Watching your baby reach milestones is one of the most exciting parts of parenthood. From the first smile to the first steps, these milestones are moments to cherish. But there's another significant milestone that often goes unnoticed until it happens- teething. While it may not be celebrated with the same enthusiasm as a baby's first word or crawl, teething is an inevitable part of your baby's growth.

Understanding the signs of teething, knowing what to expect, and being prepared to ease your baby’s discomfort will make this experience much smoother for both of you.

When Does Teething Begin?

Babies typically start teething around 4 to 7 months of age, though the timing can vary. Genetics play a large role in when your baby gets their first tooth. Some babies may sprout their first tooth as early as 3 months, while others may not get their first tooth until they are over a year old. This variance is completely normal, and no cause for concern. The two central incisors — the front teeth- usually emerge first, either in the upper or lower gum. These are followed by the opposite front teeth, the molars, and then the canines or eye teeth.

By the age of 3, most children will have all 20 of their primary teeth. These baby teeth will eventually be replaced by 32 permanent teeth by the time they reach their teenage years.

What Are the Signs of Teething?

Teething can be uncomfortable for your baby, but it’s important to recognize the signs so you can respond appropriately. While the exact symptoms may vary from one baby to another, the following are some common signs that your baby may be cutting their first teeth:

Increased Drooling

One of the first signs of teething is excessive drooling. As your baby’s gums swell in preparation for a new tooth, they may begin drooling more than usual.

Chewing and Biting

Teething babies often seek relief by chewing on anything they can find, from toys to their own fingers. This helps soothe the pressure in their gums.

Irritability

The discomfort of teething can make your baby fussy or irritable. They may cry more than usual, especially when trying to sleep or eat.

Slight Fever

It’s common for babies to run a mild fever while teething. If your baby’s temperature rises above 101°F (38.3°C), however, it may be a sign of an illness rather than teething.

Tender, Swollen Gums

As teeth push through the gums, they can become red, swollen, and tender. Your baby may rub their gums with their hands or chew on hard objects to ease the discomfort.

Teething doesn’t always cause distress. Some babies sail through the process without much trouble, while others may experience significant discomfort. Either way, it’s important to watch for these signs so you can care for your baby during this phase.

What Symptoms Are NOT Related to Teething?

While teething can cause discomfort, there are some symptoms that should not be attributed to it. These include:

• High Fever: A fever over 101°F (38.3°C) is unlikely to be caused by teething and could indicate an infection or illness.
• Rash: A rash on the body, face, or near the mouth may be a sign of something other than teething.
• Diarrhea or Vomiting: These gastrointestinal symptoms are not related to teething and should prompt a call to your pediatrician.
• Cough or Congestion: Respiratory issues such as coughing or nasal congestion are signs of a cold or another illness, not teething.

If your baby develops any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult your pediatrician for further guidance.

Teething Timeline: When Will Teeth Appear?

The timing of your baby’s tooth eruption follows a general pattern, but there can be plenty of variation. Here's a guideline for when you can expect your baby’s teeth to come in:

Lower Teeth:

- Central Incisor: 6–10 months

- Lateral Incisor: 10–16 months

- Canine (Cuspid): 17–23 months

- First Molar: 14–18 months

- Second Molar: 23–31 months

Upper Teeth:

- Central Incisor: 8–12 months

- Lateral Incisor: 9–13 months

- Canine (Cuspid): 16–22 months

- First Molar: 13–19 months

- Second Molar: 25–33 months

Every child is different, and the order of tooth eruption may differ slightly, but this general timeline can help parents understand what to expect.

Easing Teething Discomfort: Tips for Parents

Teething can be a challenging time, but there are several ways to ease your baby’s discomfort. Keep in mind that while some babies experience only minor irritation, others may feel more significant pain. Here are some effective methods to soothe your teething baby:

Gentle Gum Massage

Using a clean finger, gently massage your baby’s gums. This can provide some relief by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation.

Teething Rings

A cool teething ring can be a great option for soothing sore gums. Make sure to choose one made from firm rubber, as softer rings may be too squishy to provide relief. Avoid freezing teething rings, as they can become too hard and potentially cause harm to your baby’s delicate gums.

Cold Compress

A cool compress can also provide some comfort. Try placing a spoon in the refrigerator (not the freezer) and applying it to your baby’s gums. Just be sure to avoid using metal spoons if your baby has any teeth already, as they could potentially chip the tooth.

When to Call the Paediatrician

While teething can cause discomfort, it should not result in serious illness. If your baby develops a fever higher than 101°F (38.3°C) or exhibits symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea, consult your paediatrician. If the teething symptoms seem unusually severe or persist for a prolonged period, don’t hesitate to reach out for medical advice.

