Most babies cut their first teeth at about six months, but others may begin teething as early as three or four months, according to the Missouri Department of Social Services' Child Welfare Manual. The discomfort babies feel while teething may manifest itself in numerous mild symptoms. If your baby begins suffering from teething-related symptoms at three months or older, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises ruling out other more serious causes before attributing them to teething.
Irritability
Teething infants may be more fussy and irritable than usual because of discomfort to the gum area that many feel when a tooth is about to emerge. The American Academy of Pediatrics says this irritability most likely will occur from four days before the tooth erupts to three days after the emergence. If you and your child's pediatrician have ruled out all other potential causes and the irritability and crankiness persist, Georgia Health Info suggests giving your baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve his discomfort.
Mild Fever
Although a significant increase in body temperature likely has little to do with teething, a teething baby's swollen gums may provoke a mild fever, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. If your child's temperature reaches 102 degrees or higher, consult your pediatrician to determine the cause.
Swollen Gums
As teeth begin to push up through your baby's gums, you may notice swelling, redness and possibly even bruising. A few simple solutions will help you soothe your baby's sore gums. Try massaging over her gums with a clean finger or a cool, damp washcloth; the pressure will temporarily ease the pain. A chilled teething ring will also soothe the pain, but give your child a ring made from firm rubber rather than a liquid-filled variety. Georgia Health Info says liquid-filled rings may break under the pressure of your child's chewing.
Increased Drooling
When your baby's tooth is about to emerge, he may produce more drool than usual. Although drooling is a normal part of an infant's development, it sometimes increases with the teething phase. Parenting magazine contributing editor Margaret Renkl writes that excessive drool may cause a baby to develop a rash on his chest, neck and chin. She suggests outfitting your drooling baby with a bib or applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the susceptible areas to prevent rashes from developing.
