The safest baby teething remedies are the simple ones: a clean, cool teether to chew on, a gentle gum rub with a washed finger, and a soft cloth to wipe away drool so the skin around the mouth stays calm. Chilled (not frozen) teethers, firm rubber rings and a lot of patience carry most babies through. What you want to avoid is the stuff sold on trust rather than evidence: amber teething necklaces and numbing gels, both of which health regulators warn can seriously harm your baby.
If your little one is grizzly, chewing everything in sight and soaking through bibs, you are almost certainly in teething season. This guide walks through the signs, the age it usually starts, the remedies that are genuinely safe, the ones to skip, and the clear signals that mean it is time to call a doctor rather than reach for another teether.
At what age do babies start teething?
Most babies start teething between four and seven months, though some surprise their parents as early as three months and others keep you waiting until closer to their first birthday. All of that is normal. According to HealthyChildren.org, run by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the two bottom front teeth (the lower central incisors) usually push through first, followed a month or two later by the top front teeth.
The full set of 20 baby teeth typically finishes arriving by around age three, so teething is not one dramatic event. It comes in waves, with quiet stretches in between. If your baby reaches their first birthday with no teeth yet, mention it at the next clinic visit, but there is rarely anything to worry about.
Teething usually begins between 4 and 7 months of age, and all 20 baby teeth are generally in place by about age 3.
What are the signs my baby is teething?
Teething looks different from baby to baby, but a familiar cluster of signs tends to show up. The Mayo Clinic lists these as the common ones:
- Heavy drooling. Far more than usual, often enough to soak a bib and irritate the chin.
- Chewing and gnawing. On toys, fingers, the edge of the cot, whatever is within reach.
- Sore, tender or swollen gums. You may see a small bulge where a tooth is about to break through.
- Crankiness and disturbed sleep. Discomfort tends to peak in the few days around a tooth cutting through.
- A drool rash. Red, chapped skin on the chin, cheeks or neck from constant wetness.
- A slightly raised temperature. A mild warmth, but not a true fever.
Here is the part many parents get told wrong. Teething does not cause high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or a bad cough. Those point to something else, usually an infection that happens to land at the same time. Blaming a real illness on teething is one of the most common ways a sick baby gets missed, so treat those symptoms on their own merits.
What are the safest baby teething remedies?
The good news is that the remedies backed by doctors are cheap, gentle and easy to do at home. The NHS recommends starting with these.
Give something firm and safe to chew. Chewing is your baby’s own instinct for relieving gum pressure. A solid, one-piece silicone or rubber teether is ideal. Firm counter-pressure is what actually soothes, which is why a good teether beats almost anything else.
Chill the teether, do not freeze it. Cool numbs the gums and calms the swelling. Pop a solid teether in the fridge, not the freezer. A rock-hard frozen ring can bruise or damage delicate gums. The same goes for a clean, damp facecloth: chill it in the fridge, then let your baby gnaw on a corner.
Rub the gums with a clean finger. Wash your hands, then massage the sore gum with a clean finger or a piece of clean, damp gauze for a minute or two. Simple, free and genuinely effective.
Wipe the drool and protect the skin. Keep a soft, absorbent bib on and pat (do not scrub) the chin dry through the day. Managing drool is half the battle, because a raw drool rash makes an already unsettled baby far more miserable. A barrier of plain petroleum jelly can help protect the skin.
Offer cold food if your baby is on solids. For babies already eating solids, chilled (not frozen) options like a cold cucumber stick or plain yoghurt can soothe gums, always with you watching closely for choking.
Pain relief, used correctly. If your baby is in real distress, the NHS notes that infant paracetamol or ibuprofen can be given to babies over three months, following the dosing instructions on the packet for your child’s age and weight. If you are unsure, ask a pharmacist or your clinic before giving anything.
At TotoComfy we stock the everyday tools that make this list easy to follow: fridge-safe silicone teethers, soft chill toys, and absorbent drool bibs that keep the skin around the mouth dry and comfortable.
What baby teething remedies should I avoid?
Some of the most heavily marketed teething products are the ones health authorities most want you to put down. These are not old wives’ tales worth a shrug. Regulators have linked them to real injuries and deaths.
Amber teething necklaces and bracelets. They are sold on the idea that the beads release a soothing substance when warmed by the skin. There is no scientific evidence this works, and the risk is serious. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that teething jewellery can cause choking when beads break off, and strangulation when a cord tightens, including a reported case of an 18-month-old who died. Anything worn around a baby’s neck or wrist unsupervised is a hazard, whatever the claimed benefit.
