Today my youngest got to spend the day with me, he started running a low grade fever last night and acted like he didn’t feel very good. I decided that is was best to keep him home from daycare so that he could get some extra rest while I monitored his fever. It was nice being able to spend some one on one time with my baby. We enjoyed the extra snuggles and cuddles, we watched a few of his favorite shows on TV, and spent some time coloring.
I don’t like seeing my baby sick, especially, when I don’t know what is wrong with him. He has been drooling some and has a low grade fever. It makes me think that he might be trying to get his two year old molars in. In fact, when I felt his gums I thought that I could feel a tooth coming in just beneath the gum surface. Teething is never fun and often times makes for a very cranky toddler. As a mom, I wish I could just wave a magic wand and make his teething pain go away.
Disclosure: I am not a doctor, nurse, or health care provider. This post is for informational purposes only and never should replace getting your child medical treatment.
My son loves the teething ring. I usually put it into the refrigerator so that when I gave it to him to chew on, that it is cold enough to help reduce his pain and any inflammation on his gums. If you put them in the freezer and hand them to your child it is possible that they might get frostbite on their hands and if they chew on the hard teething ring it can actually end up hurting their gums even more.
Two Year Molar (Second Year Molar) Teething Symptoms
Most toddlers begin cutting their two year molars (also called second molars) just shy of their second birthday. Of course there it is possible that it can happen sooner or well into into their third year depending on how quickly your child’s two year molars or teeth to come in. The molars are bigger teeth so they tend to be more painful when they are breaking through the gums. What are some symptoms that could indicate that your toddler is beginning to get their two year old molars? Here is a list of symptoms that your child might have if they are teething:
- Mild or low grade fever
- Chewing on their hands, toys, or anything that they can get into their mouth
- Drooling
- Night waking, especially, if your toddler is normally a good sleeper
- Excessively cranky
- Swollen or tender gums
- Ear pulling
- Rubbing on their cheek
Teething symptoms usually subside in a few days as the teeth are breaking through the gums. However, if the symptoms last longer than a few days unless you can feel the tooth under the gums, you probably should have your child seen by a health care provider or their doctor to rule out other illnesses that have symptoms that are similar to teething.
What Can I Do To Make My Toddler More Comfortable While They Are Getting Their 2nd Year Molars?
If your toddler will allow you to reach into their mouth to feel their gums, you can attempt to see if you can feel the teeth coming in just beneath the gums. I suggest that you do this with extreme caution, your toddler may bite you while attempting to feel his or her gums. Here are a few things that you can do to attempt to make them more comfortable using these home remedies, tips and techniques:
- Use pain reliever for pain and fever symptoms as directed by your child’s doctor (Note: get proper dosage from your child’s doctor).
- Break out your child’s old teething toys.
- Do offer them cold teething toys, if possible, to chew on to help relieve their pain.
- If your toddler is constantly drooling, keep a towel or soft cloth handy to pat their chin dry to avoid excessive irritation on their chin.
- Do call your child’s doctor or dentist if your child’s gums are excessively swollen or appear to be infected.
- During this time, it is best to offer your child extra cuddles to help soothe their teething pain.
- Do call your child’s doctor if they continue to pull on their ears or run a fever for more than a few days. Teething pain can radiate to your child’s ears making you think that your child might have an ear infection too.
- Offer your child soft foods if they don’t seem to have their normal appetite.
- Try offering your child a cold wash cloth to chew on.
Teething Gels: To give or not?
As a general rule, avoid giving teething gels to the toddler. It usually contains a chemical substance called benzocaine. In certain cases, benzocaine can result in a condition called Methemoglobinemia. It is essentially a state where the oxygen levels in blood drop dangerously low and can in turn lead to shortness of breath, blue colored lips, rapid heart rate. Should any of these symptoms occur, rush to your nearest hospital.
Benzocaine basically numbs the area thereby providing relief to the gums. A lot of people use it without any symptoms but personally I believe that we should skip teething gel and should try any of the following instead.
Teething can be a nightmare for both you and your toddler. Your toddler will likely be fussier than usual and may not be their usual self. Don’t worry your toddler should be back to their normal self in a few days. You can find some fun activities to help distract your child during the day and keep your toddler as comfortable as possible. If your toddler wakes up in the middle of the night, you should always try self soothing techniques before going in to check on your toddler. After all you wouldn’t want to start a new habit of nighttime cuddles or attention due to teething pain.
What Kind Of Food To Give During Teething
Teething can make the kids cranky and they usually become very fussy eaters. It’s very difficult, seeing how they are in pain and on top of that not eating. They get hungry and that makes them cranky again so it is kind of a vicious cycle.
Certain types of food are more suitable during Teething:
- Yoghurt
Chilled yoghurt can soothe the gums and it has a bag of nutrition so yoghurt is my most preferred and recommended food for teething phase.
- Chilled Carrot/Celery Sticks
These are a very good option but again they come with a caution note. The hard bits can be bitten and may pose a choking hazard so you have to be a little cautious while giving these.
