Teething Blues
The good news is that parents of colicky babies should see the colic episodes begin to wind down significantly by the beginning of the fourth month (the Chinese consider a hundred days of crying to be normal). The bad news is that older babies can find new reasons for crying.
One significant reason for older babies to cry is teething, which typically starts at six or seven months (although a few babies don't get their first tooth until twelve or even eighteen months old). The gums swell just before a tooth appears, and this can hurt your baby for days. You can help soothe her with things to chew on — teething toys, a leather band, a cold washcloth, a frozen bagel (take it away when it starts to soften). You can offer her a bottle of ice water to suck (although sometimes sucking makes the pain worse), or try rubbing her gums. There are mixed reports on topical anesthetics, like Baby Anbesol or Orajel. It can be hard to apply, they tend to work only for a limited time, and they taste terrible. Ask your health care provider before using.
Separation anxiety is another reason for tears in an older baby. By about eight months your baby is aware enough to notice when you leave but doesn't understand that you will come back. So she cries — even when you just step out of sight for a moment. When all you want to do is duck into the kitchen to get a glass of water, this response can be challenging.
Teething babies fuss, cry, and wake up more often. While most experts do not believe that teething causes loose stools, runny noses, or fevers, many parents are convinced that there is a correlation between these symptoms and teething. To be safe, check with your doctor if your child has a temperature of 101°F or higher (100.4°F or higher for a baby younger than three months). Do not give any medication for teething, including acetaminophen and ibuprofen, without checking with your health care provider.
