Help! I think my baby is teething?! Now what...
Let get into it..When Do Babies Start Teething? Signs, Teethers & What Parents Should Know
If your baby has suddenly started chewing on absolutely everything, drooling more than usual and generally seeming a little more unsettled, it’s very normal to wonder whether teething has started.
And the slightly frustrating answer is: maybe!
Babies can show signs that look a lot like teething before you ever actually see a tooth, and there’s also quite a big range in terms of when that first tooth appears.
So, let’s talk about what teething can actually look like, what’s considered normal, and where teethers fit into all of it.
When do babies start teething?
Most babies start teething around 6 months, but that is definitely not a deadline.
Some babies will get their first tooth before 4 months, while others might not have one until after their first birthday, and some babies are even born with teeth! There can be quite a lot of variation between completely healthy babies.
The front teeth are usually the first to appear. From there, the rest gradually come through over the next couple of years, and most children will have all of their milk teeth by around 2 to 3 years old.
So when we talk about “teething”, we’re not really talking about one short stage. Teeth are coming through at different points for quite a long time.
And if your friend’s six-month-old suddenly has two teeth while your baby still has none, that is normal! Babies all have their own timeline!
What does teething actually look like?
This is one of those things that can look very different from baby to baby.
Some babies seem to get a tooth with almost no warning. Others become noticeably more unsettled beforehand.
You might notice:
- more drooling than usual
- sore or red-looking gums
- chewing or gnawing on anything they can get hold of
- one flushed cheek
- rubbing at an ear
- being a little more irritable or unsettled
- changes to sleep
- a slight rise in temperature
One thing I would be careful about is thinking that every symptom to teething.
A baby who has a true fever, seems generally unwell or has symptoms that are worrying you shouldn’t automatically chalk it up to be “just teething”. There also isn’t good evidence that teething itself causes things like diarrhea or profuse spitting up.
Parents hear “it’s probably teething” a lot, and sometimes it absolutely is! But babies can also be teething and unwell at the same time.
If something doesn’t feel right, it’s absolutley always reasonable to seek medical advice.
So chewing on everything can be teething? But also may not be? Why are they suddenly chewing everything!
Babies explore and learn a huge amount through their mouths, so putting things in their mouth doesn’t automatically mean that a tooth is coming. This can be frustrating especially when you are in a new environment constantly trying to keep your baby away from germs and they are just finding honestly anything to put in their mouth..
But when gums are sore, chewing and applying pressure can feel good.
That’s really the basic idea behind a teether. It gives a baby something specifically designed for them to hold, mouth and chew rather than whatever happens to be within grabbing distance.
Each baby is going to have a different preferences here.
Some seem to really like firmer textured areas. Some repeatedly chew the exact same edge. Some want something they can manoeuvre towards different parts of their gums.
That’s one of the reasons I like teethers that have a few different textures rather than one completely smooth surface. It gives the baby different areas to explore depending on what feels good to them at that moment.
A teether isn’t going to make teething discomfort disappear, but it can be a really useful thing to have around to offer a bit of relief, distraction, or a safe alternative for them to put in their mouth as opposed to other things within their reach.
When can babies start using a teether?
This depends on the individual teether, so always check the manufacturer’s age guidance.
Babies can start mouthing and chewing things well before you physically see a tooth coming through, so you don’t need to wait until there’s a visible little white line in the gum before introducing an age-appropriate teether.
The main thing is making sure whatever you give them has actually been designed for babies of their age and that you follow the safety and care instructions that come with it.
What should you actually look for in a teether?
There are a lot of baby products where you can quite quickly find yourself wondering what you genuinely need and what has just been marketed very well.
With teethers, I’d focus on a few fairly practical things...
Can your baby actually hold it?
This matters more than people sometimes realise.
Babies are still developing their grip and coordination, so something that looks lovely but is awkward for small hands to hold isn't going to be particularly useful.
I’d look for a design with obvious areas that little hands can grip, while still allowing the baby to move the teether around and bring different parts towards their mouth.
Does it have different textures?
You’ll often see teethers with ridges, bumps or different surface patterns.
Those aren't just there to make the product look interesting. Different textures give babies different sensations against their gums and something else to explore while they’re chewing.
