What To Do During Teething (Teething tips)

Quick Answer

Teething (daat aana) is uncomfortable but temporary - and there’s a lot you can do to help! Most babies start teething between 4-7 months, though timing varies widely. Symptoms include drooling, irritability, and wanting to chew everything. Safe remedies include cold teething toys, gum massage, and age-appropriate pain relief. Importantly: high fever, diarrhea, and severe symptoms are NOT normal teething signs - see a doctor if these occur.

When Do Teeth Come? (Daat Kab Aate Hain)

Typical Teething Timeline

Teeth	Typical Age	Notes
Lower front teeth (central incisors)	6-10 months	Usually first to appear
Upper front teeth (central incisors)	8-12 months	Usually second
Upper lateral incisors	9-13 months	Beside front teeth
Lower lateral incisors	10-16 months	Beside front teeth
First molars	13-19 months	Back teeth - often more painful
Canines (eye teeth)	16-23 months	Pointed teeth
Second molars	23-33 months	Back-most baby teeth

Important: These are averages! Your baby may be earlier or later - both are normal.

What’s Normal?

• Early teething: Some babies get first tooth at 3-4 months
• Late teething: Some babies don’t get first tooth until 12-14 months
• Family pattern: Teething timing often runs in families
• Full set: All 20 baby teeth usually by age 3 Don’t worry if: Your baby is 10+ months with no teeth - usually just late bloomer. Mention to pediatrician at next visit but usually no concern.

Teething Symptoms (Daat Aane Ke Lakshan)

Normal Teething Symptoms

What to expect:

Symptom	Why It Happens	What to Do
Drooling (raal aana) - excessive	Saliva production increases	Bib, wipe gently, apply barrier cream
Chewing everything	Pressure helps pain	Provide safe teething toys
Swollen, red gums	Tooth pushing through	Gum massage, cold items
Irritability, fussiness (chidhchidha)	Discomfort and pain	Comfort, pain relief if needed
Disturbed sleep (neend kharab)	Pain worse at night	Comfort, pain relief before bed
Ear pulling/cheek rubbing	Pain refers to these areas	Normal, doesn’t mean ear infection
Slightly reduced appetite	Gums sore	Offer cool foods, continue feeding
Low-grade fever (below 100.4F/38C)	Mild inflammation	Monitor, should be brief
Drool rash	Saliva irritates skin	Keep dry, barrier cream

What’s NOT Normal Teething

These symptoms need doctor visit - they’re NOT from teething:

Symptom	Why It’s Concerning
High fever (above 100.4F/38C)	Likely infection, not teething
Diarrhea/loose stools (loose motion)	Not caused by teething
Severe vomiting	Not a teething symptom
Rash on body (not just face)	Not teething related
Inconsolable crying for hours	Something else is wrong
Refusing all feeds	May be ill
Lethargy, unusual drowsiness	Sign of illness

Common myth: “Daat aane se loose motion hota hai” - This is NOT true! Research shows teething does NOT cause diarrhea. If your baby has diarrhea, look for other causes (infection, food).

Step-by-Step: Soothing Teething Pain

Step 1: Cold Items (Thanda Lagaao)

Cold numbs the pain - very effective!

Safe cold options:

• Cold teething ring - Refrigerate (NOT freeze - too hard)

• Cold wet washcloth - Wet, wring out, refrigerate

• Chilled spoon - Metal spoon from fridge

• Frozen fruit in mesh feeder - For 6+ months (started solids)

• Banana, mango, apple work well

• Cold water in sippy cup - For babies drinking water Safety tips:

• Refrigerate, don’t freeze (frozen items too hard, can hurt gums)

• Always supervise with any teething item

• Check for cracks or damage regularly

Step 2: Gum Massage (Masoode Ko Malish)

Pressure on gums provides relief!

How to do it:

• Wash your hands thoroughly
• Use clean finger (or clean cold washcloth)
• Gently rub baby’s gums in circular motion
• Focus on areas that seem most swollen
• Let baby bite down on your finger if they want Tip: Some babies love this, others don’t. Follow your baby’s cues.

Step 3: Safe Teething Toys (Teething Toys)

What to look for:

• BPA-free, non-toxic materials

• Easy for baby to hold

• Different textures

• Can be refrigerated Good options in India:

• Fisher-Price teethers

• Mee Mee teething rings

• LuvLap teethers

• Pigeon teething toys

• Silicone teethers Avoid:

• Amber teething necklaces (choking hazard, no proven benefit)

• Teething jewelry (choking hazard)

• Anything that can break into small pieces

Step 4: Distraction and Comfort

Sometimes the best medicine is comfort!

