Do you find a child who is teething tough to handle?
By vanny
@vandana7 (100254)
India
February 15, 2013 10:23am CST
My maid is working as nanny's at my neighbor's place.
So...one day she complains that the child often throws up and the clothes smell of the curdled milk.
Then another day she complains that she has to carry the baby all the time and he is getting heavier while she is much too old to be carrying him around...she is about my age ..53..
Then today she complained that he has been crying too much since morning...
The kid was fine with me, in fact, he had more fun with me than a couple of days ago, when he was down with fever.
I did notice his tendency to try and bite something...like spoon..
And I dont have any objection to his smell..
So my questions to you all are..
a. Does teething make children irritable
b. Shouldnt this woman who has had 4 kids of her own be doing something like getting the kid to burp or something?
c. Do you notice that smell of the kid when the kid throws up? I dont...it is nothing wrong with my olfactory functions. I mean, I am so engrossed in making the baby laugh and enjoy silly things with him, that I didnt realize...anyway the maid made a face and waited for the baby's mother to arrive since clothes are locked elsewhere.
d. Is the baby irritable with her because it realizes she does not really like him? I mean he is fine with me and another girl who works for them...so why is the baby more attached to me, when I hardly play with him for about an hour or so...so much as it jumps out of anybody's arms when he sees me...
Yeah, I am suspecting some ill treatment from the old lady...but cant pin point. Anybody would have loved this kiddo...he is so charming.
4 people like this
12 responses
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
15 Feb 13
I may NOT be qualified to respond...I have ONLY one child, of which I am very proud.
YES...my little tyke was cranking and irritable, his gums were red and he gnawed on soft things like a little rat.
I also agree that their little radar antenna are very effective, my Doctor said, something they develop immediately..and they do express with angst and unease, those they receive BAD vibes from!
Having 4 children of her own, may have de-sensitized her to being a good caregiver, and she is possibly not providing quality care. I do know that "burping" was a necessity with my son (he was colicy)...but I was also corrected by the paediatrician..as I was lightly tapping his back when I held his sternum on my should..I was told to rub, in a circular motion, clockwise...as patting broke up the gas bubbles into smaller bubbles are harder to release.
This baby is obviously picking up great little radar signals from YOU..and feels comfort and protection in your presence and care!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
15 Feb 13
hi vandana yes babies know who likes them and who does not. My son when a baby would hold out his baby arms to my mom but would shriek and cry if my dad tried to pick him up . My dad was a sour bitter man as long as i knew him. I do hope too Vandy that that
woman does not abuse the baby.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100254)
• India
15 Feb 13
May be all the more need for me to be checking on them frequently? Parents are working ...the kid is not averse to the other girl who works in their house. He is only averse to his nanny...
May be as you mentioned she has become "de-sensitized to being a good caregiver" or may be she is too tired and tends to sleep and has not developed any bonding with the kid.
I hope there is no abuse..
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@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
15 Feb 13
hi vandy oh my I think that lady needs to try a different job not taking care of teething babies. I bet shes not any too kind to the child.I love babies and I adored mine when they were babies too. Sure babies get fretful when teething but a kind resourceful woman can make the baby happy again.Babies are like little sponges as they absorb any real loving kindness they get.We used to call my little girl when she was a baby the love bug as she absorbed so much love and gave so much love to anyone caring for her.Sadly we only had her for 8 short years.Yes I think that lady had big problems doing child care and I think she should not be around little babies ar
all.
all.@vandana7 (100254)
• India
18 Feb 13
Hatley, she is trying to use her age and cold as an excuse to escape her duties..always sitting and letting the child play around...and getting up only when the child is falling...she sleeps when the child comes to my place...which is something...however human I may be...I find a bit like cheating...I mean..whenever she does not feel like handling the kid, its me or that other girl, who is overworked already...that girl being young, and fond of the baby, obliges...but it certainly appears that this woman is not pulling her weight and getting away easily. Frankly, I did not like her complaining about the baby's clothes stinking and that her arms are paining carrying him around, when in fact, most of the time, we all are carrying the baby around.
@vandana7 (100254)
• India
15 Feb 13
Yes, that seems to be a distinct possibility...all she does is sit with the baby or let the other girl handle everything including changing the nappies and feeding the baby. There might come a time when the other girl will resent this. The child is much too happy with me...and refuses to go back..even though he comes to my place for just an hour. That is kind of strange for me...it isn't as if I have not played with babies before. But child wanting to stay back at my place instead of returning home does make me wonder if either of them is losing patience with him. And since nobody is around to monitor such things in their home, it can go on unchecked...the thought scares me...since I recommended this maid.
1 person likes this
@dollar3235 (2062)
• India
16 Feb 13
Kids are always adorable and such things are normal when they are growing, most of us ignore this kind of things with kids, however taking care of this baby is a duty and she is not doing it willingly, that's the main problem. Once you don't like something, you can count n number of wrong things with it.
Check this URL, you will love it for sure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM
Note: Check the total number of views of this video. 
@dollar3235 (2062)
• India
16 Feb 13
As you can see in this video, these kind of things are something that we like in kids. I still remember, my younger brother used to always scratch my face by his nails but I never cared about that, I always wanted to be with him at that time. Your discussion reminds me of that time, as a matter of fact, he's a 2nd year engineering student now and I'm going to call him now..this discussion has made me nostalgic..
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
15 Feb 13
Yes, indeed! Teething babies are hurting so they aren't in the best of temperaments. If she is already an experienced mother she should know how to sooth the baby. The maid must not care much for the child if she is always complaining. She should be glad she has a job and do it well without complaint.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100254)
• India
15 Feb 13
I felt that too...she is constantly trying to hand his responsibility over to the other girl who is already over worked. In the process, chances are the other girl, who is young might develop a dislike for the kid if she cant cope with it. My maid does shirk on duty..but to be fair...she does have her health issues. I dont think she is likely to hit the child or do anything nasty...but yes, she does not seem to have developed much affinity for the kid.
