7 Unmistakable Signs of Teething in Infants
Is your usually happy baby suddenly cranky, drooling more than usual, and putting everything in their mouth? You might be witnessing their first teeth making their grand entrance. Most babies start teething between 4-7 months, but some can begin as early as 3 months or as late as 12 months.
As a mom of 5, I can tell you that every parent dreads the teething phase – and for good reason. This natural milestone can turn peaceful nights into restless vigils and transform your content baby into a fussy little one. Having been through this five times, I've learned that recognizing the early signs of teething in infants is a game-changer for providing comfort before symptoms worsen.
In this guide, I'll share the telltale teething signs, comfort strategies that actually worked for my kids, and help you distinguish between normal symptoms and when to call your pediatrician.
And when teething disrupts those precious sleep routines, having solid newborn sleep strategies becomes even more crucial.
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Getting Started with Signs of Teething in Infants
Excessive Drooling - The First Sign Your Baby Is Teething
The drooling is often the first sign parents notice, and it can be dramatic. When I first noticed my little one's shirt being soaked through multiple times a day, I thought something was wrong.
This is completely normal and usually the first sign that those teeth are getting ready to make their debut.
Here's what's happening: their salivary glands work overtime because the body knows teeth are coming. Most babies start excessive drooling around 2-4 months before their first tooth actually appears. So if your 4-month-old is suddenly drooling excessively, don't panic – their first tooth might not appear until they're 6 or 7 months old.
The tricky part is managing all that drool. You need to stay on top of it, or your baby will develop a drool rash around their mouth and neck.
Here's what works:
Keep a bib on your baby most of the day (I went through about 6 bibs daily)
Gently pat (don't wipe) their face dry throughout the day
Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around their mouth as a barrier
Change their clothes when they get soaked – which will be often
The intensity of drooling changes throughout the teething process. Some days it's like a faucet, other days it's manageable. It gets especially bad right before a new tooth breaks through.
Your baby might also have trouble swallowing all that extra saliva, which can lead to more gagging or coughing than usual. Don't worry if the drooling seems excessive – as long as your baby is eating, drinking, and otherwise acting normal, it's just their body doing what it needs to do.
Increased Chewing and Mouthing Behaviors in Teething Babies
If your baby suddenly wants to gnaw on everything – and I mean everything – welcome to the chewing phase of teething. This isn't random baby behavior; it's their natural instinct kicking in.
When their gums start feeling sore and swollen, applying pressure through chewing helps relieve discomfort.
Here's how to tell if it's teething-related chewing versus normal baby exploration:
Teething chewing is usually:
More intense and focused
Accompanied by fussiness or whimpering
Concentrated on harder objects
More frequent, especially when baby seems uncomfortable
Normal exploration chewing is:
More casual and brief
Part of general play behavior
Happens with various textures
Not linked to obvious discomfort
The challenge is keeping your baby safe while they're in full chewing mode.
Safe items for teething babies:
Teething rings (especially ones you can chill)
Wet washcloths (freeze them for extra relief)
Rubber teething toys without small parts
Your clean finger (though watch out for those sharp little nails)
You can also create simple DIY baby toys from household items that are safe for teething babies to chew on.
Things to keep away:
Small objects that could be choking hazards
Items with paint or chemicals
Anything with sharp edges
Electronics
Chewing patterns change as different teeth come in. When the front teeth were coming, my baby wanted to gnaw on thinner objects. But when those back molars started pushing through around 12-15 months – the chewing became much more intense. They wanted everything thick and sturdy to really chomp down on.
Irritability and Sleep Disruption Signs During Teething
The sleep disruption during teething is genuinely tough. One day your baby is sleeping through the night, and the next they're waking up every two hours crying.
Here's what I wish someone had told me: teething pain gets worse at night. When your baby lies down, there's increased blood flow to their head and gums, which makes the throbbing sensation more intense. Plus, during the day they have distractions, but at night there's nothing to take their mind off the discomfort.
