Teething Baby, Diarrhea, and 1 Mommy Loosing Her Mind!!!!!!!!!

Updated on November 19, 2006
S.F. asks from Charlotte, NC
17 answers

My son is 9 months old. I'm step-mom to an 8 year old, but he didn't start living with us until 3.5 years old and he had his teeth already - so this is my first rodeo on teething... omg the diarrhea is foul, how long does that last? Until the tooth comes through? It started about 5 days ago, the terrible diarrhea blowouts... the drool rash is horrible, and poor little guy is off/on cranky. I'm using Tylonal and Ibuprophin alternated, he will not take a cold teething ring, but he will take his passy after it's been in icewater and chew and chew on it. I also tried teething bisquits - but he's not interested. He is taking shorter naps, but still sleeping ok at night for now. He's drinking bottles as normal, eating baby food as normal with a few times here and there pushing it away before he normally would. I just want some advice - is there anything else I can try??? When does the foul diarrhea (that the ped. swears is NOT a symptom of teething...) go away??? Should I change his diet at all to help with the diarrhea??? Does it get worse or better with each tooth?? I have a friend who's son recently got his molars in - and that was horrible for him! I just want to know what I'm in for, so that I can be as equipped as I can to help my little guy be more comfortable.

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So What Happened?

It's amazing the advice I've received. We went to the doctor yesterday for the 9 month check up and saw another ped. in the group - isn't amazing the differences in medical opinions... this doctor said that diarrhea IS a symptom of teething due to the excess saliva being dumped into the belly... weird that I get two different opinions... but either way, the advice on here has also made me lean more toward it being the teething. We're using Tylenol or Advil at night right now, and using many of the tips from this site during the day. The Biter Bisquits were a HUGE hit!!! Messy, but worth it! We are also using a frozen chunk of banana in one of those net feeders... so many tips - thanks guys!

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R.C.

answers from Asheville on

My daughter didn't have the diarrhea. Peds probably right, thats not a symptom of the teething. Try a wet washcloth. My daughter loved that. And the teething ring that goes in the freezer worked too! The diarrhea may be to much medicine. Get the teething gel. That works too.

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S.

answers from Spartanburg on

You might want to try the teething tablets, they melt almost instantly in their mouths, have a fruity taste, and you can give them as many as they need because it is homeopathic. That was all we ever used, never had to use tylenol or anything. you might also want to wet a washcloth and put it in the freeze and when it is getting frozen give it to him to chew on, it will help massage his gums and the cold will help numb them. The diarrhea will probably come and go, it is caused by him swallowing a lot more saliva and with the teeth coming through it can upset their stomachs a bit and this is just the result. you might want to buy some plastic panty type pads, you can find them where ever they carry cloth diapers, and that will help the blowouts to stay in the diaper and not get everywhere. Usually the first couple teeth are the worse and then they seem to get used to it and don't respond so poorly to the others. you might also want to wipe his chin dry and then put some corn starch, or talc powder on it, just put a little on a make up brush and swipe it across his chin, that should help with the rash.

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T.J.

answers from Charlotte on

Hi Sarah, I have 11 month old twins and they love the cold wash cloth and I also use orajel, which they don't care for, but it works. Unfortunately, the diarreah smell doesn't get any better, the more table food they eat, the smellier it gets :)) I also take a piece of bread and pull it apart, less the crust and they love to eat that. That may help with some fullfillment. My twins, one has 3 teeth and the other only 2 so far, so the bread should be okay, they suck on it and I tear it apart in small pieces. I would also make sure to give him some liquids, I know Pedialyte works and you can get that at the grocery store, so he does not dehydrate. It sounds like you are doing really well with him, I certainly can feel your frustration in your email, I know I am there also. The only other thing I do with the twins is rock them and rub their backs and sing to them, they love that. Goodluck, it does get easier :))

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Y.A.

answers from Mobile on

Hi, I have an 11 month old going through the same thing. My son HATED the orajel and the tylenol just made him more grumpy. Hyland teething tabs worked wonders for me as well as their teething gel. The gel doesn't have any taste nor is it numbing, but it takes the pain away! You can find them both at any health food store. I've seen the tabs at all grocery stores, but the gel only at the health stores (like Good Earth). When your there ask someone for some other products for teething, they have a lot of great products that work like magic. I've also used a little Chammomile tea, very diluted and it calmed him right down. All these items are less harmful to their little systems as well.
Good Luck!
Y.

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L.

answers from Charlotte on

My pediatrican does say that teething can cause diarrhea. I guess that varies from doctor to doctor. My son loves yogurt, and that really helps with the diarrhea - plus it's cold, so that helps his sore gums too. I hope you both get through this fast! Blessings to you.

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J.B.

answers from Montgomery on

Try teething tablets. You can get them at WalMart and most drug stores. They are in a pink and white box and made by Pfizer ......they will surely be you miracle!

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J.K.

answers from Raleigh on

My 9 month old daughter is going through the same thing. I wet a baby wash cloth and put it in the freezer. She likes to suck on that. I also got these homeopathic teething tablets. I got them at food lion or harris teeter i'm not sure which. They work pretty well. I don't like to give her medicine because the teething can last for weeks depending on how many teeth are coming in. So I only use the infant Tylenol, if she has a fever. Hope that helps.