Again, different babies will have different preferences, so having a few options on the same teether can be helpful!
How easy is it to clean?
This is a big one, especially for busy parents!
If something is regularly going in a baby's mouth, it is also going to get dropped, covered in dribble and cleaned a lot.
So before buying a teether, check how the manufacturer says it should be cleaned.
Personally, I think anything that can safely go into a dishwasher or steriliser makes life considerably easier, particularly during the stage where you already seem to spend half your day washing baby things.
Is it practical when you're out?
Teethers have a habit of ending up on the floor at exactly the wrong moment.
A properly designed attachment or clip can be really useful when you're out and about, preventing their teether from falling or being thrown to the floor.
This is important: never improvise by tying a teether around a baby's neck or attaching it with something that wasn't designed for that purpose. Anything around a baby's neck can create a strangulation risk.
Should teethers go in the fridge or freezer?
You’ll sometimes hear people recommend cooling a teether because the cooler temperature can feel soothing against sore gums.
Some teethers are designed to be chilled, but you need to check the instructions for the specific product.
What I would not do is freeze a teething ring unless the manufacturer specifically says that is safe. Once frozen, a teether can become very hard and could damage sore gums, which rather defeats the point.
This is definitely an area where following the product instructions matters more than assuming all teethers can be treated in the same way.
What else can you do for a teething baby?
Sometimes the simplest things help.
You can gently massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger. Some babies find that pressure really soothing. If you’re breastfeeding, a feed can also be really comforting when they’re having a rough teething day. Honestly, add breastmilk to almost anything, and it usually makes it better!
Then there’s comfort and distraction, which are easy to underestimate. If your baby is uncomfortable and miserable, sometimes being held, played with or distracted is genuinely helpful. Think back to labour — if you used something like a comb or TENS machine, part of what made those techniques useful was giving your brain another sensation to focus on, ie distraction! Distraction and comfort can be surprisingly powerful with babies too.
For babies who are old enough for solid foods, appropriate foods can also give them something to chew, but obviously they should always be supervised while eating and the food needs to be suitable for their developmental stage.
If your baby seems particularly uncomfortable and you're considering medication or teething gels, speak to a pharmacist or appropriate healthcare professional about what is suitable for their age.
And I would be cautious with products marketed as “natural” or homeopathic simply because they're marketed that way. Natural doesn’t automatically mean effective or appropriate for babies.
The first tooth appears!! Now what?!
Once that first little tooth finally comes through, it’s time to start looking after it.
The NHS recommends brushing as soon as the first milk tooth appears using fluoride toothpaste.
It can feel slightly ridiculous brushing one tiny tooth, but those early habits matter and it starts to introduce the concept of a brushing teeth early on to make it (hopefully) a bit easier when they have a full set of teeth!
It’s also worth registering your baby with a dentist if you haven’t already.
So, do you actually need a teether?
I wouldn’t say every baby absolutely must have one, but babies have used some type of teether for centuries. Seriously, even back to Egyptians and the Neolithic period..more to come on this.
Essentially, babies naturally want to chew and explore things with their mouths, and that often increases when their gums are uncomfortable. Having something nearby that has actually been designed for them to hold and chew makes a lot of sense.
And, as people who have now spent a slightly unreasonable amount of time thinking about baby teethers, we also don't think the practical option has to be the boring option.
We started Cheers Baby Co. because we wanted to make baby products that still did everything you needed them to do, but had a little more personality.
Our teethers are designed for babies aged 3 months+, with multiple textures for little gums to explore and shapes specifically designed for little hands to hold.
They're made from soft silicone, are dishwasher and steriliser safe, and every teether comes with its own matching clip included. They can also go in the fridge for an extra chill.
They also come gift-ready, because a lot of the time the person buying the teether isn't actually the parent — they're the friend, auntie, uncle, grandparent or colleague trying to find a baby gift that feels a little less predictable and more fun.
Basically, we think baby products can be practical without taking themselves too seriously.
Cheers,
Heather, IBCLC and former labour & delivery RN.
The information in this article is intended for general educational purposes and does not replace individual medical advice. If you're worried about your baby's symptoms or health, contact an appropriate healthcare professional.