My little guy is almost 6 months and for the past week he's been super cranky, drooling all over everything, and chewing on his hands like they're made of chocolate or something. But also, he sometimes gets like this when he's overtired or gassy, so I'm not totally sure if it's teething or just... being a baby? He hasn't had a fever, but his cheeks are a bit red and he keeps waking up at night, which is new for him.
Is there anything that's a dead giveaway for teething? Or is it just a combo of a bunch of stuff? I feel like I’m second-guessing every little thing lately. Curious what other parents noticed first—was it the drool, the biting, the sleep issues, or something else? Also, is there anything that actually helps, or do you just ride it out?
I totally get where you're coming from—my little one started acting the same way around that age and I kept going back and forth between “teething” and “just being fussy.” Honestly, for us, the red cheeks and constant chewing were the biggest hints, but sometimes it really is just a mix of things. I know people say drooling is a sure sign, but my kid drooled for months before any teeth showed up, so I’m not convinced it’s always teething. The only thing that really helped was letting her gnaw on a cold washcloth... everything else was hit or miss. Hang in there—it's tough not knowing!
I know people say drooling is a sure sign, but my kid drooled for months before any teeth showed up, so I’m not convinced it’s always teething.
That’s been our experience too—drooling alone just isn’t a reliable indicator. My son started drooling at four months and didn’t cut his first tooth until almost eight months later. We saw the same thing with the red cheeks and chewing, but honestly, it was tough to tell what was “teething” and what was just a cranky day.
I found that keeping track of patterns helped a bit… like if he was extra clingy or had trouble sleeping several nights in a row, sometimes a tooth would pop through soon after. But there were plenty of false alarms too. The cold washcloth trick worked here as well—he wanted nothing to do with teething rings, but a chilly cloth was magic.
It’s definitely frustrating not knowing for sure, but you’re not alone in feeling that way. Babies have their own mysterious timelines, and sometimes all you can do is try different things and hope something sticks. Hang in there—it does get easier to spot the signs over time.
Yeah, drool is basically baby glitter—it gets everywhere and means nothing half the time. For us, the only real “aha” was when I could actually feel that sharp little ridge on the gum. Otherwise, it’s a guessing game mixed with a lot of laundry.
For us, the only real “aha” was when I could actually feel that sharp little ridge on the gum.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from—teething signs are all over the place and can look a lot like regular baby fussiness. The red cheeks and drool are classic, but like @previous poster said, drool alone doesn’t prove much (and it really does get everywhere). For me, the big clue was when my kid started gnawing on literally anything—fingers, toys, even the edge of the playmat. Sometimes you can feel a little bump or sharp spot on the gums, but not always.
The sleep thing is tough. Teething can definitely mess with their sleep, but so can growth spurts or just random baby stuff. I usually looked for a combo: more chewing than usual, crankier than his “normal,” and sometimes those flushed cheeks.
As for helping, a chilled (not frozen) teething ring seemed to give some relief. I’d avoid gels unless you’ve talked to your doc. Honestly, sometimes it’s just about distraction and extra cuddles until that tooth pops through. It’s a guessing game, but you’re not alone in second-guessing everything.
