We had a really rough weekend....

[newmamalizzy]

Saturday morning DP took care of the baby so I could take a loooong nap.  It was fantastic until I heard a crash and an "Oh my GOD" from DP who ran in with DD (13 months), her mouth full of blood, and her new (and only!) little bottom teeth rotated 90 degrees to the horizontal.  She was climbing on her safety gate (she likes to try to gnaw on the top rail), which must not have been entirely secure in the doorway.  It fell out backwards with her underneath.  After a long day in the emergency room, she ended up with her teeth pulled out, so now my beautiful little girl will have a gap until her adult teeth grow in.  It makes me want to cry, but I can't because DP is tearing himself to shreds with guilt.  He says he hates to see her smile because those little bloody holes remind him of what he did to her.  Poor guy.  Anyway, I'm turning here for sympathy.  My baby's little teeth are gone!  It's so, so sad.  She'll always be adorable, but she had the sweetest little toothy grin....sigh. 

P.S.  Check those safety gates, everyone, and don't let those little monkey babies try to climb them or gnaw on the top rail. 

[whozeyermamma]

OH mama! I'm so sorry! Tell your DP to try not to feel guilty - it could have happened even if his eyes were glued to her.

I've seen my LO try to climb on his gate and I will be more careful now.

Good luck and you know that she will still be a super cutie pie!

[Super~Single~Mama]

You poor thing!!  And your poor DH!!!  Things happen - tell him to try not to feel so guilty! 

[LittleBirdy]

Yes first and foremost please tell your DP to not be so hard on himself!  I know it's difficult right now but these things happen in an instant, and it was an accident.... could have just as easily been you or perhaps another family member.

I know it is so sad that the little toothy grin is gone... I can only imagine how I'd feel if I were in your shoes.  Hugs mama.  I am glad she is OK, and just think... years from now when her big girl teeth come in it will be just another part of her story :)

[MSWmama]

Hugs to you and DP - how scary! That kind of thing really can happen to anyone - I hope he doesn't beat himself up over it for too long!

[Peony]

Hugs. DD1 lost two of her front teeth in a freak accident, she was a bit older, 3 actually. It was hard looking at the gap for a while and then we had so many years with it, that it just seemed normal after a while. Her adult teeth have finally come in those places and she is adjusting to having teeth again. I have to say that I do get a thrill out of DD2's perfect little toothy grin just because when DD1 was that age, it was a rather toothless grin. 

[P.J.]

Wow, that's rough! That must have been an awful day for you all.

I hope this does not sound flip, but try to look at it this way: at least she had only two teeth. My DS is a similar age, with seven teeth. That kind of gap would be really obvious. Two bottom teeth may not even be noticeable, as many people do not show bottom teeth even when they smile.

Hope you all recover and heal soon.

[newmamalizzy]

Originally Posted by P.J. 

Wow, that's rough! That must have been an awful day for you all.

I hope this does not sound flip, but try to look at it this way: at least she had only two teeth. My DS is a similar age, with seven teeth. That kind of gap would be really obvious. Two bottom teeth may not even be noticeable, as many people do not show bottom teeth even when they smile.

Hope you all recover and heal soon.

Not flip at all.  My sister said the same thing, and it's true - more teeth would probably have meant more damage. 

DP is assuaging his guilt by buying all sorts of new babyproofing stuff.  He got a new gate (vertical bars and screws into the wall) the very night we got home from the hospital.  As long as he doesn't spend our entire savings on outlet covers and cabinet locks, I think we're on the road to recovery.

[SeattleRain]

I'm so sorry mama! It SUCKS when our babies get hurt, and it sounds like that was really traumatic for all of you. Unfortunately for us new mamas, it seems to take the babies getting hurt or almost getting hurt to figure out that they can do these antics.