No, true teething in a newborn is rare; most babies start teething around 4 to 7 months, and early fussiness usually comes from other newborn needs.
New parents often watch every drool bubble and every chew on a tiny fist and wonder, can a newborn be teething? The short answer is that teeth almost never appear in the first weeks of life, yet many newborns act in ways that resemble teething. Understanding what is normal in the first months, and what counts as real teething, can calm worry and point you toward the right kind of care.
Can A Newborn Be Teething? Or Is It Something Else?
Doctors use the word newborn for babies in the first 28 days after birth. Teething means teeth breaking through the gums. Large studies show that most babies get a first tooth between 4 and 7 months, with a common range from 3 to 12 months. A first tooth in the newborn period is unusual and falls into a special group called natal or neonatal teeth.
Natal teeth are present at birth. Neonatal teeth appear in the first month or so. Both are rare. They may be part of the normal set of baby teeth that arrived early, or extra teeth that never belonged in the line-up. A paediatric dentist usually helps sort this out and checks how stable the tooth is.
Much more often, a newborn who seems to act "like a teething baby" is showing normal early patterns. Young babies discover their hands, drool more, and cry when tired or hungry, often in short bursts. Those signs can mimic teething even when the gums are still months away from cutting a tooth.
Newborn Teething Signs And Normal Baby Behaviour
To tell whether teething explains your baby's mood, it helps to know what teething usually looks like, and what you can expect from a baby in the first three months.
What True Teething Usually Looks Like
When teeth get close to the surface, many babies:
- Drool far more than they did before.
- Chew on hands, toys, cloth, or anything they can grab.
- Have gums that look a bit swollen, bumpy, or tender where a tooth is pushing up.
- Act cranky, clingy, or have brief bursts of crying, often worse in the evening.
- Sleep in shorter stretches or wake more often at night.
- Show a small rise in temperature, but not a true fever.
Health organisations such as the Mayo Clinic note that teething does not cause high fever, heavy diarrhoea, or severe illness. If those problems show up, teething should not be the first guess.
| Age | Teething Chance | Common Behaviours |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 weeks | Almost zero, except rare natal teeth | Crying to signal needs, short wake windows, strong sucking reflex |
| 1–3 months | Low; teeth close to gums but rarely erupt | More drool, hands in mouth, longer awake time, more eye contact |
| 4–7 months | High; first teeth often appear | Chewing on objects, swollen gums, brief fussiness around new teeth |
| 8–12 months | High; several teeth come through | Pulling on ears, biting toys or nipples, disrupted sleep around eruptions |
| 12–24 months | Ongoing; molars and canines arrive | Chewing on harder items, drool surges again, cranky spells |
| Rare natal or neonatal teeth | Present from birth or soon after | Visible tooth in the mouth, possible tongue rubbing, feeding difficulty |
| Any age with high fever or severe illness | Teething alone is not likely | Needs prompt assessment by a doctor to rule out infection or other causes |
Why Young Babies Drool And Chew Before Teething
Around 2 to 3 months, many babies discover that their hands fit snugly in their mouths. Saliva glands turn on, but swallowing control still lags behind. Drool collects, bibs pile up, and every picture seems to show a wet chin. This stage often arrives well before a tooth is near the surface.
The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that drooling and hand chewing in early months usually relate to normal development, not teething. Those behaviours show up even in babies who do not cut a tooth until closer to the first birthday.
So if you ask yourself the same question, look beyond drool alone. Age, gum appearance, and the rest of your baby's health matter more than one soggy outfit.
How To Soothe A Fussy Newborn Who Seems To Be Teething
Even if true teething is unlikely in a newborn, the discomfort you see is real. Gentle steps can ease that distress whether it comes from gas, a growth spurt, or early tooth movement under the gums.
Gentle Comfort Steps That Are Safe At Any Age
- Hold and rock your baby. Skin to skin contact, a steady sway, and your heartbeat can calm a worked up nervous system.
- Offer frequent feeds. Small, regular feeds can soothe both hunger and thirst and may help settle gassy cramps.
