When do infants usually start teething?
Teething is the process of teeth breaking through the gums. The first teeth often appear around 6 months of age, but there is a wide range of normal for this process. Some babies start teething as early as 3 or 4 months, others do not start until 12 months. Between 6 and 10 months is usually considered “normal”. The signs and symptoms of teething vary from one child to the next but may include drooling (more than usual), red rash or dry skin on cheeks and/or chin (from drooling), swollen gums, fussiness (especially during meals), and sleep problems. Almost all babies want to chew on things when they are teething. Chewing helps the teeth break through the gums, but also helps to reduce the pain. In particular, chewing on cold objects, such as teething toys, frozen washcloths or even pieces of frozen bagel, can help numb the gums and decrease the discomfort of teething. There is considerable debate over whether teething causes fever. Some babies may develop a low-grade fever while teethi
