How do I know if my baby is teething or just fussy?

Your baby is suddenly fussy and you are trying to work out whether this is teething or just a rough day.

uvodParents blame a lot on teething because babies get cranky for many reasons at the same age teeth start moving. A few signs point more clearly to teething, and a few point somewhere else.

Start with the short list of likely causes

If you are stuck on is my baby teething, the usual possibilities are simple: teething, hunger or feeding trouble, overtiredness or a sleep shift, or illness. Sometimes it is also just a hard day with no neat reason.

Teething usually brings gum irritation, more drool, and a strong urge to chew. Hunger tends to improve quickly after a solid feed. Illness usually comes with signs outside the mouth, like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, or a baby who seems unwell overall.

If your baby is hard to wake, breathing oddly, not having wet diapers, or has a high fever, call your doctor. If you see dark spots, holes, or damage on teeth or gums, book a pediatric dentist.

• Teething
• Hunger or feeding trouble
• Overtiredness or a sleep change
• Illness
• A random rough day

I always joked the answer was either teething or “It’s a leap.”

— r/beyondthebump

Teething has a mouth pattern, not just a mood pattern

Signs of teething are mostly local to the mouth. Your baby may chew on fingers, toys, or your shoulder, drool more than usual, rub the gums, and get more upset right before naps or feeds because pressure in the mouth feels annoying.

A baby who is teething may still want comfort and may eat a little less for a day or two, especially with a spoon or bottle nipple pressing on sore gums. The fussiness often comes and goes rather than staying intense all day.

Teething symptoms a baby can have include swollen gums and one spot that looks ready to open. Teething alone is not a good catch-all for a baby who seems sick all over.

Thoughts from the tired parent of a teething 6 month old.: When babies cut teeth, their parents should wake up with treats (coffee, alcohol, breakfast burrito) under their pillow.

— r/beyondthebump

Hunger or feeding trouble usually improves fast once they eat

If the crying builds at the usual feeding time and settles after a real feed, hunger is more likely than teething. The pattern matters more than one bad bottle or one skipped snack.

Feeding trouble can look different. A baby may latch poorly, pull off and cry, gulp air, or seem hungry but frustrated. That can happen with gas, flow issues, reflux, or just being too upset to organize a feed.

Sleep changes make babies suddenly fussy in a different way

Why is my baby suddenly fussy at the end of the day, during naps, or overnight? That often fits overtiredness, a nap transition, or a schedule shift better than teething.

An overtired baby usually gets worse the longer they stay awake. They may rub eyes, turn away, arch, fuss hardest before sleep, then improve a lot after a decent nap or earlier bedtime. Teething can disturb sleep too, but sleep-related fuss tends to follow the clock more than the gums.

Hahah omg I love the "Thhhhhiiiiis guy".. I totally heard the aggression in that. 😄 I glare daggers at my husband for creaking the floor boards too loudly once the baby's asleep so this would've been a murdering situation lol

— r/Mommit

Illness usually brings signs outside the gums

If your baby has a true fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, a new rash, tugging hard at the ears, or seems floppy and unlike themselves, think illness before teething. Many parents notice teething and illness at the same time simply because babies put everything in their mouths and also catch bugs.

A runny nose or rosy cheeks can show up around teething, but they are not specific signs of teething. When the whole body seems off, it is safer to treat it as possible illness and check with your doctor if needed.

I’m so glad you knew what to do and didn’t panic. Did you get baby checked out?

— r/NewParents

What you can try when it really does look like teething

Use simple comfort first: a clean chilled teether, gum pressure from something safe to chew, extra bib changes for drool, and patience. Some babies also do better with cooler foods if they are already eating solids.

Skip rubbing alcohol on the gums, numbing gels unless your clinician told you to use one, and anything that can break into pieces. If your baby is miserable, ask your pediatrician what pain medicine dose is appropriate for their age and weight.

• Offer a chilled teether
• Wipe drool often and change wet clothes
• Try cooler purées or soft foods if your baby already eats them
• Keep the day calm and expectations low

Walmart and amazon sell little mesh teething things that you can put fruit and such in. I put puréed baby food in ice trays to freeze and then put in the teether and it worked charms when my LO was that age (:

— r/Mommit

Common questions

Is my baby teething if they are chewing everything?

Chewing is one of the stronger signs of teething, especially with drool and gum rubbing. On its own, though, it is not proof. Babies also chew when they are exploring, bored, or trying to settle themselves.

Do teething symptoms include fever?

A slight warm feeling can happen for many reasons, but a real fever should not be brushed off as teething. If your baby has a true fever or seems sick overall, think illness first and check in with your doctor when needed.

Why is my baby suddenly fussy only at night?

Night-only fussiness often points to overtiredness, a schedule change, or normal sleep development. Teething can make nights worse, but if the pattern is tightly tied to bedtime, sleep is a strong suspect.

Can teething make my baby refuse the bottle or breast?

Yes, sore gums can make sucking feel irritating for a short time. But if feeding refusal is repeated, your baby is not having enough wet diapers, or feeds are becoming a struggle, do not assume it is only teething.

How long does teething fussiness last?

For many babies it comes in waves over a few days rather than staying severe for weeks. If the fussiness is heavy, constant, or keeps coming with other symptoms, it may not be teething alone.

First, look for the pattern. If the fussiness comes with drool, chewing, gum rubbing, and a baby who mainly seems bothered in the mouth, teething moves up the list.

If the crying matches feeding times, gets worse with missed sleep, or comes with fever or other whole-body symptoms, look there instead. You do not need a perfect answer on day one, just the most likely one from the pattern in front of you.