What are the symptoms and signs of teething in a 2-month-old baby? How can you help soothe a teething baby and when should you call the doctor? Get the answers.

Understanding Teething in Infants

Teething is a natural process that usually begins around 4-8 months of age, as infants’ first teeth start to emerge through the gums. During this time, infants may experience a range of symptoms that can be both uncomfortable and concerning for parents. However, it’s important to understand that not all infants will experience the same degree of teething symptoms.

Common Teething Symptoms in 2-Month-Old Babies

While teething typically begins a few months later, some infants may start showing signs of teething as early as 2 months old. The most common teething symptoms in 2-month-old babies include:

• Irritability – Caused by the discomfort of the teeth erupting through the gums, especially the first teeth and molars.
• Drooling and Skin Rashes – Excessive drooling can lead to a rash around the mouth, cheeks, chin, and neck.
• Coughing – The extra saliva produced during teething can cause an occasional cough or gag.
• Biting and Gnawing – Infants may bite or gnaw on objects to counter the pressure from the erupting teeth.
• Low-Grade Fever – A temperature ranging from 98-100 degrees Fahrenheit, often caused by the infant putting unclean hands in their mouth.
• Cheek Rubbing and Ear Pulling – Pain in the gums can sometimes radiate to the cheeks and ears, especially when the molars are erupting.
• Diarrhea – The increased saliva production during teething may cause slightly looser stools, but diarrhea could also be a sign of a more serious infection.

Distinguishing Teething Symptoms from Illness

It’s important to note that the symptoms of teething can sometimes be confused with those of a minor illness, such as a cold. This is because the onset of teething often coincides with the time when an infant’s immunity from their mother begins to diminish, making them more vulnerable to minor infections. As a result, only 70-80% of parents report experiencing teething symptoms in their infants.

Soothing a Teething Baby at Home

There are several ways to help soothe a teething baby at home:

• Cuddle and Comfort – Provide extra cuddles and comfort to help alleviate your baby’s discomfort.
• Manage Drooling and Rashes – Keep the skin around the mouth clean and dry, and apply a barrier cream to prevent chapping and soreness.
• Offer Chewing Aids – Provide teething rings, chew beads, or frozen fruit/veggie popsicles to help counter the pressure from the erupting teeth.
• Relieve Fever – Use an age-appropriate pain medication, but always consult your pediatrician and follow the medication label for the correct dosage.
• Massage the Gums – Gently rub and massage your baby’s gums with a clean finger for 1-2 minutes to help alleviate discomfort.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While many teething symptoms can be managed at home, there are certain situations when you should contact your infant’s pediatrician:

• If the cough continues or is accompanied by a high fever and cold/flu symptoms, as this may indicate a more serious illness.
• If the fever reaches above 101 degrees Fahrenheit or persists, as it may not be solely due to teething.
• If the ear pulling or rubbing continues or is accompanied by a high fever, as it could signify an ear infection.
• If the diarrhea is severe or accompanied by other concerning symptoms, as it may be a sign of a more serious infection.

Staying Vigilant and Seeking Support

Teething can be a challenging time for both infants and their caregivers, but by understanding the common symptoms and how to manage them at home, you can help provide your little one with the comfort and care they need. Remember to stay vigilant and contact your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby’s health and well-being.

Conclusion

Teething in 2-month-old infants can be a trying time, but with the right knowledge and support, you can help soothe your little one’s discomfort and ensure their overall well-being. By recognizing the common symptoms, implementing home remedies, and seeking medical attention when necessary, you can help your baby navigate this important developmental milestone with care and compassion.

Your Infant is Teething: Know the Signs and Symptoms

Advice From Our Experts

July 10, 2020

Teething can be a time of great frustration for caregivers, in this post I will list some of the most common symptoms, explain how they relate to teething and share some insight on how to help soothe your little one during this potentially uncomfortable time.

When Does Teething Begin for Infants?

