Teething signs and safe soothers

The first teeth (usually bottom center incisors) can appear anywhere between 4 and 12 months. Signs of teething include excessive drooling, chewing on hands or firm objects, mild fussiness, and disrupted sleep or feeds. Some babies breeze through; others struggle. Cold teething rings (chilled, not frozen), a clean cool washcloth to gnaw on, and gentle gum massage with a clean finger help most babies. Avoid amber teething necklaces (choking and strangulation risk) and topical numbing gels with benzocaine (FDA warning under age 2). What teething does NOT cause: fever over 100.4°F, diarrhea, ear infections, or rashes anywhere except drool-related chin patches. Those symptoms mean something else is going on — call the pediatrician rather than blaming it on teeth.