Teething is something that all parents dread, as you've just got your baby into a routine, along comes teething causing irritation to your baby and often sleepless nights again for you as the parents. So what can you do to try and ease your baby's pain, and soothe the irritation of teething.

Teething causes a range of reactions, you may notice your baby's gums start to look red and sore, dribbling may increase and your baby may look flushed. Teething can start very early in some baby's but it is quite normal for teething to begin between six to twelve months. If your baby begins teething earlier than that or after, please do not panic it is still perfectly normal but if you are worried please ask your GP.

There are now more products than ever on the market for soothing your baby's teething irritation. Teething rings have been around for many years now and do help somewhat, especially in terms of cutting the tooth as your baby will rub the ring on their gums and chew on it. You can place the teething ring in the fridge also to make it nice and cool which will help to sooth your baby's gums but ensure that it is not too cold as this can cause damage to your baby's gums. Please also never put ice in your baby's mouth as this is also incredibly dangerous and never leave your baby alone with a teething ring.

There are also now various teething gels on the market which can only be used on baby's over 4 months of age. You must not use adult teething gel on an infant but you can get baby teething gel from most pharmacy's. The gel is a good tool for soothing your baby's gums as most teething gels contain some anaesthetic as well as antiseptic to prevent infection from broken skin. If your baby is still in pain and unsettled, then you can try infant Calpol as this contains paracetamol but again if you have any concerns it is best to contact your GP.

Above all, try to distract your baby by keeping him or her occupied with toys and play, if there is something you normally do to comfort your baby then try doing this as often it will help to settle them. Teething is part of your baby's growth and some baby's can sail through teething with very little disturbance at all, every baby is different.

Bringing home your first new born can be daunting, as we all know that no parent has all the answers when it comes to their first child. For the first few years of a child's life, their only way of communicating a problem to us is by crying. It can be quite scary when your newborn is crying and you are not totally sure why, but it is normal not to know all the answers.

Bringing your first born home is a learning curve but we have a list of reasons below with tips on why your baby could be crying:

- Needs changing - It is possible your baby is wet and may need a nappy change.

- Time for a feed - Perhaps your baby is hungry and needs a feed

- Trapped wind - If your baby has recently been fed they may need winding

- Unwell - it could be your baby is suffering with Colic, if so consult a doctor

- Temperature - Your baby's room temperature should be between 16-20 degrees C they may be too hot or too cold

- A cuddle - Sometimes your baby will just cry to be held and a cuddle will often soothe your baby

Hopefully these tips will help you. However, it is quite common for a baby to cry for no particular reason and it can be incredibly frustrating when you have been through all of the above and there appears to be nothing wrong with your baby. Sometimes a soft blanket or a dummy can help to comfort your baby, or perhaps rocking or even noise. Believe it or not, some babies actually find the sound of things like the washing machine or vacuum cleaner soothing. You will get to know what soothes your baby and the cries will become more recognisable so do not think you are alone, this is something all parents go through.