Teething at 4 Months: Safe Ways to Soothe Your Baby

Yes—you can offer gentle, nonmedicated comfort if your 4-month-old seems to have sore gums. Try rubbing the gums with a clean finger or offering a clean, damp washcloth chilled in the refrigerator while you watch your baby closely.

A solid teether made for your baby’s age is another option; chill it in the refrigerator rather than freezing it, since a very hard, frozen surface can hurt tender gums. Follow its cleaning instructions, inspect it for damage before each use, and stay with your baby whenever they have something to chew.

Skip teething gels containing benzocaine or lidocaine, homeopathic teething tablets, and amber teething necklaces; these are not safe ways to soothe a baby’s gums. Before giving any pain medicine, ask your pediatrician what is appropriate for your baby and what dose to use—especially because ibuprofen is generally not used before 6 months unless a clinician directs you to give it.

Drooling and chewing at 4 months do not always mean a tooth is coming in, so consider other causes if your baby seems unwell. Contact your pediatrician if your baby has a fever of 100.4°F or higher, is feeding poorly, or has symptoms that concern you rather than assuming teething is the cause.

You can alternate a brief gum massage with a chilled washcloth or age-appropriate teether and see which your baby prefers. For more on tooth timing and everyday care, read our guide to your baby’s first tooth; our Baby’s First Tooth Tips Ebook is also part of our parenting guides.