Dealing with a baby getting teeth is no walk in the park. There's often great discomfort, tears, and a lot of crying. While parents will always try their best to bring relief, a new study in the journal Pediatrics hopes to set the record straight, and to demystify a common assumption. As it turns out, high fevers aren't a sign of teething.
In fact, experts believe it could be a warning for another health issue that might warrant a trip to the pediatrician.
Researchers involved with the study are in agreement that teething often causes symptoms like crankiness, excessive drooling, and even irritated gums. And while they admit a teething child can experience a rise in body temperature, they don't, however, believe it causes high fevers (100.4 degrees F and above), which parents often shrug off as a sign LO is getting a tooth.
Other medical experts also conclude that teething doesn't cause loss of appetite, blisters around the mouth, and diarrhea -- all of which are assumed teething indicators.
More from The Stir: 16 Natural Ways to Treat Teething Pain in Babies
While teething symptoms will likely vary from child to child, the study aims to spotlight the importance of paying attention to a baby fever -- and seeking medical attention sooner than later -- as it's a cause for concern.
It's pretty safe to assume that no parent enjoys this part of a child's getting older. In fact, teething can be downright dreadful -- and that's putting it nicely. Should your little one be fighting the good fight, there are ways to help soothe a teether, including cold rags, relief toys, and rubbing gums.
It will get better ... with time.
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