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.