Teething usually starts around four to eight months with the lower front teeth and continues until 30-36 months of age when the last set of molars appear. During the teething period there are symptoms that include irritability, disrupted sleep, swelling or inflammation of the gums, drooling, loss of appetite, rash around the mouth, mild temperature, diarrhea, increased biting and gum-rubbing and even ear-rubbing. These symptoms were reported by 70-80 percent of parents according to an article from the British Dental Journal. So, why don’t all infants experience teething symptoms? Keep reading to find out.

Why Teething Symptoms May Be Confused with Cold Symptoms

Research has pointed out that teething begins around six months of age. This is the same time when an infant’s immunities they received from their mother, via the placenta, are diminishing. This means that the infant’s own immune system is becoming established. During this time, infants become vulnerable to minor infections. Because these two changes are taking place, the symptoms of teething can be confused with a minor illness or cold and visa versa. This explains why only 70-80 percent of parents reported teething symptoms of their infant; it’s very likely that parents of the remaining 20-30 percent associated the symptoms to a minor illness or cold.

Below is a list of commonly reported teething symptoms, with ways to help your infant at home and when to call the doctor:

• Irritability
• Drooling/Skin Rashes
• Coughing
• Biting and Gnawing
• Low Grade Fever
• Cheek rubbing and ear pulling
• Diarrhea

Irritability

This is caused by the discomfort of the teeth erupting through the gums. Often the first teeth and molars are the most uncomfortable.

How to help your infant’s irritability: Cuddle, cuddle, cuddle! Every baby can use some good cuddle time when they are having a hard time with teething. The extra time spent with your baby can help alleviate their pain, by providing feelings of being comforted and reassured.

Drooling/Skin Rashes

Teething can stimulate drooling and many babies drool a lot!

How to help your infant’s drooling: Excessive drooling can cause a rash around the mouth, cheeks, chin and neck area due to the extra bacteria on the skin from the saliva. Try to keep the area as clean and as dry as possible by periodically wiping the area. Applying a simple barrier cream can help with the dry, chapped and sore skin.

Coughing

The extra saliva produced during teething can cause an occasional cough or gag.

How to help your infant’s coughing: If your infant’s cough continues or is accompanied by a high fever and cold or flu symptoms, contact your infant’s pediatrician. The high fever with cold and flu symptoms is not related to teething, but is actually a sign that your infant is sick.

Biting and Gnawing

The counter pressure from biting on practically anything can alleviate the pressure from under the gums.

How to help your infant’s biting and gnawing: Anything cold works great! My best friend mixes water with the pouches of baby food and freezes them to make fruit and veggie popsicles. There are teething rings, chew beads and any commercially bought teething toys can help, especially when chilled or frozen.

Low Grade Fever

A low grade fever is defined and caused by the following:

• A temperature ranging from 98-100 degrees.
• It can be caused by an infant putting their unclean hands in their mouth.

If the fever reaches above 101 degrees or continues, contact your infant’s pediatrician because it may not be the teething but a more serious illness.

How to help your infant’s low grade fever: Use an age-appropriate pain medication and please consult your infant’s pediatrician and the medication label for correct dosage.

Cheek rubbing and ear pulling

This is caused by pain in the gums, which can travel to the cheek and ear, especially when the molars are erupting. Infants will rub those areas. Keep in mind that ear pulling or rubbing can also be a sign of an ear infection, please contact your infant’s pediatrician if this symptom continues or is accompanied with a high fever.

How to help your infant’s cheek rubbing and ear pulling: Try rubbing and massaging the gums with a clean finger for one to two minutes to help with the discomfort.

Teething and Diarrhea

Many believe that the increased saliva produced during teething can cause stool to become slightly loose.Keep in mind, diarrhea can be a sign of a more serious infection so contact your infant’s pediatrician if the stool becomes watery, because your infant could be at risk for dehydration. Contacting your infant’s pediatrician is especially important if the diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting or a high fever.

I hope the list of symptoms and ways you can help your infant will guide you through your infant’s teething phase. I also hope this helps ease the potential stress experienced by many parents. Just remember, that many symptoms we think are teething can be associated with illness, may be completely unrelated to teething and may need to be addressed by a physician.

