Dr. Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe, MD, FAAP

Dear Dr. Gwenn,

My 9 month old is very fussy and cries the minute I put the spoon in his mouth. He will eat cheerios and pieces of bagel though he only drinks about 4-5 ounces of milk (usually its 7-8oz.). He has a stuffy nose, no fever. Could he be teething (He has not one tooth yet), if so, how often should I give Tylenol if he does not have a fever?

Signed,
Lorraine

Dear Lorraine:

Teething is always a consideration in a 9 month old and can be hard to detect - sometimes the gums ache well before the tooth erupts. Have you tried a teething ring?

Fussiness comes in different varieties. If he is fussy here and there but has playful moments and calms easily, a trial of Tylenol at home may be fine. But, if he is at all worrying you, call your pediatrician to talk it over first. Your pediatrician is the best person to help you sort out whether medicating your son is the safest path to take and what your son needs.

Best,
Dr. Gwenn

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About the Author
Pediatrician, Dr. Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Gwenn is an experienced columnist, educator, and practicing pediatrician. Dr. Gwenn strives to write as if she were talking to a parent. As a parent herself, she knows how important it is to obtain information but also understand how precious little time parents have to find that information on the internet. Pediatrics Now was developed to fill that gap and provide a bridge between the parenting and pediatrics worlds.

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