Most babies start teething at six to seven months. A few early birds begin at three to four months, and a few babies will even begin at ten to twelve months. Do not worry if the teeth come in late. While the majority of babies aren’t troubled by the teething process, some get irritable, eat poorly, and have trouble sleeping when teeth begin to arrive.

If your baby seems uncomfortable while teething, they might be soothed by a soft, refrigerated teething toy. Do not put teething toys in the freezer, as this makes the toys hard and can lead to freezer burns. Chewing on a chilled, moist rag can also soothe a teething baby. If these measures are not working, you may wish to give Tylenol. Please make sure with a thermometer that your baby does not have a fever before giving the Tylenol. They may be fussy because they are getting sick rather than because they are teething. Fevers over 101F cannot be blamed on teething.

There are anesthetic topical ointments available for teething. However, we have seen little evidence that these agents relieve teething pain. Also, there are some well-documented cases of bad side effects as a result of overuse of these agents. Additionally, because of the constant production of saliva, much of the medication is quickly washed off and swallowed, rather than staying on the gums. For these reasons, we recommend only using teething rings and acetaminophen (Tylenol) for relief.

Revised 3.22.09