Teething: What's Happening, What Helps

Experts answer your urgent questions about this painful rite of passage.
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Introduction

Cutting teeth is a rite of passage for all babies. How they react to teething, however, varies enormously from child to child, throwing even the most seasoned parents into a quandary. "One of my kids drooled, while another stuck her whole hand in her mouth," recalls Marian Kurp, a mother of six from Bel Air, Maryland. "And with one, I didn't even know it was happening until I saw the teeth."

Kurp's trickiest teething challenge came recently, when her 6-month-old son, Daniel, morphed overnight from a sunny delight into a howling, drooling beast. "I couldn't even get him to nurse," Kurp says. "Then, four days later, four teeth popped through. His gums must have hurt too badly for him to have anything in his mouth."

To help you and your baby weather this confusing -- and uncomfortable -- transition, we've answered some of your most common teething questions.

What do you think of this story?  Tell Us.

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Comments
Comments (20)
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De98D wrote:

My son is 6 months 3 weeks and he got his first tooth at 5 1/2 months and the second less than 2 weeks after that...other than the drooling I would have never known he was cutting teeth- I've had him wearing a baltic amber necklace since he was three months and I recommend them- I got it from ebay for $10 and the beads heat up with the baby's body temp and releases soothing properties!!!

6/23/2011 10:41:06 AM Report Abuse
dancingqueen6116 wrote:

Try a baltic amber necklace, what it does is when its against the skin it helps with the pain, and all that drooling. So I went onlen, found a varity of prices, colors different. I did find a necklace that looked "manly" enough. So I got the sorta cheapest one. It has helped alot granted he does still drool he has no pain. and its not long enough so that he can pull on it. I recamend it to every parent who does not want their child to be in pain.

5/19/2011 01:21:57 PM Report Abuse
erica_christian wrote:

My son has 2 1/2 bottom teeth and 2 are cutting in the top. His is 9 months old and he goes for anything to chew on.

4/29/2011 02:32:08 PM Report Abuse
cehlers2702312 wrote:

Every kid is different. Their teeth will come through when they are ready. My first had a tooth at 7 months. My second just is getting his first tooth at 9 1/2 months. They both started all the signs around 4-5 months (Rosy cheeks, diarrhea, drooling, low fevers, congestion, not eating well since their little mouths were sensitive, fussiness for no other reason, interrupted sleep, etc...). Please don't worry about the timelines, your babies are fine!

3/2/2011 01:36:42 PM Report Abuse
papafoya wrote:

My daugther is 10 months and has no teeth is this normal?

12/15/2010 03:23:34 PM Report Abuse
kenyawade2008 wrote:

I have an 8yr old daughter and her 2 bottom teeth came in at 4months,now I have a 6month old son and he's had his 2 bottom teeth since he was 3mths old.He is drooling and putting anything and everything in his mouth,his gums are swollen up top and he has 1 tooth about to come through on the top.I dont care what doctors say these days but YES they can get diarrhea,a fever,get very fussy and drool like crazy,all these things are normal and common with teething.

11/4/2010 10:14:05 AM Report Abuse
taceycaliff wrote:

This is such baloney! I've have had two children, both of which had a fever, diarrhea, and severe diaper rash until the first tooth popped through the gum. It is not "just coincidence". Every time a tooth comes through my children would have diarrhea and diaper rash. I am so tired of "medical experts" saying otherwise.

10/21/2010 06:40:54 PM Report Abuse
ribbit1984bfd25 wrote:

my son is almost 7 months and he doesnt have any teeth yet. he chewing on anything and everything!!!!! when will he get teeth??? he drooling nonstop!!!!

10/13/2010 07:36:58 PM Report Abuse
lrdf1 wrote:

My son has both bottom teeth since 5 months and now has receive all 4 top teeth and he is only 6 1/2 months. Althought he was a great sleeper and napper, that has changed now since the top 4 came in.

9/2/2010 08:15:28 AM Report Abuse
fye_williams wrote:

my daughter is 6 and a half months old and still no teeth ,i wonder what is taking her so long,i have noticed all the signs,the drooling,putting literally any and everything in her mouth and the moaning.how much longer do i have to wait?

9/2/2010 04:25:18 AM Report Abuse
valerie_allen wrote:

my daughter Audrey has 1 tooth going on two (on the bottom). She's 9 months, 3 weeks.

6/11/2010 01:13:53 AM Report Abuse
randaward wrote:

My oldest didn't get her teeth until she was nine to ten months but my son was right on que and got his at 6 months! My youngest son is 5 months old and now he he like a slobber factory and slobbers everywhere!!! I was wondering if it is true that the later there teeth come in the healthier they are? What do you ladies think?

6/3/2010 09:49:46 AM Report Abuse
nahtaive wrote:

I swear by those homeopathic teething tablets, they work great!

5/23/2010 04:58:10 PM Report Abuse
karichards114 wrote:

my son started the drooling, sticking the entire hand in mouth stage at 2-3months. now he is 5.5months and has two bottom chompers!! he is a tiger... haven't been too miserable with it...yet. just the usual...orajel, freezer things, and vibrating grape...which he loves! and can't 4get the tylenol!!

5/18/2010 07:34:33 PM Report Abuse
oops_Sry00 wrote:

my son is teething alot. he's now 7months and he has 3 on the bottom and 3 on the top.

5/13/2010 12:31:01 PM Report Abuse
afowler1982 wrote:

My daugther is 10 months and has no teeth is there anything I can do to help her?

5/13/2010 01:39:30 AM Report Abuse
tsnedaker wrote:

My foster son started teething at 2 months, however, the teeth still have not broke through the gums yet and he is 7 months old. I can feel the teeth, and see them just below the surface, and he is surely cranky enough! But so far, no teeth peeking through. Anyone know of anything I can do to help ease his discomfort other than teething gel?

5/12/2010 01:37:10 PM Report Abuse
ccortes3 wrote:

MY SON HAVE WITH 9 MONTHS TWO IN THE BOTTOM AND FOUR IN THE TOP. V

5/5/2010 12:12:50 PM Report Abuse
anonymous wrote:

My son got his two bottome teeth at 4 1/2 months. He started teething at 2 months. Now we are waiting for the top teeth but it looks as if he may get more bottom teeth first. Hmmm.

4/28/2010 06:31:30 PM Report Abuse
mesh4u2002 wrote:

My daughter is 8 mths and has two top teeth already, I had no signs of hurting or anything i just noticed them coming out. Now she is running fever and having diarrhea is that normal.

10/17/2009 10:41:07 AM Report Abuse
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