Benzocaine numbing gels. These are the over-the-counter gels rubbed on the gums to numb pain, sold under names like Orajel and Anbesol. In 2018 the FDA formally warned against using benzocaine teething products in children under two and asked companies to stop selling them for teething. The reason is a rare but potentially fatal condition called methemoglobinemia, in which the blood cannot carry enough oxygen. The FDA has recorded hundreds of cases over the years. There is no safe home dose for a teething baby, so skip these entirely.
Any homeopathic teething tablets or gels. These have been linked to inconsistent ingredients and safety concerns, and they are not recommended for infants.
Hard, freezable or breakable objects. Frozen-solid rings, anything with small parts that can snap off, or fluid-filled teethers that could leak all carry avoidable risk. Stick to solid, one-piece designs.
Safe versus unsafe teething remedies at a glance
| Remedy | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solid silicone or rubber teether | Safe | Firm counter-pressure relieves gum ache; no small parts |
| Teether or facecloth chilled in the fridge | Safe | Cool soothes swollen gums without bruising them |
| Clean-finger gum massage | Safe | Gentle pressure eases soreness; costs nothing |
| Absorbent drool bib | Safe | Keeps skin dry and prevents a painful drool rash |
| Infant paracetamol or ibuprofen (over 3 months) | Use with care | Effective for real distress; follow packet dosing, ask a pharmacist |
| Frozen-solid teether | Avoid | Too hard; can bruise or damage gums |
| Amber teething necklace | Avoid | Choking and strangulation risk; no proven benefit |
| Benzocaine numbing gel | Avoid | FDA warns of methemoglobinemia, a serious blood disorder |
| Homeopathic teething tablets | Avoid | Unreliable ingredients; not recommended for infants |
Is a fever a normal part of teething?
This is the question that keeps Kenyan mums up at night, so it deserves a plain answer. Teething can cause a very slightly raised temperature, but it does not cause a real fever. The NHS is clear that a temperature above 38°C is not down to teething and should be treated as a sign your baby may be unwell.
That distinction matters because so many infections in babies, from ear infections to malaria in areas where it is present, can arrive around the same age teething starts. If you assume a genuinely feverish baby is “just teething,” you can miss something that needs treatment. When in doubt, measure the temperature and act on the number, not the assumption.
The World Health Organization stresses that certain danger signs in a young child, such as high fever, poor feeding, unusual drowsiness or fast or difficult breathing, always warrant urgent medical attention regardless of what else is going on.
When should I take my teething baby to the doctor?
Take your baby to a clinic, doctor or hospital, rather than reaching for another remedy, if you notice any of these:
- A fever of 38°C or higher, or any fever in a baby under three months.
- Diarrhoea, vomiting, or refusing to feed or drink.
- Unusual drowsiness, floppiness, or a baby who is very hard to settle or wake.
- A rash that does not fade, or fast or laboured breathing.
- Signs of pain that do not ease at all with safe remedies over a few days.
None of these are normal teething. Trust your instinct. You know your baby better than anyone, and a quick check-up is always worth the peace of mind.
Putting it all together
Teething is a season, not a crisis. It comes in waves from around four to seven months and rolls on gently until age three. Lean on the safe basics: a fridge-cooled teether, a clean finger for a gum rub, a dry chin, and an early night when you can manage it. Give the amber beads and numbing gels a firm miss. And keep the real red flags, especially a true fever, filed under “call the doctor” rather than “more teething.”
If you are stocking up, browse our teethers and chill toys, soft drool bibs, and soothing comforters that help an unsettled baby drift back to sleep. Gentle, well-made basics are all most little ones need to get through teething comfortably.
Frequently asked questions
At what age do babies usually start teething?
Most babies start teething between four and seven months, though it can begin as early as three months or as late as around 12 months. The two bottom front teeth usually appear first, and all 20 baby teeth are typically in by about age three.
Can teething cause a high fever?
No. Teething may cause a very mild rise in temperature, but a true fever of 38°C or above is not caused by teething. A high fever points to an infection or other illness and should be checked by a doctor, especially in a baby under three months.
What is the best teether for my baby?
A solid, one-piece silicone or rubber teether that you can cool in the fridge is the safest and most effective choice. Firm counter-pressure soothes sore gums. Avoid frozen-solid, breakable, or fluid-filled teethers, and never use teething necklaces.
Are amber teething necklaces safe?
No. There is no scientific evidence they relieve teething pain, and the FDA warns they can cause choking if beads break off and strangulation if the cord tightens. Nothing should be worn around a baby’s neck or wrist unsupervised.
Are numbing gels safe for teething babies?
No. Benzocaine gels are not recommended for children under two. The FDA warns they can cause methemoglobinemia, a rare but serious condition that reduces oxygen in the blood. Stick to chilled teethers, gum massage and, if needed, correctly dosed infant pain relief.