Teething at Four Months Old

Updated on April 11, 2008
A.R. asks from Gaston, SC
21 answers

Im just wonder when exactly does teething start. My 4 month old has been douling since she was three month old and keeps her hand in her mouth all the time. But the thing is she dont want to use a teething ring or a pacifier. She like to chew on a bottles nipple. So what should i do or what will work if she is teething? Shes not crying like they are hurting but I think she runs a little fever at night. Please help.

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T.M.

answers from Columbus on

Good Morning. My 4 month old is teething as well and he does not take well to his teething ring either. What i have been doing is giving him orajel and he likes to chew on one of his washcloths. Hope this helps you out. Oh also some nights when he is feeling hot i give him a dose of infant tylenol. You also might notice him having diarhea sometimes also so dont worry its normal.

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J.W.

answers from Atlanta on

Hey there! Totally normally. My daughter, who is 7 months now, did the same thing. She just got her first tooth about 2 weeks ago. Sometimes babies can show signs of teething for months before actually cutting a tooth. A low grade is normal as long as it doesn't go over 100 or so. They also sell teething tablets that you can get at most pharmacys for about $4. Good luck! Oh..I noticed too with my daughters that at they didn't want the teethers at that age.

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M.H.

answers from Charleston on

hey i am right there with u. my lil kaylynne is doing the exact same thing. i am one of those ppl who dont like the child nawing on my fingers so i found something else and she loves it. her doc. told me i need to wipe her gums every night with clean water to get the excess breast milk off. well i went to reids the other day and down the baby asile i saw a finger tooth brush for inffants. i like that i can clean her gums and she can naw at the same time. she loves it. and i do realized u posted that a month ago but i thought maybe u would like the info if u are still battling it. me i just wish she would sleep at night on her back - she started rolling all the way over. : )

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A.U.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi A., don't worry your daughter probably is teething. At 4 months my son had 2 teeth, and by 8 months he had 8. So, as you can see every child is different. Try a cold cloth or one of those teethers that you put in the frig, she'll like the cool sensation.

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B.G.

answers from Atlanta on

My daughter started teething at 4 months and would not use any of the traditional items either. We wound up using the mesh fruit holders and freezing fruit (honey dew works great) in cut up pieces and putting them in the mesh fruit holder and giving it to her. Be careful, the dogs think it is fair game if you have any.

Best wishes--B.

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J.W.

answers from Macon on

Hi A.,

I've also got a 4 month old who seems to be teething. When I look inside his mouth I can see little white patches where part of the tooth is showing through. Like your daughter he doesn't seem to fuss to much about it, just chews his fingers, his paci, and his bottle nipple. I've bought him a teething ring but he won't chew it whether it's cold or room temperature. I've tried the cold wet wash cloths from the fridge also but he took it once or twice and now doesn't like that either. I've read that biting down on things helps the teeth break through so I'm going home today to try one I recently read, take an old bottle nipple, fill with water and freeze, or just refrigerate it to make it a little cool. Let me know if this does end up working for you, and I'll let you know how mine goes!

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J.L.

answers from Spartanburg on

A., Teething can start that early but not a lot. My son is also 4months old and does the same things. He has no teeth coming in. They are just learning about there surroundings. It is all normal for them. Probably real teeth between 5-6 months or later. If you want though you could try baby oragel on the lower front gum. That is where the first teeth come in. Or if you do not have that the cheaper way is to buy Childrens benedryl and dip your finger in it and rub on the gum area. It has the same numbing affect. Good luck!!

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T.S.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

Yes, it is possible for her to be teething. I have 3 children of my own and have worked in the infant room at a daycare for 7 years. Let her chew, cool teething rings are great. Try to stay away from they tylenol if she's not complaining. Also, they make teething tablets. You can find them in the section with orajel. They are all natural and they dissolve the minute saliva hits them so you don't have to worry about her choking. Good Luck. I know its hard, i was a single parent also. Don't give up. It's all worth it!!!!!

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P.W.

answers from Augusta on

Both of my kids cut their first teeth around 4 1/2-5 months and certainly started "teething" well before that. I don't know about the bottle nipples, as it seems that might encourage a dependence on the bottle. Still, I am a big proponent of the "whatever it takes as long as it's safe" philosophy. Have you tried giving her a cold baby cloth from the freezer? My kids never went for this, but I know many do. I wouldn't worry too much of she's not complaining, but you could try a little Motrin if she has trouble at night (it works better than Tylenol)

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S.G.

answers from Savannah on

Sounds like teething and everything she is doing is normal. If she seems to be hurting from it then you can give her teething tablets which was the only thing that worked for my son. Or the ever trust worthy tylenol. As far as a fever at night, I wouldn't do anything about it unless she is over 101 and loosing sleep over it.

~S.