• Extra cuddles and holding
• Feeding (breastfeeding is comforting)
• Play and distraction
• Going outside for change of scene
• Cool bath

Step 5: Pain Relief Medication (When Needed)

When home remedies aren’t enough:

Safe options:

Medicine	Age	Dose	Notes
Paracetamol (Crocin, Calpol)	2+ months	Weight-based - ask pediatrician	Can give every 4-6 hours
Ibuprofen (Brufen)	6+ months	Weight-based - ask pediatrician	Can give every 6-8 hours

Important:

• Check correct dose with pediatrician

• Don’t exceed recommended doses

• Useful for nighttime when pain disrupts neend AVOID:

• Teething gels with benzocaine - Can cause serious side effects

• Homeopathic teething tablets - Not proven safe or effective

• Aspirin - Never for children

• Alcohol on gums - Dangerous for babies

• Any numbing gel without doctor advice

Tips for Success

During the Day

• Have multiple teething toys available
• Rotate toys to keep them interesting
• Keep baby’s face dry to prevent drool rash
• Offer cold foods if baby has started solids

For Better Sleep (Neend Ke Liye)

• Give pain relief 30 minutes before bedtime if needed
• Extra comfort before bed
• Keep room cool
• Expect some sleep disruption - be patient
• Don’t start new habits you don’t want long-term

For Drool Rash

• Keep face dry (soft cloth, frequent wiping)
• Apply barrier cream (coconut oil, petroleum jelly, Sudocream)
• Change bibs/clothes when wet
• Pat dry, don’t rub

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Why It’s Harmful	Do This Instead
Frozen teethers	Too hard, can damage gums	Refrigerate, not freeze
Amber necklaces	Choking hazard, no benefit	Safe teething toys
Teething gels with benzocaine	Can cause dangerous reaction	Cold items, gum massage
Ignoring high fever	Fever isn’t from teething - infection	See doctor
Stopping solids	Baby needs nutrition	Offer cool, soft foods
Starting bad sleep habits	Hard to break later	Comfort without creating new dependencies

When to See a Doctor (Doctor Ko Kab Dikhaayen)

See pediatrician if:

• Fever above 100.4F (38C)
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Rash on body (not just drool rash on face)
• Refusing to eat for more than a day
• Inconsolable for hours
• Symptoms lasting weeks without improvement
• No teeth by 18 months
• Teeth coming in unusual order or with unusual appearance
• You’re concerned about something

Taking Care of New Teeth (Naye Daaton Ki Dekhbhal)

Even before teeth appear:

• Wipe gums with soft, damp cloth after feeding Once teeth appear:

• Use soft baby toothbrush or finger brush

• Tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste (rice grain size)

• Brush twice daily

• No bottle in bed (causes decay)

• First dental visit by age 1 or within 6 months of first tooth

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Baby bahut ro raha hai - daat aa rahe hain ya kuch aur?

A: Teething causes fussiness but usually baby can be comforted and has periods of happiness. If baby is inconsolable for hours, has high fever (above 100.4F), refusing all feeds, or seems very unwell, this is NOT just teething - see doctor. Also, daat aane se loose motion NAHI hota - if baby has diarrhea, look for other causes.

Q: Daat late aa rahe hain - 10 mahine ke hain, abhi tak ek bhi nahi. Kya karun?

A: Don’t worry! Teething timing varies hugely. Some babies don’t get first tooth until 12-14 months - completely normal. Often runs in families (ask parents when your teeth came). Mention to pediatrician at next routine visit, but usually no concern. If no teeth by 18 months, then evaluation needed.

Q: Raat ko bahut jagta hai jab daat aa rahe hote hain. Neend kaise sudhaarun?

A: Teething can definitely disturb neend because pain often feels worse at night. Tips: give paracetamol 30 minutes before bed (ask doctor for dose), offer cold teether before bed, extra comfort at bedtime. But be careful not to create new sleep habits (like feeding to sleep) that you’ll need to break later. Teething phases usually last 1-2 weeks per tooth, then sleep improves.

Q: Teething gel lagana safe hai kya?

A: Avoid teething gels with benzocaine (numbing agent) - they can cause serious side effects in babies. If you want to use a gel, ask your pediatrician for specific recommendations. Better options: cold teethers, gum massage, and if needed, paracetamol. Many “natural” teething gels and tablets are also not proven safe or effective.

Q: Kitne din tak dard rehta hai ek daat ke liye?

A: Usually the worst discomfort is 3-5 days before the tooth breaks through the gum and 1-2 days after. Once the tooth is through, pain reduces significantly. So each tooth = roughly 1 week of symptoms. But babies get 20 teeth over 2-3 years, so there are many teething episodes! Molars (back teeth) often cause more discomfort than front teeth.

Q: Baby khaana nahi kha raha daat aane ki wajah se. Kya karun?

A: Slightly reduced appetite during teething is normal - sore gums make eating uncomfortable. Tips: offer cool, soft foods (chilled dahi, mashed banana from fridge, cold cucumber sticks for older babies), continue breastfeeding (provides comfort too), don’t force eating. If baby refuses ALL feeds for more than a day, or shows signs of dehydration, see doctor - might be something other than teething.

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This article was reviewed by a pediatrician. Last updated: January 2025

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