When your baby starts the slow process of getting their first teeth, it can lead to a loss of appetite, crying, and clinginess – and sleepless nights for both of you.
In this article, early childhood parenting coach and BioGaia ambassador Heidi Skudder gives her best tips for your teething baby.
Teething – when does it start?
For most babies, teething begins around four to six months of age and can continue until their third birthday – or even longer. Understanding your baby’s teething patterns and recognizing the signs that new teeth are coming in can help you support your teething baby. It can also help you, as a parent, be a little more prepared for the mood swings, sleepless nights, and picky eating that often come with it.
Most common signs of teething
Every baby goes through teething differently. Some may show hardly any signs, while others may have trouble with disrupted sleep, loose diapers, rashes, and general discomfort.
Here are some of the most common signs your baby may be teething:
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Clingy and unsettled behavior
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More frequent crying
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Short or broken naps
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Waking up more often at night
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Waking up early in the morning
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Clear runny nose
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Diaper rash
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Red cheeks
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Loose stools
Tips for teething baby – how can I help?
When your baby starts teething, you’ll probably notice they want to chew on anything they can get their hands on. A teething toy can help ease the pain and irritability that come with teething.
Tips for a teething baby – chilling the teether in the refrigerator, or using one that’s filled with a gel or liquid that can be cooled, can provide extra soothing relief.
Another teething tip is to serve cold foods like yogurt, cucumber sticks, and frozen fruit smoothies (for babies over six months old). It can help soothe sore gums and offer short-term relief from teething pain.
How do I know if it is teething?
It’s common to assume teething is the cause of any discomfort your baby experiences in the early years. And it’s true, at a certain age teething can lead to sleepless nights and lots of crying.
However, it’s important to remember that teething doesn’t last for weeks or months nonstop. It usually comes in waves, lasting about four to five days at a time before settling down again.
If your baby is going through extended periods of disrupted sleep or seems unusually fussy for a long time, it’s worth considering whether something else might be bothering them.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare professional for support if you’re having trouble figuring out what’s going on with your baby.
About Heidi
Heidi Skudder
Early childhood parenting coach & BioGaia Ambassador
Heidi Skudder, one of the UK’s top early childhood parenting coaches, founded Positively Parenthood (formerly The Parent and Baby Coach) to offer compassionate, experience-based support to new parents. With a background in psychology, hands-on childcare, and over ten years of sleep and behavior coaching, Heidi has helped thousands of families confidently navigate the early years.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have about a medical condition.