Teething irritability typically includes:
Sudden crying spells that seem to come out of nowhere
Being impossible to comfort with usual methods
Extra clingy behavior (like, can't-put-them-down clingy)
Short bursts of being fine, then suddenly upset again
Signs it might be something else:
Consistent high fever (over 101°F)
Vomiting or severe diarrhea
Complete loss of appetite for more than a day
Unusual lethargy or extreme sleepiness
Sleep regression during teething can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on how many teeth are trying to come through at once.
What helped me survive:
Lower your expectations – accept that sleep will be disrupted for a while
Tag team with your partner if possible – take turns doing the night shift
Comfort measures before bed – extra cuddles, maybe a warm bath
Room-sharing temporarily – sometimes being close to you helps them settle faster
If you're struggling with sleep disruption, these gentle sleep training methods can help once the teething phase passes. For new parents dealing with multiple challenges at once, these first-time mom tips provide practical guidance.
The hardest part is not knowing how long it will last. Some babies get through teething quickly, while others drag it out. Remember, this phase will pass – even though it feels eternal at 3 AM.
Visible Gum Changes - Physical Signs in Your Baby's Mouth
When you look inside your baby's mouth during teething, you can see obvious changes. Before teething starts, your baby's gums should look pink and relatively smooth. Once those teeth start getting ready to appear, you'll notice dramatic changes.
The gums where teeth are about to emerge will become red, swollen, and tender to the touch. Sometimes they even look bluish.
Early gum changes:
Slight redness along the gum line
Small bumps or ridges where teeth will come through
Gums that feel harder than usual when you gently touch them
Right before a tooth erupts:
White or pale spots on the gums (that's the tooth showing through)
Significant swelling in the affected area
Sometimes a small blood blister where the tooth is pushing through
Your baby's gums will be extra sensitive during this time. They might cry when you try to brush their existing teeth or when they're eating. Even gentle touches can be uncomfortable.
The whole process of a tooth breaking through the gum typically takes about 2-3 days. During this time, the gum changes are most noticeable. Once the tooth actually pops through, the swelling and redness usually go down quickly.
Pro tip: if you're having trouble seeing what's going on, try using a small flashlight or your phone's flashlight. Just be gentle and don't force it if your baby isn't cooperating.
Feeding and Eating Changes That Signal Teething
The feeding changes during teething can be maddening. One day your baby is eating normally, and the next they're refusing everything you offer them.
Here's what typically happens: when a baby's gums are sore and inflamed, the pressure from sucking or chewing makes the pain worse. So naturally, they start avoiding things that hurt. This affects both breastfeeding and bottle feeding, plus any solid foods they've been eating.
Common feeding changes during teething:
Reduced appetite – they might eat only half of what they normally do
Preference for cold foods – frozen fruit, chilled yogurt, or cold breast milk can feel soothing
Difficulty with bottles or nursing – they might start, then pull away crying
Changes in sucking patterns – shorter, more frequent feeding sessions
Increased interest in chewing feeding utensils – spoons, sippy cups, anything they can gnaw on
Foods that work better during teething:
Frozen banana slices (if they're old enough for finger foods)
Chilled applesauce or yogurt
Breast milk or formula that's been slightly cooled
Smoothies made with breast milk or formula
If you're just starting solids, check out these first foods for baby-led weaning that are gentle on sore gums.
The tricky part is figuring out when reduced eating becomes concerning. As long as they're still having wet diapers and seem alert when they're not fussy, a temporary decrease in appetite is normal during teething.
For breastfeeding moms, teething brings special challenges. Some babies might bite during nursing, while others might want to nurse constantly for comfort. Some babies will latch on, then immediately pull off crying.
If you're bottle feeding, you might notice your baby prefers cooler milk, or they might want to chew on the nipple instead of drinking. Sometimes switching to a different type of bottle or nipple helps.
The good news is that once each tooth fully breaks through, eating usually goes back to normal quickly. During active teething, just keep them hydrated and don't stress about perfect nutrition for a few days.
