Baby Teething Symptoms: Timeline, Signs, and How to Soothe Your Baby
When do babies start teething? What are the real symptoms vs. myths? This guide covers the full teething timeline, how to tell it apart from illness, and what actually helps.
Excessive drooling, biting everything in sight, fussiness that spikes at night — if this sounds familiar, your baby is probably teething. Teething is a long process that runs from roughly 4 months to 3 years, and understanding what's happening makes it much easier to manage.
Teething Timeline
- 4–7 months: Lower central incisors (bottom front 2 teeth)
- 8–12 months: Upper central and lateral incisors
- 9–16 months: Lower lateral incisors
- 13–19 months: First molars (top and bottom)
- 16–23 months: Canines
- 23–33 months: Second molars — often the most uncomfortable
Real Teething Symptoms
- Excessive drooling — the earliest and most consistent sign
- Swollen, red gums at the site of the emerging tooth
- Biting and chewing everything — fingers, toys, your shoulder
- Increased fussiness and night waking
- Low-grade fever under 38°C / 100.4°F — but only for 24–48 hours
⚠️ High fever (above 38°C / 100.4°F) or fever lasting more than 2 days is NOT caused by teething. This is a sign of illness — contact your pediatrician.
What Actually Helps
- Chilled (not frozen) teething rings — cold reduces gum inflammation
- Gum massage with a clean finger
- Cold washcloth or chilled soft foods for babies on solids
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen (6+ months) — follow pediatric dosing guidelines
💡 Log your baby's temperature in BabySync during teething periods. You'll build a clear record that helps you tell "teething fever" from real illness — and gives your pediatrician useful data if you need to call.
Things to Avoid
- Teething gels with benzocaine or lidocaine: FDA advises against use in children under 2
- Amber teething necklaces: choking and strangulation hazard
- Frozen teething rings: can damage tender gum tissue