Why Is Teething So Tough? What's Really Going On for Your Baby

If your baby has suddenly gone from settled to unsettled — more grizzling, more drool and more chewing on everything within reach — teething is often the reason.

It’s one of the most common stages of early development, and also one of the hardest for parents to watch.

Here’s what’s actually happening, based on guidance from Raising Children Network, supported by the Australian Government, and Healthify, New Zealand’s national health information service.

When Does Teething Start?

According to Raising Children Network, most babies get their first tooth somewhere between 6 and 10 months old, although it can start as early as 3 months or as late as 12 months in some children.

Most children have their full set of 20 baby teeth by around 3 years of age. The lower front teeth are usually the first to arrive, followed by the upper front teeth.

Healthify NZ confirms a similar window. Most tamariki, or children, get their first tooth between 6 and 10 months, with the lower front teeth typically coming through first.

There’s no fixed timeline, and starting earlier or later than average doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong.

Why Teething Feels So Hard on Everyone

The gums are doing a lot of work

As each tooth pushes up through the jaw and gum tissue, it creates pressure and irritation at the surface. That’s what drives much of the chewing, drooling and gum-rubbing behaviour parents notice.

Babies can’t tell you what hurts

Raising Children Network notes that babies going through teething may:

• cry more than usual
• seem more irritable
• feed less well
• chew on toys, dummies or bibs
• have more frequent nappy changes
• tug at the ear on the same side as the emerging tooth

Because babies can’t explain what’s wrong, parents are often left reading their behaviour rather than getting a clear answer. That uncertainty is part of what makes this stage so exhausting.

Sleep and feeding routines can shift

Discomfort can make it harder for a baby to settle, stay asleep or feed as well as usual.

These disruptions are generally temporary, but they can be genuinely tiring for the whole household while they last.

Is It Definitely Teething?

Both Raising Children Network and Healthify NZ make an important point: teething itself shouldn’t make a baby seriously unwell.

Healthify NZ advises that teething doesn’t cause a high fever, diarrhoea or serious illness. Symptoms like these should be checked by a health professional rather than assumed to be caused by teething.

Raising Children Network gives similar advice. If your baby has a fever, diarrhoea or seems unwell rather than simply grizzly, speak with your GP.

Signs that are commonly associated with teething can include:

• increased drooling
• mild irritability
• chewing or biting objects
• disrupted sleep
• tender or swollen gums

Anything more serious warrants a proper check.

What Actually Helps?

The advice from Raising Children Network and Healthify NZ is consistent and relatively simple.

• Gently rub the gums with a clean finger.
• Offer something safe to bite or chew. Raising Children Network suggests options such as a toothbrush, dummy or teething ring that is cold but not frozen.
• Use a cooled silicone teething ring. Healthify NZ recommends cooling it in the fridge rather than the freezer, as frozen items may be too cold for sensitive gums.
• Offer softer foods if chewing is uncomfortable, or an age-appropriate, sugar-free rusk to suck on.
• Provide extra comfort. Most teething discomfort can be managed at home and settles once the tooth comes through.

What about teething gels?

Raising Children Network notes that teething gels aren’t generally recommended because there is limited evidence that they relieve pain and it can be difficult to control the dose.

For advice about suitable pain relief, speak with your GP, pharmacist or child health nurse rather than relying on home remedies alone.

Why Babies Reach for Something to Chew

Chewing creates gentle counter-pressure against sore gums, which is why babies instinctively reach for fingers, toys and almost anything else within grasp.

Giving your baby a teether designed for the job — rather than an everyday household object — means they have something made for repeated chewing, easy cleaning and use by little hands and mouths.

Revivco’s POP range features Australian-designed silicone teethers made from BPA-free silicone, with a variety of textures and shapes for babies to explore as their teeth come through.

Explore the Revivco POP teether range

It Doesn’t Last Forever

Teething is a stage, not a permanent state.

Every tooth that comes through is one step closer to your baby eating, talking and smiling with a full set of teeth.

In the meantime, a little extra comfort, a safe teether and knowing when to check in with a health professional can make this stage easier to navigate.

When to See a Health Professional

Speak to your GP, pharmacist, child health nurse, Plunket nurse or dentist if your baby:

• has a high temperature or diarrhoea
• seems genuinely unwell rather than simply grizzly
• won’t feed or drink
• seems inconsolable or in significant discomfort
• has symptoms that continue longer than expected

References

• Raising Children Network Australia — Baby teeth development, dental health and dental care
• Healthify He Puna Waiora New Zealand — Teething
• Pregnancy, Birth and Baby — Teething and baby teeth

This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Speak with a qualified health professional if you’re concerned about your baby’s symptoms.