Low-Grade Fever and Other Physical Symptoms of Teething
Let me clear up confusion about teething and fevers. Yes, teething can cause a slight increase in your baby's temperature, but we're talking low-grade here – usually under 101°F (38.3°C). Anything higher is probably not just teething.
When teeth are pushing through the gums, it can cause a mild inflammatory response in the body, which might result in a slight temperature increase.
Normal teething-related symptoms:
Low-grade fever (99-100.9°F)
Slightly runny nose with clear discharge
Looser stools (not full-blown diarrhea)
General fussiness and discomfort
Extra drooling and mouth-related behaviors
Signs that it's probably not just teething:
High fever over 101°F
Vomiting or severe diarrhea
Extreme lethargy or unusual sleepiness
Rash that's not around the mouth/drool area
Difficulty breathing or other serious symptoms
Keep a simple log of your baby's temperature, eating, sleeping, and general mood. This helps you spot patterns and gives you good information to share with your pediatrician if needed.
The runny nose often confuses parents. All that extra drooling can sometimes cause nasal congestion or a slightly runny nose. It's not usually a cold – just another side effect of teething. But if the discharge becomes thick, colored, or your baby seems genuinely sick, check with your doctor.
Some babies get slightly looser stools during teething. The theory is that swallowing all that extra saliva affects their digestive system. As long as it's not severe diarrhea and your baby is otherwise okay, it's usually not concerning.
If your baby seems to have persistent fussiness that might be colic rather than teething, learn how to soothe colic naturally.
The key is knowing your baby's normal patterns. When in doubt, trust your gut. It's better to check and be reassured than to worry.
Ear Pulling and Face Rubbing Behaviors in Teething Infants
This one really confused me the first time I saw it. My baby started pulling at their ears and rubbing their face constantly, and my first thought was ear infection. Turns out, this is actually common teething behavior.
The nerves in your baby's gums are connected to nerves in their ears and face. So when their gums hurt from teething, they might feel discomfort in these other areas too. It's called "referred pain."
Typical teething-related behaviors:
Pulling or tugging at ears (usually both ears, not just one)
Rubbing their face against your shoulder or other surfaces
Scratching at their cheeks or jaw area
General head and face rubbing, especially during fussy periods
Signs that might indicate an ear infection instead:
Pulling at only one ear consistently
High fever along with ear pulling
Unusual crying when lying down
Loss of appetite beyond normal teething changes
Fluid or unusual discharge from the ear
Watch for patterns. With teething, the ear pulling and face rubbing usually happen when your baby is already showing other teething signs – extra drooling, gum swelling, or general fussiness. With an actual ear infection, the ear pulling is more focused and seems to be the main source of discomfort.
The face rubbing can get intense during teething. Babies will rub their face on everything – your shirt, the couch, their blanket. Sometimes they'll rub so much that their cheeks get red and irritated.
If you're not sure whether the ear pulling is from teething or something else:
Look at the timing – does it happen along with other teething symptoms?
Check for fever – ear infections usually cause higher fevers than teething
Notice the pattern – teething-related ear pulling is usually more random, while ear infection pulling is more constant and focused
Watch their mood – teething babies have good moments and bad moments, but ear infection babies are generally miserable
When in doubt, it's always okay to call your pediatrician. They can check your baby's ears and help you determine what's going on.
Remember, teething is just one of many developmental phases your baby will go through. Understanding the milestones for a 6-month-old baby can help you track their overall development. During this challenging time, don't forget to find comfort in first-time mom quotes for inspiration – you're doing an amazing job navigating this journey!
ConclusionS
Recognizing the signs of teething in infants is your first step toward helping your baby through this important developmental milestone. Remember, while teething can be challenging, it's temporary. The drooling, fussiness, and sleepless nights will pass as each tooth emerges.
Stay patient, try various comfort methods to find what works best for your little one, and don't hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician if you're concerned about any symptoms. Every baby's teething journey is unique, but with the right knowledge and preparation, you can help make this phase more manageable for your entire family.
Your baby's first smile with those tiny teeth will make all those challenging teething days worth it. Trust your instincts, stay informed, and remember – you've got this, parent.
