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5 Things to Know When Your Baby Starts Teething
5 Things to Know When Your Baby Starts Teething

5 Things to Know When Your Baby Starts Teething

From handheld teethers to soothing gels, here’s how to support your little one as they grow their toothy grin.

author-Cassie Kreitner
By Cassie Kreitner
Published Nov 19, 2024|Updated On Jan 6, 2025
Published Nov 19, 2024Updated On Jan 6, 2025
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In This Article

A little extra drool doesn’t always mean they’re teething.
Those teeth won’t just sprout out overnight.
Teeth may not appear in order.
Teething doesn’t necessarily cause fevers.
There are many ways to help relieve teething pain.

Parenting can feel like an endless guessing game, and "Do you think they're teething?" is an oft-repeated question for parents whose babies are drooling, cranky or just having an off day. But if you look inside their mouth and notice red, swollen gums or the outline of a tooth along with those symptoms, you might have a teether on your hand. Watch the video above to see Mallorie, a mom of three, demonstrate teething signs to look for and different ways to relieve baby’s teething pain, and keep reading to find out what else you should know when you think your baby might be teething.

A little extra drool doesn’t always mean they’re teething.

If your baby’s mouth looks like a leaky faucet, that doesn’t always mean they’re teething (and the same goes for chewing on fingers or their favorite toys). While those can be signs of teething, they can also be indicative of developmental milestones, like discovering their hands and mouth (which can lead to increased saliva). So, how do you know the difference? If they’re closer to the three-month mark, chances are you have a few more months to go until teething begins.

Those teeth won’t just sprout out overnight.

Babies are born with a complete set of 20 teeth hiding underneath those little pink gums. However, the first signs of those tiny teeth typically won’t appear until sometime between 6-12 months old (although some babies start teething earlier). But teething doesn’t happen overnight—it can take about a week for them to erupt or break through the gums, and that’s when you can expect your baby to experience the most symptoms. Think: more drool than usual, interrupted sleep and less appetite, along with some extra fussiness and irritability. 

Teeth may not appear in order.

While there’s a general range of when babies typically cut their first tooth, there’s no hard-and-fast rule for the order of when teeth will break through the gums. But typically the middle teeth on the bottom break through first, followed by the two middle ones on top. Don’t be surprised, though, if more than one tooth comes in at a time (along with a bit of extra crankiness—can you blame them?). The lateral incisors on either side of the middle teeth usually follow shortly after that, but they’ll likely have a gap in the row for a while, as the molars typically show before the canines. 

Teething doesn’t necessarily cause fevers.

A baby’s temperature can become slightly elevated during teething symptoms, but studies haven’t found an association between a true fever and teething. If their temperature is above 100.4° F, your baby is more likely showing signs of a true fever caused by illness or infection. It’s important not to write off fevers as teething side effects in the event that your baby is fighting something off and potentially needs medical care.

There are many ways to help relieve teething pain.

From teething toys they can gnaw on to ointments you can apply directly to swollen gums, there are plenty of soothing methods you can try:

  • Offer something cold: But not so cold that it can harm their gums. Experts no longer recommend freezing teether toys or food for baby to munch on—but the fridge is the just-right temperature. You can also offer some chilled fruit in a mesh or silicone feeder as a refreshing snack. 

  • Do a gum massage: Wash your hands thoroughly, and gently rub the sore areas of baby’s mouth with your fingers. While this might feel a little weird initially, baby might find it relieving. You can also wear a glove to do this (like the kind doctors and nurses wear) if you want to be extra cautious about germs. (Head to 3:28 in the video for a show-and-tell).

  • Apply a soothing gel or drops: Gels and drops can also be helpful when massaging your baby's gums. Look for something with calming botanicals, like these organic soothing gels from Hyland’s. There are daytime and nighttime versions, each formulated with gentle organic ingredients like chamomile and lemon balm, and you can store them in the refrigerator for even more cooling sensation when it’s time to use them. 

A quicker and potentially easier option is to opt for organic soothing drops. These have day and night options, too, and are applied using the included dropper.

Shopping tip: When looking for gels or drops, steer clear of anything containing benzocaine (marketed to numb pain) or the plant extract belladonna. The FDA has issued warnings against them due to potentially dangerous side effects in babies (all of Hyland’s products are benzocaine- and belladonna-free). 

  • Give pain relievers if directed: If you find your baby just isn’t feeling much relief after trying some of these soothing methods, you may want to check in with your pediatrician about offering a child-safe dose of acetaminophen (the generic name for Tylenol) if baby is at least two months old, or ibuprofen (aka Motrin) if they’re over six months old.

Teething can be frustrating and tiresome for babies and parents, but like everything else, it’s just a phase (alas, one that will happen every few months until they get all 20 teeth—typically by three years old). But with your help and some handy tricks, your baby can cut those adorable pearly whites with a bit less fuss.

This article is sponsored by Hyland’s. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.

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