Teething
- Teeth erupt from the gums starting as early as 4 months.
- Some babies do not get their first teeth until after their first birthday, and this is normal.
- All babies start to drool at 2 months old, and gnaw/chew at 3-4 months old. This does not mean they are teething. This is a normal developmental milestone.
- Teething may cause some mild discomfort and crankiness, but rarely causes fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or extreme fussiness.
- If your baby is teething:
- Give him appropriate objects to chew on such as rattles, teething rings, a cold, damp washcloth
- If you feel that you need to give your baby something for discomfort, give acetaminophen
- We do not routinely recommend teething tablets or gels to be placed on the gums
Current practice recommends that your child be seen by a dentist during the second year of life.
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