- Teething Biscuits (Sugar free variety)
Teething Biscuits are a little harder than the regular biscuits giving the toddler a chance to bite on it thereby providing some relief to his much needed urge to bite on something hard. Try to pick the no sugar variety, you won’t want your toddler to binge on any sugary treats and risk having cavities.
- Soft puréed fruits and Vegetables
While hard food lets the kids Some kids prefer soft food, purées of fruits and veggies is a great option to fill their little tummies with the goodness of nutritious food. Try keeping the purées in the fridge before feeding so that it is cold enough to soothe the gums.
Diarrhea/Loose Stools And Teething-Are The Two Related?
With both my kids I faced the problem of loose stools while they were teething. As any mom I was worried initially, more so with my firstborn. She was cranky and then loose stools on top of that, it is like a whole battalion of trouble was after my life.
So, the big question is does teething have to do anything with the loose stools or the dreaded diarrhea? The experts are divided on the issue. William Sears, pediatrician and author of The Baby Book is of the opinion that child’s excessive saliva wounds up going in its gut and may result in mild diarrhea and loose stools and may cause mild diaper rash.
While many other pediatricians tend to disagree with the school of thought that teething results in fever, diarrhea, loose stools etc.
From my personal experience I have gathered that the loose stools are there and with my kids the symptoms were all very mild (except the being cranky part, that was absolutely verged on being catastrophic!) but if you feel that your child is stressed a lot it is always better to seek advice of your medical practitioner. My kids never had diarrhea at the time of teething and I don’t suppose diarrhea should be ignored, as it can lead to other potential problems. In case of Diarrhea stop surfing the internet for solution and head to the doctor.
What To Look For When Buying A Teething Toy
It would seem that this should not be a difficult task to buy a teether for your infant but believe me the research that parents put into while picking a teething toy would put NASA to shame! There is absolutely no dearth of options out there but there are a few things that must be kept in mind while selecting a teething toy for your child.
- BPA free: BPA (bisphenol-A) is an industrial chemical used to make plastic, the ingestion of BPA can cause brain and behavioral problems. It is particularly harmful for pregnant women and children.
- No PVC: PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is extremely toxic. It is a known human carcinogen and poses whole lot of health issues.
- Easy To Grab and Hold: No point in considering a teething toy if it’s not easy to grab or hold on to.
- Visually Appealing: Bright beautiful colors that catch the eyes of toddlers are important otherwise they would be more inclined to pick your colorful footwear instead!
- Ease of Refrigeration: When your child is teething there is nothing like a cold soothing teething toy to chew on to as it gives them a lot of relief.
We love this Sensory teether by Manhattan Toy.
- It is BPA free and meets the safety standards.
- It’s bright colors, great hold and beautiful design grabs your child’s attention and it doubles up as a rattle!
- The intricate design improves the hand eye coordination of the child and engages the baby’s motor skills.
- It is the winner of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2013.
Some Other Great Teething Toys for Your Toddler
Like these teething toys? Click on the photo for more information.
How old was your toddler when their 2 year molars came in?
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Comments
52 responses to “What to Expect When Your Child Is Getting Two Year Molars?”
I definitely agree about trying self soothing at night before going in to check on them. It’s so hard to get the back to their regular schedule when it gets off. Good luck with the teething At least you both get a nice long break from new teeth once the 2-year-old molars are in.
I haven’t seen any new teeth yet but he still loves chewing on his sippy cup.
I try to give them ice teethers to soothe the gums.
I haven’t put the teething ring in the freezer yet.
It is so hard when our little ones are hurting. Teething is so difficult for them. At least it gives us the opportunity for extra snuggle time1
I can’t complain about the extra snuggle time 🙂 It is hard seeing them in pain and there is nothing you can really do to help the situation.
Awww.. this is such a good post because my son I think is going through that. He hasn’t complained about it but he does chew on his blankie quite often. We’ll see how it goes and perhaps I can try your suggestions. Thank you!
Lexie has your son gotten any new teeth yet? So far, I am still waiting for his to come in.
I remember my son going through the same phase when he was teething – fever, colic, soft stools even. I’m glad to be over and done with the crazy, sleepless nights. 🙂
I don’t like the teething stages either, makes for a cranky baby.
What about watery eyes? Has anyone experienced that? My 27 month old is getting her molars and has been miserable for about a week. She has sores around her mouth along with watery eyes, fever. I am giving her Tylenol for the pain but I am worried about her eyes now. Help???
Kathy I would tend to think that watery eyes is a symptom of allergies. I would contact her doctor and speak to a nurse. The nurse can guide you and tell you if she needs to come in for a check up if you are indeed worried about her eyes. Granted general watering isn’t a huge deal but if her eyes is producing yellow mucus or getting crusted over night she might have pink eye.
Thanks Christy but her eyes seems to have cleared up…I worry too much it seems!
Kathy I am happy to hear that your daughter is feeling better.
It’s good that you recognize the signs, and nice that you compiled this list of tips for others!
Yes, I wanted to share the symptoms with other parents because we often think teething is over with after the first year. Thank you for stopping by.
Oh my, how I remember those years with my six kids, but I’ll tell ya, when I finally found those teething tablets with child #5, it was like a little miracle. Wish I’d known about them with the older four 🙁
We are going through this right now. i feel so bad for them!
