The emergence of your baby's first teeth through his gums is called teething, a process that while perfectly natural, can be somewhat painful2. Once you know what to expect and how to lessen your little one's discomfort, you'll be able to watch this phase of his development with ease.
You probably couldn't see your baby's teeth when he was born, even though he already had some primary teeth below his gums.3 Teething can start as early as three months of age, but there's no reason to worry if your baby is closer to a year old before you see the first signs. Bottom front teeth usually come in first, followed by the upper front teeth a month or two later. All 20 of his primary teeth will likely appear by his third birthday.4
You may be able to tell your baby has started teething if he becomes fussy, drools more than usual, doesn't want to eat or drink, has trouble sleeping or chews on his fingers or toys.2,3 Many times these symptoms show up about three to five days before the tooth appears and go away after it breaks through the gum.4 In the meantime, you can try these tricks to help soothe baby's tender gums and keep him comfortable while he's teething:
Rub his gums with your clean finger, a cool spoon or wet gauze.3
Drool can cause a rash, so wipe his face with a cloth to keep it dry.2
Let him chew on a clean teething ring or a wet washcloth placed in the freezer for about 30 minutes.2
Give him a mild pain reliever (no aspirin) labeled for his specific age.4
If your baby is eating solid foods, give him applesauce, yogurt or a hard, unsweetened teething cracker.5
It's possible that teething can cause a slight fever, but high fever or diarrhea is not normal. If your baby has these symptoms or continues to be unusually cranky, call your pediatrician.3