Has my baby started teething? the signs to look out for | Baby & toddler articles & support

Teething signs can be confusing, and you’ll hear so many myths. Here we explore what teething is exactly and the signs you’ll see.

Teething happens at the same time as babies are vulnerable to illnesses and ailments as their immune system develops (Simon et al, 2015). This has led to confusion around what’s a sign of teething, and what’s not. Not just among parents but also some healthcare professionals (Plutzer et al, 2012; Eisenstadt et al, 2017).

This article sets out the signs and symptoms widely agreed to be caused by teething. It also flags up signs and symptoms not caused by teething that you’ll need to go and see your doctor about.

But first, the basics: What exactly is teething?

Teething is usually defined as when your baby’s teeth start to emerge through their gums (NHS, 2019). Their teeth were always there, within the jawbones, when they were born (Lyttle et al, 2015; NICE, 2020).

“Some babies are born with their first teeth. Others start teething before they are four months old, and some after 12 months. But most babies start teething at around six months (NHS, 2019).”

Your baby’s complete set of first teeth is usually on show by the time they’re three years old (NICE, 2020). These are often known as baby teeth or milk teeth, though the medical term is deciduous teeth because they will later fall out (NICE, 2020).

Even though your baby’s first teeth will fall out, they are very important for your baby’s health. This is because they help your child with eating solids and speech development, as well as self-esteem (Waite, 2019).

For a full guide to which teeth appear and when, see our month-by-month teething article.

Teething: What are the signs?

A baby’s teeth sometimes appear with no pain or discomfort at all (NHS, 2019). But others experience a constant, dull pain that gets increasingly intense in the four days before a tooth can be seen, before improving rapidly (Lyttle et al, 2015).

Your baby can’t use words to say they are in pain but you might see some pretty obvious signs there is a tooth on its way. The signs widely agreed to be sure indicators of teething include:

• drool, and lots of it –  teething babies can dribble way more than usual
• them biting and gumming down on anything and everything – that’s because the gnawing and chewing provides them with relief
• them being more grumpy, distressed and irritable than usual
• sore and red gums
• a loss of appetite. 

(Lyttle et al, 2015; Eisenstadt et al, 2017; NHS, 2019)

Other symptoms that might be signs of teething (although there is some debate over these) include:

• gum-rubbing
• sucking
• wakefulness
• ear-rubbing
• facial rash
• a runny nose
• a mildly-raised temperature, but still under 38°C, might also be a sign.

(Eisenstadt et al, 2017; NICE, 2020)

Your baby might be showing one of these signs or symptoms, or all of them. As with everything baby related, no two little ones are the same (Lyttle et al, 2015). In fact, teething signs can be so wide ranging, and vary so much from baby to baby that only one third of teething infants would experience any one of the signs above (Macknin et al, 2000).

Some studies go as far as to say none of these symptoms can be proven to be a sign of teething. They suggest the only way to know if your baby is teething is to examine their mouth – looking and feeling for an emerging tooth (Tighe and Roe, 2007).

Try laying your baby on your lap and sneaking a peek inside their mouth by moving their top or bottom lip or gently coaxing open their jaw. Use a clean finger to gently feel around their upper and lower gums systematically, one potential tooth spot at a time.

Is my baby teething or sick?

What’s not teething?

Other signs and symptoms that studies have found are generally NOT linked with teething include:

• congestion and coughs
• sleep disturbance
• runny poos, increased number of poos and nappy rash associated with them
• less interest or appetite for liquids
• rashes other than facial rashes
• fever over 38°C
• vomiting.  

(Eisenstadt et al, 2017; NICE, 2020)

It’s important you don’t assume one of these is a sign of teething. It could be something more serious and require medical attention.

Don’t confuse illness with teething

A fever and other clinically important symptoms, like diarrhoea, vomiting and rashes are very unlikely to be caused by teething, so make sure you talk to your GP or call NHS 111 (Tighe and Roe, 2007).

One study looked at 50 babies admitted to hospital with various conditions which the parents mistook for teething. In 48 of these children, a medical condition other than teething was identified, including a case of bacterial meningitis (Tighe and Roe, 2007).

