Signs of Teething in a 6-Month-Old

Your baby will likely begin teething by 6 months of age, but he may start as young as 3 months or as old as 12 months of age. All signs and symptoms of teething should be concentrated around your baby's mouth, not in other areas of his body. Teething symptoms usually begin up to five days before the teeth emerge through the gums and subside immediately afterward. If your baby has severe signs or symptoms that don't go away, consult your family doctor or pediatrician.

Drooling

One of the most common signs of teething in a 6-month-old infant is drooling, which can begin as early as two months prior to the teeth erupting through the gums. Increased saliva production and drooling can also cause a rash on your baby's chest or face, particularly his chin, notes the University of Michigan Health System.

Fussiness & Irritability

Your baby may become increasingly fussy, irritable and cranky while teething. Some signs of restlessness may also occur in your teething infant, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Being slightly fussier than usual is a normal sign of teething, but you should take your baby to see a doctor if he becomes very upset or acts sick.

Chewing, Biting and Rubbing

You may notice that your 6-month-old baby is chewing and biting on objects or rubbing his gums. A common sign of teething is babies biting or chewing on toys or their fingers, notes the University of Michigan Health System. You'll likely see that your teething baby is chewing on hard objects, sucking on his fingers more often than normal or rubbing his gums and even his ears, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Swollen and Sensitive Gums

While teething and before the teeth emerge, your baby may have swollen and sensitive gums, especially in the area where the teeth are pushing through. This mild swelling of the gums often produces pressure, which causes many of the other teething symptoms, notes the University of Michigan Health System. You may also see tiny white spots on your baby's gums just before the teeth poke through, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Decreased Appetite

Due to the discomfort and pressure on your baby's gums from teething, he may refuse to eat solid foods or have a decreased appetite for certain foods, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Babies sometimes don't want to eat or drink while teething because of the pain in their mouth.