frozen.

Gently massaging the gums with a clean finger or gum massager may help relieve the pain, and combining this with a pain relieving teething gel can reduce the discomfort even further. Try a sugar free teething gel such as bonjela teething gel, which is specially formulated to provide fast acting, soothing relief from teething pain and can be used in babies from 2 months onwards (Always read the label).

For more advice and tips on teething, and how to care for first teeth click here.

The level of suffering due to teething pain often seems to increase as the baby gets older. If your baby’s teething pain seems to be more severe and your baby is very distressed you may wish to try using an oral pain killer, such as Nurofen for Children (Always read the label, suitable from 3 months onwards (babies over 5kg)).

A cold is a mild illness caused by one of over 200 different viruses. The virus spreads as your child breathes in airborne droplets produced when people infected with a cold virus cough, sneeze or talk, and by contact with infected surfaces (e.g. on hands, used tissues etc).

In the UK, colds are more common during the winter and adults generally catch up to 4 colds a year. However, because infants have little resistance to infections, they can be unfortunate enough to have as many as 12 colds a year.

How will I know if my child has a cold?

What else might it be?

Influenza viruses may also produce similar but more severe symptoms. Flu is often associated with a fever, shivering, headaches, aching muscles, discomfort and loss of appetite. Infants may be lethargic and not feeding well. Any infant with these symptoms who is not feeding well will need to see a doctor, as there is a possibility of a more serious illness.

If your child’s nose is only running from one nostril, the discharge is smelly or contains blood, there may be an object stuck in the infant’s nose.

Hay fever (Allergic Rhinitis) causes a more watery discharge from the nose, but this is usually accompanied by an itchy nose and sneezing. The eyes may be watery and itchy too (see Conjunctivitis).

What to expect:

Colds usually last about a week and get better of their own accord. However, you may find your child has difficulty feeding with a blocked or runny nose and if this is the case then they may become dehydrated. Children are also more susceptible to secondary infections such as conjunctivitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections.

Prevention

How to Treat:

We all feel miserable when we have a cold and your child is no different. There is no cure for the common cold, and antibiotics are not suitable because colds are caused by a virus and antibiotics don’t work against viruses. However you can help relieve some of your child’s symptoms using a variety of medicines.

Oral Ibuprofen (suitable for children from 3 months, over 5kg) is available from your pharmacist or supermarket, and can provide effective relief. Nurofen for Children is a pleasant tasting (orange or strawberry flavour) ibuprofen suspension available in either single use sachets or a bottle which comes with an easy dosing syringe: and both are colour and sugar free.

Oral Paracetamol can provide effective relief from aches, pains, sore throat and fever and most children are able to take it with few or no problems. Disprol Paracetamol Suspension is suitable for children from 3 months and is sugar and colour free.

Decongestants can be helpful for providing relief for babies as well as children. When babies get a cold it can be particularly hard for the parents and the child as they breathe through their noses not their mouth. This means a blocked nose can disrupt both eating and sleeping routines. Karvol has been specifically formulated to help children breathe more easily and therefore help them sleep more soundly. It contains a unique combination of aromatic oils including pine, cinnamon and menthol and it is these natural vapours that, once released, ease congestion and aid easy breathing. Karvol is available in a number of different formats.

Karvol Decongestant Capsules are an easy to use format offering a measured dose, providing you with the added reassurance that they are giving the right amount. At night the contents of the capsules can be placed onto bedding or a hankerchief nearby, but avoiding direct skin contact. It is suitable for use from 3 months, always read the label.

Karvol Vaporiser is a unique plug-in that releases Karvol vapours to help promote clear and easy breathing. It is also safe for use with children due to its unique & patented childproof locking system. Refils are also available.

Karvol Decongestant Drops provide a convenient dropper bottle format for the more experienced parents. For babies over 3 months, squeeze the capsule contents onto a handkerchief secured nearby, but out of reach of the child. For older children and adults, place up to six drops onto bedding or a handkerchief nearby, or put into a pint of hot water and inhale the vapours with care.

Karvol Vapour Rub can be rubbed onto the chest of children over 6 months, gently helping clear, easy breathing. It is ideal for use during the day and can be re-applied before bedtime as necessary.

For older children, sore throats can be soothed by giving them a lozenge to suck. Some lozenges just soothe the throat, but others (such as Strepsils Honey & Lemon) also contains antiseptics to help fight the bacteria which can cause sore throats. (Suitable from use from 6 years onwards, always read the label). If you are a smoker, avoid smoking in the same room as your child.

Other tips: