smelly smelly! : by jean

i recently noticed that miles sometimes has stinky breath!  i usually don't think anything of it but sometimes i would pick him up in the morning, give him my hug and kiss, and expect to breathe in his nice smell-- except it isn't so nice!

does your baby sometimes have bad breath?  i guess it could be morning breath.  after all, he is human and eats human food.  he currently has 4 teeth with 2 more on the way.  he also sucks his 3rd and 4th fingers when falling asleep.  i was so curious i literally googled "smelly baby breath."

parenting.com had an article from dr. sears about this.
some possibilites were:

Chronic sinus infection
Large tonsils
Dental problems
Foreign body stuck in the nose
Dry mouth
A stinky tongue
Gastroesophageal reflux     

i don't think miles has any major issues.  if anything, i think sucking on his fingers probably worsens the smell.  he also slobbers all over his hippo blankie/animal thingy that he likes to hold while falling asleep, so that probably doesn't help the cause either (but thanks, hans!  he loves his hippo!). 

so what did i do?

i started making him brush his teeth! 

baby banana bendable training toothbrush $8.49

i don't really know if it's making a difference but i'm at least getting him in the habit of brushing.  plus, he LOVES it.  he thinks it's a game.  HA, sucker!

since i've only noticed it now and then, i'm not gonna fret about his stinky breath, but has anyone else ever experienced this?  i thought babies were always supposed to smell good! :)

"what to expect" says you should take your baby to the dentist at around 6 months from when they first start having teeth or when they turn 1 year old.  web md also says you should take your baby to the dentist by the time he's 1. 

did you take your baby to the dentist by the time he/she turned 1?