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Teething

Teething
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 4 to 6
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   3.28

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    easy-going, lateral, painless, diarrhea, based, virus, fussy, milestone, nontoxic, whiskey, uncomfortable, drool, actually, lower, meantime, upper

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Teething
By Jennifer Kenny 		  
1     Dylan had a baby brother named Ryan in his family. Ryan was usually a very easy-going baby, but lately he was quite cranky.
 
2     "What's the problem with the little guy?" Dylan asked his mother.
 
3     "Teething," his mom answered. "Ryan is right on time. Babies usually start teething around six to eight months. This is so exciting! What a milestone."
 
4     "Oh, yeah?" Dylan said. "Let me take a look." Sure enough the two bottom front teeth were just cutting through the gums. "How does this whole teething thing work?"
 
5     "Do you mean what order do they come up in?" his mother asked.
 
6     "Yes," Dylan said.
 
7     "Well," his mother said, "when Ryan was born, he actually had a set of primary teeth, or baby teeth, partially developed; you just couldn't see them. Then they start erupting, or breaking through, often in pairs. First the central incisors, or the bottom front teeth, come in. Then a month or so later the four front upper teeth usually appear. Soon after, there are the lower lateral incisors. Tada! Then the first molars and eyeteeth appear."
 
8     "If it's so exciting," Dylan asked, "why is Ryan so unhappy about it?"
 
9     "For some children," his mom said, "it's painless. For others, though, it is uncomfortable when the teeth break through the gums as they slowly emerge. Crankiness and drooling are the two biggest signs of teething. Ryan may be sleepless and fussy. He might even lose his appetite."

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