iVillage

Teething 101: What You Need to Know About Baby's First Teeth

Baby teething? From swollen gums to never-ending drool, we've got the scoop on what happens when baby starts cutting teeth. (14 Photos)

Bonnie Vengrow on Aug 31, 2012 at 1:42PM

chime in now

Single View
View All

2 of 14

Teething 101: What You Need to Know About Baby's First Teeth

Getty Images

How Will I Know When Baby Is Teething?

Trust us, your baby will let you know, in no uncertain terms, when new teeth are on their way. Some classic signs of teething are irritability, interrupted sleep, excessive drooling, putting her fingers in her mouth and gnawing on just about everything she can get her hands on. Some babies also have a decreased appetite, lighter-colored stool, diaper rash or even run a slight fever (under 101 degrees), says Dr. Anita Chandra-Puri, FAAP, a pediatrician with Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group in Chicago and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Then, of course, there's the other tell-tale sign: a bump in the gums, which you can feel with your finger.