Right, I’ve established my baby is teething. Now what?

You can read our articles on how to ease the pain associated with teething, and top tips proven to work.

It is also important to look after yourself, as your baby’s upset is likely to be stressful. You might feel exhausted too, as they’ll require even more of your attention. Our keeping calm with a crying baby article has some useful techniques you can try to keep your stress levels down.

This page was last reviewed in July 2022.

Further information

Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby: 0300 330 0700.

You might find attending one of NCT’s Early Days groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities are happening nearby.

Read more about fever in children from the NHS.

For more information on what other illnesses may be causing their fever, this article from NICE is very useful.

If you are concerned, contact your GP or call NHS 111 where you can access urgent medical help fast.

NCT has partnered with the British Red Cross to offer courses in baby first aid.

References

Eisenstadt M, Malkiel S, Pollak U. (2017) It’s alright, ma (I’m only teething…) dispelling the myth from the teeth. Acad J Ped Neonatol. 3(4):555618. Available at: https://juniperpublishers.com/ajpn/pdf/AJPN.MS.ID.555618.pdf [Accessed 23rd July 2022]

Lyttle C, Stoops F, Welbury R, Wilson N. (2015) Tooth eruption and teething in children. Pharm J. 295:7883. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1211/PJ.2015.20069598

Macknin ML, Piedmonte M, Jacobs J, Skibinski C. (2000) Symptoms associated with infant teething: a prospective study. Pediatrics. 105:747-752. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.105.4.747

NHS. (2019) Baby teething symptoms. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/teething/baby-teet… [Accessed 23rd July 2022]

NICE. (2020) Teething. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/teething/#!diagnosissub:1 [Accessed 23rd July 2022]

Plutzer K, Spencer AJ, Keirse MJ. (2012) How first-time mothers perceive and deal with teething symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. Child Care Health Dev. 38(2):292-299. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01215.x

Simon AK, Hollander GA, McMichael A. (2015) Evolution of the immune system in humans from infancy to old age. Proc Biol Sci. 282(1821):20143085. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.3085

Tighe M, Roe MFE. (2007) Does a teething child need serious illness excluding? Arch Dis Child. 92(3):266-268. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2006.110114

Waite C. (2019) Do baby teeth matter? Available at: https://bda.org/news-centre/blog/do-baby-teeth-matter [Accessed 28th September 2022]

Mom asks: “Can a 2-month-old baby cut teeth?”

Health

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supersizer / E+ / Getty Images

. In recent days, I notice that she seems to be cutting her teeth. The child began to cry more, began to gnaw on his fist, even if he had eaten quite recently. Drooling constantly. Can teeth be cut so early? Whether is it a pathology? And how to relieve the child’s pain?

Pediatric dentist at PerfectSmile Aesthetic Dentistry and Bone Regeneration Center

— Teething at 2 months is possible. It is not considered a pathology. Cases have been recorded when babies were born already with teeth. Mostly they need to be removed because they interfere with breastfeeding and make it difficult to take formula from a bottle. But there are times when they are left behind. Everything is individual.

At 2 months, eruption is considered early. This is due to genetics. The mother’s past illnesses, the intake or lack of intake of any vitamins by the mother does not affect the timing of teething. But it can affect the quality of the teeth.

The timing of eruption may be affected by vitamin and microelement deficiencies in the child himself, but in this case, on the contrary, we assume a later eruption.

Teething – how to relieve pain

Gels with lidocaine, benzocaine and other local anesthetics should not be used under the age of 4 years! Homeopathic preparations containing belladonna are also prohibited. Preparations in which choline salicylate is present are questionable. The risks and side effects outweigh the potential benefits.

What to do:

1. Massage your baby’s gums with your finger or silicone brush.

2. Use a cold teether. Just freeze in the refrigerator, not the freezer.

3. Give the nibbler a chilled product that is familiar to the baby.

4. Give me a pacifier. Personally, I am against the nipple, it is better to once again give the baby a breast. But for formula-fed babies, this may be the way out.

