Shop Smarter

Oh, No...Teething Woes?

Has your happy-go-lucky infant suddenly been transformed into one cranky, crabby baby? If your baby is around six or seven months old, chances are...he's teething!

If you suspect this may be the case, take a look in baby's mouth. Focus on the area of the bottom front teeth (they are typically the first to erupt). If the gums are red and swollen, you've got a teether on your hands! In addition, other symptoms may include:

Excessive drooling (often accompanied by a facial rash)
Chewing on fingers and toys
Irritability and sleeplessness
Ear pulling
Lack of appetite
A low-grade fever
Diarrhea

Of course, these are signs of illness, too. How do you tell the difference? A teething baby won't get any sicker, and will in fact have periods when she seems fine. Also, it is rare for a teething baby to experience a fever higher than 100 degrees. But when in doubt, always call your pediatrician.

How to Make Baby Feel Better
There are a number of things you can do to ease baby's discomfort. Every baby is different, so you may need to experiment to find what works for you.

Let baby indulge his desire to chew by providing baby-safe teethers in a variety of textures.
Offer baby something cold-a wet face cloth, chilled applesauce, a bottle of cold water.
Try rubbing a clean finger over baby's inflamed gum.
Distract baby with multi-purpose teething toys that amuse while they soothe.
Give baby a change of scene: go for a brisk walk or take a ride in the car.
Try a topical pain-relieving gel designed for teething infants.
Ask your pediatrician to recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen.
Soothe baby with rocking, soft music, and other calmers. (See our Article, "15 Ways to Soothe a Fussy Baby.")
Remember: no matter how awful it seems at the time, teething is temporary!

What's Normal?
Although timetables vary, baby teeth tend to erupt in the same sequence: first, the two lower front teeth...then, the upper front teeth...Finally, the remaining teeth (from front to back). Most infants cut four new teeth every four months until all 20 teeth appear, usually by about two-and-a-half to three.

Baby will keep those primary teeth until about age six, so keep them healthy and sound. Start brushing as soon as that first tooth appears — you'll not only build strong teeth and gums, but good dental habits, too!