Teething typically starts between 4 and 7 months and continues until around age 3 when all 20 primary teeth are in. That is potentially 2.5 years of intermittent teething discomfort. Knowing how to help your baby through it is essential.
How to Know Your Baby Is Teething
Drooling significantly more than usual — often starting before the tooth appears. Chewing on everything — hands, toys, your fingers. Swollen, red, and tender gums — you can feel the hard ridge of an incoming tooth. Irritability and disrupted sleep — the pressure sensation is worse when lying down. Mild fever under 38 degrees — anything higher is likely illness, not teething. Pulling at the ear on the side of an incoming tooth.
Indian Home Remedies That Work
Cold teething ring — chill (not freeze) a silicone teething ring in the refrigerator. The cold numbs gum pain effectively. Never freeze as frozen objects can damage gum tissue. This is the most reliable single remedy.
Chilled fruit in a mesh feeder — for babies on solids, put chilled mashed banana or a small piece of cold melon in a mesh feeder. The baby can gum the mesh to get the juice and cold relief without choking risk.
Clean finger gum massage — wash your hands thoroughly and use a clean finger to apply firm, circular pressure on the swollen gum. This counter-pressure provides immediate relief. Most babies stop crying during this massage.
Clove oil (very diluted) — a traditional Indian remedy. Clove contains eugenol, a natural anaesthetic. However, pure clove oil is too strong for babies. If using, dilute one drop in a tablespoon of coconut oil and apply a tiny amount to the gum with a cotton bud. Use sparingly and avoid in babies under 6 months.
Cold cucumber stick — a chilled cucumber stick from the refrigerator (not freezer) gives babies on solids something cold and firm to chew on. The slight resistance against the gum provides relief. Always supervise.
What to Avoid
Teething gels containing benzocaine or lidocaine — these can cause a rare but serious condition that reduces oxygen in the blood. Amber teething necklaces — a significant choking and strangulation hazard with no evidence of effectiveness. Homeopathic teething tablets have been recalled in some countries due to variable belladonna content.
When to Use Paracetamol
If your baby is genuinely distressed and home remedies are not providing relief, infant paracetamol (Calpol or equivalent) in the correct weight-based dose is safe and effective. Ask your paediatrician for the right dose. Ibuprofen (Brufen) is also appropriate from 6 months.