Is My Baby Teething? Signs, Soothing Tips & What Actually Helps

Is your baby teething? What an exciting milestone for you and your little one! 

Baby teething symptoms typically start to show around 6 months in, but some babies may grow their first tooth slightly earlier or later. After all, teething often starts anywhere from 4 to 12 months old. 

While this may be an exciting milestone, it may cause your baby some discomfort. This guide will show you some signs that your baby is sprouting their first tooth and what you can do to soothe them once that happens.

Common Baby Teething Symptoms

Below are some of the initial signs that your baby might be growing their first tooth. Note that not all of these may apply, and some babies may even barely show symptoms!

• Drooling or an increase in saliva, which may even lead to rashes on the chin or face

• Swollen or red gums, sometimes with the hint of a little tooth visible under them

• More gnawing or chewing, where your baby may have a sudden, strong and consistent urge to bite on hard items, toys, or fingers

• Increased irritability or crankiness, often in the form of fussiness or crying

• Extra fussiness, especially during feeding (perhaps even refusing to feed)

• More restless sleep during this time

• Slight raised temperature, typically not a full-blown fever but a slight warmth

Teething Relief Tips for Soothing Your Baby

There are a lot of things you can do to soothe your baby through the discomfort of teething. Below are some of the more common techniques used today.

1. Rub or massage the baby’s gums

Wash and rinse your hands with soap and water first. After that, try gentle rubbing or massaging the baby’s aching gums to help soothe them.

2. Try chilled items

Giving your baby chilled items to put against their aching gums can help soothe the pain. Try chilled teething rings or use a cold cloth to rub the baby’s gums.

3. Use teething toys

There are a lot of teething toys Singapore parents can use: rubber chew toys for babies, hard biscuits, or even rusks. Make sure that they’re clean before passing them on to your little one, however.

4. Offer chilled food

This is similar to the tip to give your child chilled items. Try chilled yoghurt, apple sauce, or cold and soft fruit to help ease the pain while encouraging the baby to feed.

5. Consult your paediatrician

If nothing seems to help and your baby has also reached the point of not eating at all, see your paediatrician. They might be able to provide advice or even suitable pain relief to help the little one.

Note that during the teething period, you may also have to give your baby extra comfort or cuddles. If your baby also drools more than usual during this period, clean your baby’s face and dry it more often to avoid rashes from the saliva.

Precautions to Take When Giving Things to Your Baby

Bear in mind that there are certain precautions to take when giving things to your baby as teething relief. In particular, follow these guidelines: 

• Avoid giving them completely frozen items, as they can injure delicate gums. Chilled is fine, but not frozen.

• If deciding to give medication, do not self-prescribe OTC drugs. Consult your paediatrician first.

• Avoid giving your baby OTC numbing or teething gels without your paediatrician’s green light.

• Do not rub brandy on your child’s gums. This is an old wives’ tale, and alcohol is unsafe for babies.

How Long Does Teething Discomfort Last?

Babies grow new teeth about every 4 to 6 months. This starts from the middle teeth (central incisors) and gradually works its way to the back of the mouth where the molars are. Generally, the last baby molar emerges by the time your child is 2-3 years old.

There may be some discomfort 1 week before and a couple of days after the tooth erupts. However, there’s also a possibility that your baby may not experience the same teething pain every time a new tooth erupts.

Stay tuned for more baby and mummy tips!

We hope the tips above have helped your family soothe your baby during this milestone. Remember that it’s temporary, so any discomfort your little one feels during it should be transient!

If you want to explore more newborn guides and parenting tips, see the rest of our guides and articles on Mummy Guru. We’re here to help you navigate every phase of the parenthood journey with confidence and joy!