Glad I didn’t experienced that with my kid. All her teeth seemed to come all at once around 9 months old or so. Phew.
This is a great article. I remember when my son was teething and he was absolutely miserable with some and others seemed to not phase him as much so we always felt like we were on the edge of our seats trying to figure out how to comfort him!
This is a fantastic article. I had a really rough time when my son was getting his 2 year molars, this article would have been a big help.
Oh, I remember those days. Those homeopathic teething tablets worked miracles for my kids. They also liked chewing on frozen fruit.
When my children had molars, I placed the teething toys in the refriegerator and then gave it to them, this helped quite a bit. 🙂
a few
Days? We are on 4 weeks now of f2 year old molar pain with no end in sight! The bumps are still there with no progression of teeth cutting through. Calgon take me away!
I hope your child’s teething pain subsides soon. I know that some babies cut teeth slower than others. Have you tried the chew toys? What about a cold wash cloth? I know those things helped my kids.
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This is a great post! Of course I am reading it at 4:45am after my 21 month old woke up crying. I have been worried about him all week, he has had loose stools, a low-grade fever, light appetite. Gave him some Advil and he’s been better. Little bugger won’t let me check his gums, though!
I hope your baby feels better. Try the cold wet wash cloth trick or cold teethers. This helped my son a ton. Thank you for visiting.
Hi my granddaughter 3 weeks of 2 yrs shes cranky tboth ears are red and she has rosie red cheeks i cant get into mouth then shes pulling at her ears i give her nurofen which helps her thanks for all ur tips we will soilder on thanks again
Gail I am glad that you found these tips helpful and hope that your granddaughter starts feeling better quickly. 🙂
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This article will help me to choose the best product for a newborn baby.I will share this post with my readers so that they can easily pick the best product.Can i share it?
Beautiful crib! We love the style so much and had a hard time getting this particular one. Down one star because it came damaged due to shipping issues. The straps around the box were il led and it cut right through the box and layer of protection and cut right into the headboard. Fortunately it’s on the backside so you can’t really see it. A bit disappointed tho to have such a nice and rivet item come damaged.
A lot of the stuff you get now a days is pre manufactured so you are bound to have some issues here and there. We have found that keeping good records can be your best friend when you find yourself frustrated over a new product.
Good post. Only problem I saw here…Personally would never give toothbrush as teething implement. A stick basically. Can cram down the throat or into mouth to cause canker. Do we let our kids walk with eating utensils, sticks or straws or any straight thing to cause damage?
Thanks for the other helps! 🙂
Great Read and insight!
Thank you 🙂
I am so glad you liked the article! 🙂
My daughter is 6 weeks away from being 2 & has not hardly slept for the past 4 nights. She’s either up till 1 or 2 am before I can get her to sleep or in bed by 9 or so,like normal,but back up at 4am ready to start the day. Also,she normally never gets up thru the night and she’s been up some kind of fussing then back to sleep. And I cannot get out of bed from her at all. I can’t even make it to the bathroom before she’s out of bed behind me. She has been a little bit fussier through the day but no fever or change in appetite or drool or anything except she has had some loose stools in and off and a pretty bad rash that as soon as I get it better,she’ll have another loose stool and it’s back. She has also been very needy for my attention and clingy to me. I thought she was just trying to adjust to her 2 older siblings going back to school but after reading this I’m thinking she could b teething. I’m hoping I figured it out bc Iv kinda been at a loss. My 2 other kids r 14 & 9 so it’s been a while and I didn’t realize she would get more teeth. So I hope that’s what’s going on and thank u for the article,it was like a refresher coarse and I feel it’s helped me a lot.
Hey Maggie,
I really hope your little one feels better soon. Times like these are absolutely exhausting both for the toddler as well as the mom. I am so glad the article helped you 🙂
Take care!
Great Article! I picked up a lot of great info. I will share with my wife so she can read it.
Hi there,
My daughters 21 months. Extra fussy and had loose stools for 10 days. Cant stop bitting her fingers & low grade fever.. was beside myself visited the doctors 3 times.. First child worry syndrome! Have come to read your article and feel much better for it.
Thanks
Hi Michelle,
Hope your daughter is feeling better now. Glad to be of help!
Take care
The water filled teethers are amazing for soothing the rear molars, but we learned that you have to put them in the fridge, not the freezer – otherwise, they get way too cold for the sore gums!
my son 23 month old is teething and my husband has early work while i work from home to look after our son.
Hard, crunchy foods can also be helpful for toddlers. Unlike teething infants, toddlers are better able to chew food more thoroughly before swallowing, but they should still always be supervised.
Try giving your child carrots, apples, or peeled cucumbers, and encourage them to chew on the side of the mouth that is bothering them the most. Make sure the pieces are small enough to prevent choking. Chilled produce can also be more effective in alleviating teething pain.
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I hated how cranky my kids got when they were teething. However, I’m not really a fan of “self-soothing”. Personally I preferred to have my toddlers in bed with me at night. That’s what worked for me (and I miss it so much now that my kids are older)…
We are going through this right now. i feel so bad for them!
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