A chilled washcloth, gentle gum pressure, and plenty of patience are the most effective ways to help a teething baby through the discomfort. Most teething symptoms last about eight days per tooth, starting roughly four days before it breaks through the gum and tapering off about three days after. The good news: nearly all relief methods are simple, free, and already in your kitchen.
How to Tell It’s Teething
The earliest signs are extra drooling and red, swollen gums where a tooth is about to push through. Your baby may also become fussy, chew on anything within reach, sleep poorly, or lose interest in feeding. More than 80% of infants and toddlers experience sleep disturbances during active teething, so rough nights are completely normal.
One thing teething does not cause is a true fever. Some babies get a slight bump in temperature, but anything at or above 100.4°F points to an illness, not a tooth. If your baby has a high temperature, diarrhea, or a rash beyond the chin (from drool), something else is going on.
Gum Massage and Pressure
Rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger or a piece of damp gauze for about two minutes can noticeably ease discomfort. The counter-pressure works against the sensation of the tooth pushing upward. You can do this as often as your baby seems to need it, and most babies will lean into the pressure once they realize it helps. For babies older than 12 months, wrapping a small piece of ice in a wet cloth and gently rubbing the gums adds a cooling effect on top of the pressure.
Chilled (Not Frozen) Objects
Cold temperatures naturally reduce swelling and dull pain in the gums. Chill a clean wet washcloth, a pacifier, or a teething ring in the refrigerator and let your baby gnaw on it. The key word is “chill,” not “freeze.” Frozen items become rock-hard and can actually injure tender gums or cause frostbite. Ice and frozen popsicles carry the same risk and should be avoided for young babies.
When choosing a teething ring, look for ones made of firm rubber rather than ones filled with liquid or gel. Fluid-filled teethers can leak if your baby’s new teeth puncture them. If you do use a liquid-filled ring, pick one that contains distilled water instead of gel so a puncture is less of a concern. Textured or bumpy rubber teethers give babies something satisfying to press their gums against without any breakage risk.
For babies older than one year, chilled soft fruit like banana slices or berries placed inside a small mesh feeder lets them enjoy cold relief and a snack at the same time.
Pain Relievers: What’s Safe
If your baby is clearly miserable and non-drug methods aren’t cutting it, infant acetaminophen is an option for babies older than eight weeks. Ibuprofen can be used once a baby is at least six months old. Both are dosed by weight, not age, so check the packaging carefully or ask your pediatrician for the right amount. Acetaminophen can be given every four to six hours (no more than five doses in 24 hours), and ibuprofen every six to eight hours (no more than four doses in 24 hours).
These are best reserved for the worst stretches, like bedtime on a particularly rough night, rather than used around the clock for days.
Products to Avoid
Several popular teething products are genuinely dangerous, and the FDA has issued direct warnings against them.
- Benzocaine gels and liquids (sold over the counter as oral numbing agents) can cause a rare but potentially fatal condition that severely reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. They should not be used for teething.
- Prescription lidocaine solutions have caused seizures, brain injuries, and deaths in infants when accidentally swallowed or over-applied.
- Homeopathic teething tablets and gels have been linked to serious injuries and deaths in children. The FDA warns against all of them.
- Amber teething necklaces pose real strangulation and choking hazards. Multiple children have died from them. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly warns against their use. No credible evidence supports the claim that amber releases a pain-relieving substance through the skin.
Helping Your Baby Sleep
Because teething pain tends to feel worse at night (when there are fewer distractions), sleep is often the biggest casualty. A gum massage right before bed, a chilled washcloth to gnaw on during the bedtime routine, or a dose of acetaminophen on an especially bad night can all make a difference. Try to keep your baby’s normal sleep routine as consistent as possible so they don’t develop new sleep habits that outlast the teething phase.
Teething-related sleep disruptions typically follow the same eight-day pattern as other symptoms: a few rough nights leading up to the tooth breaking through, then gradual improvement. Some babies actually sleep more than usual if teething coincides with a growth spurt, so don’t be alarmed if your baby suddenly naps longer instead of worse.
Feeding Through Teething
Reduced appetite is one of the most common teething signs. Sore gums can make sucking on a bottle or breast uncomfortable, so your baby may nurse for shorter stretches or pull away and fuss. Offering smaller, more frequent feeds can help them get enough nutrition without long, painful sessions. Babies eating solid foods may prefer cool, soft options like chilled yogurt or mashed fruit, which double as mild gum relief. Appetite typically bounces back within a few days of the tooth fully emerging.