1 person likes this
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
16 Feb 13
One are children are a great scene of character so they know when they don't like someone or that someone doesn't like them at all.
Two all children act different when teething and want different thing or different people depending on there needs.
I remember when my daughter was teething her first few teeth was nothing at all no crying or anything but after that when they all came in all once it seemed she has a hard time and would cry a lot had a fever or two even a little cold. Never throw up that isn't really part of teething. Diarrhea can be of course rashes, drooling a lot and of course teething on things.
My daughters few teeth because they where moralers where really bad. She has all of her teeth now because she is 2 years old and isn't teething any more.
Now my son I'm not sure how he is going to do when he starts cutting a tooth. He is teething but nothing yet.
@vandana7 (100254)
• India
21 Feb 13
Throwing up was around the period the first tooth came out...no longer there...
Diarrhea yes, cold yes, fever yes. Rashes too. Teething...on things. :(
This one is just one year old...has only four front teeths so far...long way to go for 32..:)
But yes...need to be watchful about what they stuff in. :)
Thanks for the tips sweetie...really helped. :)
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
16 Feb 13
One must have lot of patience to handle small kids. Teething definitely irritates the child and he/she tries to bite anything got in hands which may lead to stomach infections and vomiting too.
I agree if the child vomit a bad smell will be there until the dress is changed. I could easily recognize, if my child vomit in day care, the moment I reach him without asking anything to anybody. I will change the dress of the child first of all to remove the smell. (when kids are on the age of drinking milk vomiting is natural especially when there is some minor health issues). I must say the smell of baby is so attractive otherwise and anybody would love it.
The problem with this lady must be, she have health issues and can’t look after the baby well. The kids are also smart and can read the psychology of the people around them so he/she dislikes the person who can’t take proper care.
The problem with this lady must be, she have health issues and can’t look after the baby well. The kids are also smart and can read the psychology of the people around them so he/she dislikes the person who can’t take proper care.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
16 Feb 13
Yes, teething can make a baby irritable. Anybody who cared about the child should be trying to make the child more comfortable. Anyone who raised 4 children should know this. I used to give my toddlers frozen celery to chew on when they were teething. There are many more items for teething babies for sale now.
@vandana7 (100254)
• India
21 Feb 13
My maid is like...will somebody take this thing off me...after four children of her own!!!
And I have asked her many times, there are somethings to chew...the baby's mother bought them for the baby...but this dame feels too lazy to go across to fetch it...and forgets to bring it over when she is coming here with the baby. :(
Something is wrong...my gut feeling says so...cant pin point. The other maid came to pick the child yesterday...obviously she knows something that I dont.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
16 Feb 13
Vandy dear
Teething babies feel most uncomfortable, they want to bite every thing near them, so that the skin cuts and comes out soon, in our times there were dumbbell shaped small wooden thing we called it LOLA; we still have some; so when Bishu stared teething Kalyani gave him.
I had searched in market, some plastic thing with soft gel like stuff is filled inside, i never bought them.
About why the baby more attached to you- she; is because she gets more affection from you only.
@vandana7 (100254)
• India
21 Feb 13
The baby is he..:)
Anyway..he is attached to me...may be because I carry him around...while my maid sits and keeps the baby in her lap or lets him move around. When the baby falls, she is calling the other girl to come and pick as she cant get up very fast being old.
Last evening she brought the baby over to our place...she was late. I was in the bath. So when I came out...the baby had spilt some water, his pants were wet, his shirts were wet...but this dame was busy in the kitchen. When I told her...her reaction was...I didnt know it was so wet..I thought he had spilt a little water..come on...doesnt she need to check on the baby? She is paid for that..
She'd merely wiped the water on the floor!
So I had to ask her to go and get the baby changed...she went...possibly hating the order..and instead of changing the clothes herself...asked the other maid to do it...if she hates the baby so much...why do the job?
Yeah the baby nibbles ...she knows it...I am so conscious about it ...constantly keeping a vigil about what the baby is pushing in his mouth. He wants to bite the iodex bottle, container lids, containers...even rubber bands...and combs..but she'd left him...out there..for more than 15 minutes! What if he had swallowed some rubber bands..my dressing table is open for his attack.
May be I am being overly concerned. But I didnt like her behavior...and I think irritability with her is possibly because the baby is sick or baby does not like her..
@Sgoessi (78)
• Switzerland
10 Feb 14
Yup! It can happen, nothing wrong in it. Children are doing like this!
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@neelia27 (896)
• Philippines
16 Feb 13
When my baby is teething he is so irritable and sensitive.. he always cries a lot.. he doesn't want his milk and he bites his towel.. at night he can't sleep either so it is really hard to deal with a teething child.. lots of patience needed.. but it will pass so just attend to his needs and everything will be fine..
@vandana7 (100254)
• India
18 Feb 13
I have played with many babies...and earlier on, I was too busy to notice the difference, being a student going to college, or working.
But now with more time to spare on my hands, I seem to have become more observant. :)
He is irritable, yes...but compared to almost 10 to 20 babies that I have played with in my lifetime, this one is not that bad...its just a question of catching his attention with something...
@vandana7 (100254)
• India
15 Feb 13
Hi agusdiazz...welcome to myLot...and honestly your answer confused me..
I mean, you dont think kids with teething trouble are irritable, or you dont think there is any ill treatment on part of my maid...I mean she is all of 53 and perpetually complaining about how tiring her job is, and the kid is showing some sort of dislike for her...
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