When you find yourself confronted with a fussy, drooling mess of a baby, your first instinct is probably to blame teething. But the truth is, a lot of the things you think are symptoms of teething are anything but!

Here are some of the top myths about teething—and the truth behind them.

Myth #1: Teething causes fevers.

This one is partially true. The American Academy of Pediatrics has found that teething can cause slight fevers. However, anything above 101 degrees Fahrenheit is a sign of a bacterial or viral infection, not teething.

Myth #2: Teething causes diarrhea.

This is another really pervasive myth, but studies have found no evidence to support it. If your baby seems to be abnormally runny, you might want to blame another one of those infections. If your baby is shying away from solid foods, the loose stools could also be caused by a return to a liquid-based diet.

Myth #3: Teething causes a runny nose.

This one’s totally bogus. However, the stress of getting the new tooth can compromise a baby’s immune system, making your little one more likely to get a cold or ear infection, leading to that runny nose.

Teething can be a miserable experience, no doubt about it. But before blaming your baby’s symptoms on teething, dig a little deeper. Your little one’s discomfort could be something a doctor can fix!

References:
American Academy of Pediatrics
Babycenter.com