Expect increased fussiness and irritability

Babies often become noticeably more irritable and clingy in the days before and during tooth eruption. The discomfort from gum inflammation and pressure can make them fussier than usual, particularly during feeding and bedtime when they are already less regulated.

What to Look For

• Increased crying or whining that is not explained by hunger, tiredness, or a wet diaper
• More clinginess and desire to be held
• Fussiness that comes and goes over days or weeks, often peaking just before a tooth breaks through
• Pulling or rubbing the ears or cheeks on the side where the tooth is erupting (referred pain along the jaw)

What to Do

• Offer extra comfort through holding, rocking, and skin-to-skin contact
• Provide safe items to chew on for counter-pressure relief
• Maintain regular routines for naps and feeding to provide stability
• If discomfort is significant, ask your pediatrician about an age-appropriate dose of infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen (ibuprofen only for babies 6 months and older)

Tips

• Teething fussiness is typically intermittent, not constant -- persistent inconsolable crying may signal another issue
• Do not attribute high fever, diarrhea, or vomiting to teething -- the AAP states these are not caused by teething and warrant a call to your pediatrician