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T.D.

answers from Atlanta on

Hello A...Your daughter is already going through the process of teething..My daughter did not use a teething ring or pacifier..She just did not care for them at all..She liked to chew on her bottle nipples and her fingers..A little fever is associated with teething, so just keep check on that and if you feel that it is a little to high, do not hesitate to call her pediatrician's office and ask them what do you do when your 4mth old daughter is running a temp that you may think is associated with her teething..They would understand that you are a new mother and would like to know what to do, and since she is still a little one, only they would be able to tell you what the correct amount of infant's tylenol or infant's motrin's that you would be able to give her because she is still an infant..Most doctor's do not like to give infant children anything unless they really need it..It will be okay..Some babies cry alot when teething and some do not..It just depends on the child..Know that she will be doing a lot of drooling and wanting to put her fingers, your fingers, your purse strap or whatever in her mouth..That is just what babies do..However, I found that at wal-mart over in the infant department that there are some teething tablets that work very well..My sister-in-law had informed me about the teething tablets and I asked the pharmacist about them and they worked very well for me with my daughter..So maybe, you could try them..They are less than six dollars and worth it to me..Hopefully, I have been of some help to you..Be blessed..

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M.L.

answers from Charleston on

My daughter got her first tooth at 4 months. She had 8 teeth by 8 months and is now 11 1/2 months and has not got one since... So yeah it happens. I use the teething tablets from walmart or babies r us they worked for us with some occasional tylonel. Good luck!! The teething kicked our butts!

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S.S.

answers from Atlanta on

It's possible that your daughter is teething. When my boys are teething, they will drool a lot and sometimes have a low fever. They also won't use teething rings, even if I put them in the fridge to make them cool. If they aren't crying out in pain, I just let them be. If they are crying a lot then I will give them motrin (check with your doctor about the appropriate dose since it depends on your child's weight). I've tried herbal remedies and tylenol but none of them worked as well as motrin.

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S.W.

answers from Atlanta on

Hello A.,
Hope all is well. It is possible that she is teething, my mom told me I had 2 teeth come in at 6 weeks, and my boys teethed early also. I would give them wet cold wash cloths to chew on as well as I use to wash my hands and rub their gums with my finger. They would love it, humming and all. Sometimes it would feel so good to them they would bite reallly hard, lol.

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A.S.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi A.. I have a 14 month old daughter who got her first tooth at 4 months old. She also didn't like the teething rings b/c they were too cold for her to hold. I gave her Gerber biter biscuits (they soften easily so she wont choke) and she loved them! It helped her w/ the teething and tasted great too!

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M.N.

answers from Atlanta on

My daughter cut her first tooth at 3 months, so it is possible your daughter is teething. If she does not appear to be in pain, then there is nothing you need to do. If she seems to be uncomfortable, you can give her infant Tylenol. At this point, it is unlikely that she will use a teething ring. My daughter didn't really get interested in teething rings until after she turned one. If she is chewing on her hand, that probably soothes her enough. You can also try rubbing her gums with your finger. My little one always like that, but I had to stop after she got a couple of teeth, because it would hurt if she bit down.

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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

HI A.,

Teething starts at different times like most of these ladies said and the drooling is a tell tale sign. And yes, a little fever is normal with teething. They may not be hurting her now but they will become uncomfortable.

Frozen wet wash cloths, cool teething rings, teething biscuits will all help the discomfort. As far as sleeping during the night I use one drop of Melaleuca oil on my finger and rub both upper and lower gums. Melaleuca brand melaleuca oil is the only brand I know that is not caustic, perfectly safe and actually penetrates into the gum so it gets to the root of the soreness and not just topically like a Baby Orajel.

God Bless and Congratulations on the little one!

M.

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J.B.

answers from Columbia on

The teething process is quite different in different babies. The average baby gets the first tooth around 7 months, but has been drooling, biting, and having periods of fretfulness from the age of 3 or 4 months.
So she seems to be right on schedule. Expect 3 to 4 months of the drool before the teeth start to pop in. Usually the bottom 2 front come in first.
Congrats on your baby!! They are wonderful, arent they? I love babies.
I used to be a single mother in Gaston also. I have since married and moved, but it was real rough being alone. I changed every single diaper my boy messed in (except while in day care). It was very hard. But kudos to you. It can be done, and done well. It is very hard work doing it alone, but it is worth every second.
Have you been a single mother the entire time? I was, throughout the entire pregnancy. I even had to drive myself to the hospital while in labor (and there was a wreck on the interstate at 4 am- I thought I was gonna have him in the car!! lol)
Keep up the good work! It is soooo worth it in the end, and you should be proud that you are doing this all alone and succeeding.

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C.R.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi A., I also have a four month old who is doing the same thing. I'm no expert but I did a little research and learned that 4 month olds droul because they do not control saliva very well. And 3-4 months is the beginning of the exploration stage for babies, so they put EVERYTHING in their mouths. My little one also chews on the nipple when she does not want anymore to drink . . . I can't rule out teething, but as long as she's not fussy, I would not worry. Hang in there, and I hope you see some little teeth soon!

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C.R.

answers from Atlanta on

My grandmother told me to give my infant a leather belt strip(cut from one of yours). It soothed both my sons gums and their teeth came through w/less pain &/or discomfort. My sons will be 28 & 29 yrs old this year. Also, both my grandchildren benefited from the old leather teething strip. Remember, the barber sharpens his straight razor on a leather strip.
Granni513

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L.B.

answers from Atlanta on

try putting water on a washcloth and freeze it. Then let her gnaw on them one at a time. The cold will help soothe and the washcloth will give her substance to chew on.
For fever I used tylenol and/or motrin.
We all get our teeth when we get them. There is no real time.
Being a parent is not making a wrong or right choice, it is making the best choice with what we have.

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