Xavier's First Tooth
Greetings to everyone!
Well, last week Xavier had some difficult evenings and nights. Not so much during the day, but at night, he would screech out with loud, disagreeable, shrill squeals. At first, Rebecca and I didn't know quite what to make of it. After the second back-arching round, we both thought "Finally! It's a tooth!"
The first night was the most brutal. It took us an hour or so to find a technique to soothe his pain, which we were certain was in his lower gum line. We tried several ideas, including one which many web sites alluded to, but never had the stones to post. That technique worked the best, and it led to Xavier discovering his own technique: chewing on a cool, wet wash cloth.
Xavier did awaken in the middle of the night (or very early morning) with a scream that brought both Rebecca and me into his room. Another wash cloth solved the problem and gave us all a few more hours of sleep. The first night was the worst for all of us, especially Xavier.
Thursday night was not nearly as traumatic, though the wash cloth was kept handy. We also had a frozen wash cloth wrapping an ice cube and a liquid-filled chew-toy which the freezer kept until needed. This little toy became necessary equipment for Xavier's travel bag.
Friday morning, Rebecca took off to Wyoming for a conference lasting through Sunday. She felt bad leaving Dad with a near-one-year-old cutting a tooth. Xavier fared better Friday than the previous two days, only having about an hour's battle with the discomfort.
Saturday came and went and no tooth. The web sites we studied stated a tooth should take three to five days to erupt. If it takes longer, see a doctor. So, the clock was ticking down!
Sunday passed into history much like Saturday. Rebecca returned. We went out to dinner. Xavier showed little, if any, signs of a tooth emerging. Gone was his discomfort of the last five days.
Monday was uneventful, except it was day six and still no tooth. Xavier had stopped pulling on his right ear and wanting his wash cloth early Sunday. Another false alarm we wondered.
Tuesday, Xavier learned to crawl/climb stairs, demonstrating his growing skill at standing upright when he can steady himself against something. Would he be walking before he had any teeth, I wondered. As I put him to bed, I did a check of his mouth, but still no tooth poking through.
Wednesday, I walked out of the office with an office mate whose daughter is a week older than Xavier. He and I often swap Daddy techniques and keep informed of each other's child's developments. Heading for our cars, we spoke about teething. His daughter has cut her two bottom central incisors. He explained what the emergence was like for his daughter and what the teeth felt like when they broke through. I had new information and drove home anticipating what my knew knowledge might reveal.
Shortly after coming through the door, Rebecca informed me Xavier's tooth pushed through. Sure enough, it felt just as my friend described! So, Xavier has his first tooth, a little enameled nub now through the surface of his gum. For the record, it's his lower, right-central incisor. I'd post a picture, but I don't own the camera equipment that would allow me to take the photograph. However, I will post a picture when the tooth is prominent enough to see in his smile!