A teething baby needs a combination of safe things to chew on, gentle gum pressure, and occasional pain relief to get through the discomfort. Most babies cut their first tooth between 6 and 12 months, and the process comes in waves as each new tooth pushes through. The good news: teething is temporary, and a few simple strategies can make a real difference.
What Teething Looks Like
Before a tooth breaks through, you’ll usually notice your baby drooling more than usual and gnawing on anything they can get their hands on. Their gums may look red or swollen in the spot where a tooth is coming in. Beyond that, expect fussiness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and sometimes a drop in appetite. These symptoms tend to peak in the days right before and after a tooth emerges, then ease off until the next one starts.
One thing teething does not cause is a real fever or diarrhea. A slightly elevated temperature is normal, but if your baby develops an actual fever (100.4°F or higher), something else is going on. It’s easy to blame teething for every symptom during this stage, but doing so can mean missing an illness that needs attention.
Cold and Pressure: The Best First-Line Relief
Babies instinctively want to bite down on something when their gums hurt, and giving them the right thing to chew is the simplest form of relief. A clean, wet washcloth that’s been refrigerated or frozen works surprisingly well. The cold numbs the gums slightly, and the texture gives them something satisfying to gnaw on. Just make sure the washcloth is free of lint or loose threads.
Teething toys made from food-grade rubber or silicone are another solid option. Look for ones that are specifically designed as teethers, not jewelry or anything made of small beads that could break apart. Avoid toys filled with liquid, since a determined baby can puncture them. Refrigerating teething toys adds a soothing chill, though you don’t need to freeze solid rubber toys rock-hard.
You can also apply gentle pressure directly to your baby’s gums with a clean finger. Rubbing firmly along the swollen area often calms a fussy baby quickly, especially when they’re too upset to hold a toy themselves.
Chilled Foods for Babies on Solids
If your baby is already eating solid foods (typically around 6 months), cold or frozen foods can double as teething relief. Silicone mesh feeders let you place chilled fruit like banana, strawberry, or mango inside a pouch that your baby can safely gnaw on without any choking risk from large pieces. The cold fruit soothes their gums while also giving them a snack. Frozen breast milk popsicle molds work on the same principle for younger babies who haven’t started solids yet.
When to Use Pain Medication
For nights when nothing else is working and your baby is clearly in pain, infant acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safe for babies of any age. It can be given every 4 hours as needed. Infant ibuprofen (Motrin) is an option for babies 6 months and older and can be given every 6 hours. Both are dosed by weight, not age, so check the packaging carefully or ask your pediatrician for the right amount for your baby.
Pain medication shouldn’t be the go-to for every fussy moment, but it’s genuinely helpful for the worst stretches, particularly at bedtime when discomfort keeps your baby from settling.
Products to Avoid
Several popular teething products are actually dangerous. The FDA has issued direct warnings against numbing gels and creams containing benzocaine (sold as Orajel, Anbesol, and similar brands) or lidocaine. These offer little to no real benefit for teething pain, and benzocaine can cause a rare but potentially fatal condition where the blood loses its ability to carry oxygen normally. Lidocaine solutions can cause seizures, heart problems, and severe brain injury if too much is swallowed, which is nearly impossible to prevent with a drooling baby.
Homeopathic teething tablets have also been flagged by the FDA. Some have been found to contain inconsistent amounts of belladonna, a toxic plant extract.
Amber teething necklaces are another product to skip entirely. Sellers claim the amber releases a natural pain reliever when warmed by body heat, but there is no scientific evidence supporting this. The real risk is well documented: the FDA issued a warning in 2018 after reports of children choking on broken beads and an 18-month-old dying from strangulation by an amber necklace during a nap. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants not wear any jewelry at all. The same goes for teething necklaces made from wood, marble, or silicone beads.
Caring for New Teeth
As soon as that first tooth appears, it needs brushing. Use a soft, infant-sized toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste, just enough to barely cover the bristles. Brush twice a day. You won’t increase to a pea-sized amount of toothpaste until your child is 3 to 6 years old.
This is also the right time to schedule a first dental visit. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend that babies see a dentist before their first birthday. Early visits help catch problems before they start and give you a chance to ask questions about fluoride, pacifier use, and what to expect as more teeth come in.
Getting Through the Worst Nights
Teething pain tends to be worst at night, when there are fewer distractions. A bedtime routine that includes a dose of pain reliever (if needed), a cold washcloth to chew on during the wind-down, and some extra comfort nursing or bottle time can help. Some parents find that a slightly elevated sleeping position eases discomfort, since blood flow to the gums increases when a baby lies flat.
The entire teething process stretches from around 6 months to about age 3, but the most intense periods are when the first few teeth and the molars come through. Each tooth typically causes only a few days of real discomfort. It doesn’t feel like it at 2 a.m., but the rough patches are short-lived, and you have safe, effective options to help your baby through every one of them.