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C.C.

answers from Raleigh on

Try the BRAT diet - Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, or Toast for the diarrhea. My pedi has me but my boys on that diet whenever they have tummy troubles. It helps! My doc also told me that diarrhea isn't a sign of teething but after experiencing it with 2 babies, I beg to differ!

Hyland's teething tablets work for me..they really calm my little guy. Something else that works great are Baby Safe Feeders with a frozen peach slice. They sell something similar at Target...he's a picture of what they look like: http://www.onestepahead.com/jump.jsp?itemID=307755&it...

Good Luck! For us the 1st teeth and the molars were the worst. All of the rest weren't so bad.

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T.F.

answers from Charleston on

My daughter always had the same symptoms with teething and the main one was diarrhea. And the foul smell your talking about is because of the acidity of it from teething. I don't know WHY your ped told you that diarrhea was not a symptom of teething. It's normal and will get better!

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B.D.

answers from Raleigh on

Hey There Sarah,

I feel your pain.. I have three girls, thankfuly, all are done the main teething stage..

The diarrhea can be cause from the ibuprofrin, thats really harsh on the stomach. Maybe try just the tylenol for a while, and see if that helps stop the diarrhea. Also, not sure if you have recently started him on juice, but that can cause Diarrhea also, (so if you have) water it down alot.. lol

You could try baby orajel on his gums for a while, or give him a gold wash rag to chew on till this passes.

Enjoy your Baby!! Before you know it he will be all grown up!!!

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B.V.

answers from Norfolk on

My son got Diarrhea as well! So doc's don't always know what they're talking about. Aryan also got a fever! Over 101! But he wouldn't take a pacifier either.
What I tried to do was use the Hylands teething tablets (work for some, and not for others. Found in vitamin aisle at walmart....)I also tried to use the orajel q-tip swabs on him. You break one end and the medicine runs down and comes on a q-tip and you swab on the gums.
Good luck!

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R.C.

answers from Richmond on

Actually if the diarrhea is THAT foul smelling,he's probably got the rotovirus,which is common in his age group,especially with an older sibling.It's not recommended any more,but you can always try a little baby orejel on his gums,worked wonders on my daughter,just keep a close eye on him and dont let him eat anything he could choke on for a little bit 'cause it might numb the back of his throat.It seems you're doing pretty much everthing you can,there is no magic formula for teething,you just gotta hang in there and have a GREAT deal of patience!Good Luck R.

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M.C.

answers from Spartanburg on

my girl.15,,didnt take a passy at all when little,,but she teethed on corn on the cobb,,i would clean out the kernals,and she would hold it and go to town,,teeth popped straight threw,,i guess it gave her flover plus that hard-soft feeling,also in the baby food section,they are these snacks called,,biter biscuts,,or something like that,,they are messy but work really well,,dont get real soft after they bite on it for awhile,,hope this helps

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J.B.

answers from Columbia on

My son never had the diarrhea with teething so can't really help you there. But he had a hard time teething - he always cut 4 teeth at once. Baby oragel is good - just make sure you don't get it on his tongue or his tongue goes numb and the drool just pours! We used tylenol with him when he ran a fever, at night and when he was especially cranky.

I do have another remedy that worked like a champ for us. I will probably have moms shreiking at me over this - but it came from a doctor - I promise! Get a bottle of peppermint schnaps, wet your finger with it and rub it on his gums. They don't fight you b/c it tastes good, it numbs their gums without making their tongue numb and there's not enough alcohol involved to affect them at all. Up to you if you want to try it or not.

Good luck!

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J.V.

answers from Charlotte on

Hello. My son is 2 now and when he was teething he didn't like the teething rings either. I tried everything. What did work, however was frozen waffles (still frozen). He actually still likes them that way. As for the rash, I found that petroleum jelly helped. Just make sure it's not the same jar you might use for a rectal thermometer..Ha Ha. I am not sure about the diarrhea other than pedialite or something similar. Also, keep an eye on him pulling at his ears. I hope your ped. has already warned you about ear infections. For my son's first year I relied heavily on one book. "What to Expect the First Year" It's by the same people who wrote What to Expect When You're Expecting". If you don't have it, then I would suggest getting a copy. Good Luck and remember, every child is different, so try everything to find out what works best for yours.

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A.D.

answers from Charlotte on

Try giving the baby foods that bind the stool, such as bananas, applesauce, and yogurt. That should help a little. Make sure that he is getting plenty of fluids so that he won't get dehydrated. When my son had constant diarrhea the nurse said it was not necessary to bring him to the doctor for the diarrhea unless it was bloody or if he had it 8 times in 8 hours. As far as the actual teething goes, try some baby Orajel or some type of baby oral topical gel to help relieve pain almost immediately. Other than that, do what what you have been doing and just let him be cranky sometimes. He may not always be in pain, probably frustrated, or irritated. Things will get better.

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A.K.

answers from Lynchburg on

i went and got little teethers teething pills. there is no drugs in it and he actually liked them. it helped him sleep to. just be glad that you didn't get projectile diarrhea on you like i did with my daughter. i freaked out and almost started crying. it was gross. after the tooth comes in it will stop. but it will just start up again when the next one is ready to come. good luck. hope this helped.

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