Every parent knows teething is one of the most painful experiences in any baby's life. Many babies express their suffering by tugging on their ears. If your baby is tugging on his ears, there's a good chance he is teething. Ear-tugging, however, may also be a sign of a bigger problem.
Teething Signs
Tugging on ears is just one of many signs that your little one is teething. Your baby may think the gum pain is coming from the ears, and tugs on them. Other clues include drooling, chewing on toys, irritability and difficulty eating or drinking. While many believe teething also can cause fevers, no conclusive evidence has linked teething to fevers in infants. Most babies cut their first tooth between 4 and 7 months, so start looking for teething signs just before your baby turns 4 months old.
Comforting Baby
To soothe your baby's misery, apply oral anesthetics, use teething rings and soft toys that are chewable. Much of your baby's fussiness can be written off to gas and teething; however, if you think something else is wrong with your child, call your pediatrician.
Ear Infection
Some symptoms of teething, such as tugging at ears and fevers, may have nothing at all to do with teething. Instead, they can be symptomatic of an ear infection. Ear infections are often accompanied by a cold, which can leave your baby feeling stuffed-up and weak. Ear infections also can come with an inability to sleep and drainage of pus or blood coming out of the ear. Ear-tugging by itself, however, isn't a symptom of an ear infection, according to Dr. William Sears.
When to Call the Doctor
As you gain more experience with a teething baby, you'll be able to tell the difference between teething and a bigger problem. Be prepared to call the doctor if you're not totally sure teething is the only thing bothering your child, especially if he has a fever higher than 101 degrees or is unable to eat.