5. If all else fails, as a last resort, use pain relievers approved for children.

Whether to brush a baby’s teeth

We start brushing teeth with toothpaste and a brush (not a fingertip and not a silicone brush) as soon as the first tooth erupted. It is very important!

There is a myth that the earlier milk teeth erupt, the more they are subject to caries. This is wrong. It’s just that most pediatricians still advise starting brushing your teeth with toothpaste not earlier than a year, or even a year and a half.

If you start brushing and flossing your baby’s teeth right away, and use xylitol wipes to brush your teeth after nightly feedings, you can avoid cavities.

Ksenia Voronezhtseva, Expert

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Teething in children , or more correctly, teething is quite often accompanied by various changes in the behavior and well-being of the baby, which is very frightening for parents who are not ready for such a development of events. What dental symptoms in children should alert adults what to do.

Helping your baby when teething

If your baby is just worried about teething, constantly salivating, sucking on his fingers or trying to scratch his gums with something, it is quite easy to help your baby:

1. Get some very soft wipes and constantly wipe off saliva. This will protect the baby from irritation of the skin of the face. When sleeping, put a napkin under your baby’s head to absorb involuntary saliva.
2. Be sure to buy quality special silicone toys for developing gums – teethers, or special rings with liquid so that the baby can chew on them. The liquid makes the rings softer and pleasantly cools the gums (the rings can be stored in the refrigerator). Do not save – take only branded, certified products. After all, this is the health of your beloved child.
3. Periodically massage the gums with a special nozzle, or just with your finger (wash your hands thoroughly, nails are short, with neatly finished edges), it is possible with a moistened gauze pad. This procedure will also prevent the occurrence of stomatitis (“Stomatitis in infants – types, causes, symptoms”).
4. Breastfeeding your baby often is a great way to soothe your baby and relieve itchy gums.
5. Some babies enjoy sucking and nibbling bagels, a crust of bread, an apple without a peel – offer it, it’s a good distraction.
6. It is strictly forbidden to lubricate the gums with various medications without a doctor’s prescription, to give the baby pills and medicines on his own. Only a specialist – a pediatrician or pediatric dentist can prescribe an ointment or gel to relieve pain, while a preliminary test for allergic reactions is mandatory. Although ointments and gels with lidocaine (Kamistad, Kalgel) are sold without a prescription, it is impossible to lubricate the baby’s gums without checking, because if the baby is allergic to lidocaine, the baby may experience anaphylactic shock. For allergy sufferers, the doctor prescribes a special Baby Doctor ointment or others.
7. Try to distract the child, take more time to play with him, walk.

When should I see a doctor?

It is imperative to consult a pediatrician if the following signs of teething are observed in a child:

• high fever;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• runny nose;
• cough;
• skin rashes;
• convulsions;
• persistent drowsiness;
• prolonged irritability, capriciousness.

Such symptoms should in any case be a reason to see a doctor. Often, parents, on the advice of grandmothers, attribute everything to the fact that the child is teething, the temperature, they say, , happens in all children. And here it is not. Most children tolerate tooth growth without fever. And fever is a sign of most diseases. Therefore, it is possible to miss the onset of some disease or pathological process that coincides with the period of teething.

Why does the temperature appear? The fact is that at the site of the eruption of the tooth, the gum swells, which is associated with raising the tooth and an increased influx of biologically active substances. The body reacts to this with a protective increase in temperature – to prevent infection of the gums cut with sharp edges. Tooth temperature lasts one or two days. If the child tolerates it easily, is not prone to convulsions, and the doctor does not find other reasons for the increase in temperature, then it is not necessary to bring it down to 38 degrees. In the case of a longer increase in temperature, an examination of the baby and a doctor’s consultation are necessary.

Should alert vomiting in a child during teething, in case of exclusion of other causes of this condition. All changes in the gastrointestinal tract have a fairly simple explanation: during this period, it secretes a lot of saliva and the child constantly swallows it often, which causes increased secretion of gastric juice and vomiting (rare), as well as increased intestinal motility, which means that appears diarrhea in a child during teething. Diarrhea is rare (2-3 times a day), discharge is watery, lasts no longer than 2 days.