- Try a clean finger on the gums. Wash your hands, then gently rub along the gum line. Stop if your baby pulls away or seems more upset.
- Use white noise. A fan, soft shushing, or a white noise track at a safe volume can blunt sudden sounds that keep your baby from settling.
- Offer a soft cloth to mouthing. A clean, slightly cool washcloth held by an adult can give a safe surface for chewing.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises against numbing gels with benzocaine or homeopathic teething tablets, since these products can carry safety risks. Their guidance on teething pain explains why rubbing the gums or offering a firm rubber teething ring is safer once a baby is old enough to grasp objects.
Once your baby reaches the teething window around 4 to 7 months, your doctor can guide you on teething rings, chilled toys, and, when needed, safe pain relief.
When Early Teeth Do Happen In Newborns
Once in a while, a baby truly does have a tooth at birth or soon after. Parents might notice a small white edge on the lower gum line on day one, or a tooth that erupts during the first weeks. These early teeth almost always appear in the bottom front row in daily life.
Early teeth matter for two main reasons. Some are loose in the socket and can pose a choking hazard if they fall out. Others irritate the underside of the tongue or the parent's nipple during nursing. A paediatric dentist or paediatrician can check stability and decide whether the tooth should stay or be removed.
Even in this rare situation, the rest of the teething schedule usually stays near the usual range. Later baby teeth still arrive on their own timetable over the first three years.
| Symptom | Fit With Teething | Call Doctor Now? |
|---|---|---|
| Drooling, chewing, mild crankiness | Common around teething age | No, watch at home unless other worries arise |
| Visible tooth present at birth | Matches natal tooth, needs dental review | Yes, arrange a prompt but nonemergency visit |
| Red, swollen gums in one spot | Often linked to an erupting tooth | Call if swelling looks severe or baby cannot feed |
| Rectal temperature of 38°C or higher | Too high to blame on teething alone | Yes, call urgently, especially in babies under 3 months |
| Diarrhoea, vomiting, or rash on the body | Not classic teething signs | Yes, baby needs assessment for infection or allergy |
| Refusing feeds or fewer wet nappies | May signal pain, dehydration, or illness | Yes, call the doctor the same day |
| Breathing difficulty, blue lips, limp body | Emergency, not related to teething | Yes, call emergency services right away |
When To Call Your Baby's Doctor About Teething
Teething rarely makes babies seriously ill. At the same time, newborns can get sick quickly, and early care makes a real difference. Use your instincts, and when something feels off, reach out.
Red Flag Signs In Young Babies
- Fever in a baby under 3 months. A rectal temperature of 38°C or higher needs prompt medical review, even if you see drool and chewing.
- Constant inconsolable crying. A short spell of fussing is common; hours of screaming hint at pain or illness that needs direct care.
- Trouble breathing or weak tone. Call emergency services if your baby looks floppy, turns blue, or struggles for air.
- Feeding problems. Poor latch, pulling off the breast, or taking much less from a bottle along with fewer wet nappies calls for a same day visit.
- Rash, diarrhoea, or vomiting. These are not classic teething signs and raise concern for infection, allergy, or another medical issue.
Questions To Ask At The Appointment
You can help your baby's doctor by keeping track of a few details before the visit:
- Exact age in days or weeks.
- How long the fussiness has lasted and what seems to ease it.
- Wet nappies, recent feeds, and any medicines or supplements given.
You can also ask the doctor when they expect teething to start for your baby, and what safe pain relief options they recommend once that stage arrives.
Quick Checklist For Newborn Teething Worries
Use this short checklist when teething worries pop up:
- The usual teething window starts around 4 to 7 months, not in the newborn period.
- Drool and hand chewing in newborns often reflect normal development, not a tooth cutting through.
- Early teeth at birth or soon after are rare and should be checked by a paediatric dentist or doctor.
- Teething does not cause high fever, severe diarrhoea, or breathing trouble; those need medical care, and timely calls to your baby's doctor keep babies safe.
So the next time you wonder, can a newborn be teething, you'll have a clearer sense of what is likely, what is rare, and when extra help is needed.