Most babies start teething at around six months old. Of course, every baby is different: some start before four months (some are even born with their first teeth!), and some don’t start until after 12 months.

As parents, we love the beautiful diversity of our babies … but it can also make parenting a little more difficult at times. Has your baby been extra fussy lately because they’re teething, or is it something else? Is your baby drooling and chewing more because of teething, or could it be something else?

Recognizing and soothing teething can be difficult, especially for first-time parents. Knowing what to look for and how to help will make it much easier on everyone.

7 Symptoms and Signs of Teething

Different babies handle teething differently. Some experience a lot of discomfort and pain, while others seem to be less bothered. Wherever your baby lands on the spectrum, here are a few symptoms of teething to watch for:

1. Lots of drool. Babies drool, but teething babies drool a lot. The excess drool might even lead to a teething rash—red, chapped, or sore skin on baby’s chin, mouth, or neck. Some will also experience a slight gag reflex and cough occasionally.

2. A flushed cheek or cheek-rubbing. This is more common with erupting molars. Soreness on one side of the mouth can become soreness in that cheek. The cheek may become red, and baby may rub or tug on it.

3. Ear-pulling. Also more common as your baby gets molars, some babies feel the pain of new teeth all the way back to the ear on the same side. (Note that many babies with ear infections also pull on their ears, so if you think it’s more than teething, consult your pediatrician.)

4. Red or swollen gums. Some teeth cut right through and others take longer. The latterlater, unfortunately, makes baby’s gums red, swollen, and tender.

5. Biting. The counterpressure of biting and chewing can help ease the discomfort of teeth trying to push through the gum line. Babies who are cutting teeth will usually try to gnaw on whatever they can get in their mouths.

6. Extra fussiness. Teething hurts and your baby doesn’t understand what’s happening, so they will protest. Teething doesn’t sleep, either, so even if your baby was sleeping through the night, they might wake up fussy while those teeth are pressing.

7. Food strikes. Suction is normally a soothing activity for babies, but it can make sore gums even more uncomfortable. Even babies who have started solid foods might be too fussy to cooperate with meal time. A hungry tummy will usually win out pretty quickly, but if the food strike lasts too long, call your pediatrician.

How to Ease Teething Pain

One of the worst feelings in the world (next to teething) is knowing your baby is in pain. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to easy baby’s sore gums.

Massage the gums with a clean finger or firm teething toy to provide that valuable counter-pressure. Your baby might wince at the first touch to their sore gums, but they’ll feel the relief soon.

Provide firm, cold teething toys for baby to chew on. Firm toys provide good counter-pressure and coldness can help numb sore gums. Keep a small stash of teething items—and even a damp, clean washcloth—in the fridge, so you have them on-hand. (Avoid the freezer, though. Severe cold can hurt tender gums!)

Offer cold food and drinks to help numb sore gums. Don’t give anything that hasn’t already been introduced, but if your tiny teether has already started solids or is old enough for water, offer cold meals instead of warm ones.

Take care of irritated skin by making sure to change wet shirts and bibs, patting chins and neck areas dry, and using a petroleum jelly or other barrier to protect skin around the mouth from excess drool.

Snuggle. Everyone needs some extra comfort when they’re going through something painful and/or confusing, and your baby is no different. If they’re extra clingy, try to make time to provide some extra comfort. 

Talk to your pediatrician about pain relievers. If nothing else is working and your little one is really suffering, talk to your pediatrician about an appropriate dosage of baby acetaminophen

As important as knowing how to ease your baby’s teething pain is knowing what not to do:

Do not use amber teething necklaces. There is no medical research that supports amber teething necklaces as an effective soother for teething pain, and they can become a choking hazard.

Do not use numbing agents. The FDA has issued warnings against numbing gels and creams for teething babies, linking the active ingredient to serious and sometimes fatal side effects.

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