When Should You Take Your Baby to the Dentist?

It’s recommended that your baby see a dentist within 6 months of their first tooth appearing, or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. Pediatric dentists are trained to care for infants and young children, and you can find one through the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s website.

Cleaning Your Baby’s New Teeth

As soon as your baby’s first tooth erupts, it’s important to start a cleaning routine. Use a soft, child-sized toothbrush with a smear of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice. Avoid letting your baby fall asleep with a bottle, as milk can pool around their teeth and encourage tooth decay.

What to Avoid

It’s important to avoid certain practices when soothing teething discomfort. For instance, never use over-the-counter teething gels containing benzocaine or lidocaine, as they can be harmful to babies and cause serious health risks. Amber teething necklaces, while popular, can pose choking hazards and should be avoided. Always consult your pediatrician before trying any new methods for relieving teething pain.

Teething is a challenging but inevitable phase of your baby’s development. While it can cause discomfort and irritability, understanding the signs and knowing how to ease the pain can help both you and your baby navigate this milestone with less stress.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is conducting a comprehensive review of infant formula ingredients. It was initiated under the guidance of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as part of his "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, pledging to overhaul the U.S. food supply.

Behind this action is a mounting concern: although infant formula is still a staple for scores of American families, the science and nutritional criteria used to produce it have not materially changed since 1998. With changing worldwide research on infant nutrition and increasingly anxious parents worrying about contaminants, additives, and ingredient disclosure, this review could not be more timely.

Roughly 75% of U.S. infants are dependent on formula for the first six months, and for nearly 40%, it is the exclusive source of nutrition, as the CDC reports. In spite of world campaigns promoting exclusive breastfeeding, infant formula has emerged as a lifeline for parents who are unable—or unwilling—to breastfeed because of medical concerns, work schedules, or personal preference.

Formula is made to imitate breast milk of human women and usually comes from cow milk or soy. According to present FDA guidelines, every infant formula product is required to have 30 nutrients essential for infants in specific proportions. Yet, the technology of infants' digestion and nutrition requirements has progressed immensely, leading experts to wonder if the standards are yet sufficient.

Why Is The Government's Pushing for Nutritional Transparency?

Secretary Kennedy's call to action comes as part of a comprehensive national effort to enhance the U.S. food supply chain. The review is happening in the face of increasing parental distrust and industry trends which indicate that existing rules might not be completely in accordance with recent worldwide research on infant feeding. This effort will take into consideration an array of factors, including:

• Nutrient content and bioavailability
• Incidence of contaminants such as heavy metals
• Variations in international nutritional standards
• Possible threats from added sugars and seed oils

There is a planned roundtable discussion where scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers will engage in a debate on infant formula in the U.S. The FDA currently invites public and expert comment until the September 11 deadline.

What Are The Ingredients in Infant Formula?

Although the current formula is deemed safe, scientists insist that modern science highlights new nutritional findings not necessarily captured by existing rules. The FDA's 30-list of essential nutrients has not changed much since the 90s—even though studies on breast milk composition have dramatically changed.

Some of the main issues under consideration are:

Iron Content: American formulas generally have more iron content than European ones. Iron is crucial but, like too much of anything, could have unexpected side effects, so a rethinking may be in order.

DHA and HMOs: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are recent additions designed to make formula as much like human milk as possible. Yet these are not necessary in every product.

Added Sugars: Corn syrup solids and glucose are common in certain formulas and can be responsible for early weight gain. Lactose, the natural sugar found in breast milk, is a better option.

Seed Oils: Widely maligned by health activists, seed oils are nevertheless essential to matching the fatty acid profile of breast milk, according to experts.

Bridget Young, an infant nutritionist at the University of Rochester, pressed the point to examine beyond ingredient labels to consider bioavailability—how well the body can absorb and utilize these foods.

Kennedy's bill also seems to be in response to lessons gleaned from the 2022 formula shortage, when contamination of an Abbott plant caused a national shortage. Parents frantically sought to get safe food into their babies, demonstrating how weak and undiversified the U.S. formula supply chain really is.

More compatibility with global standards, analysts contend, would have alleviated the shortage by facilitating faster importation of safe foreign-made brands. Kennedy's proposal seeks to avoid such disruptions by increasing regulatory leeway and strengthening safety protocols.

Should Parents Be Worried?

Some parents have in the last few years opted for European infant formulas, deeming them to be more healthy because of variations in ingredient listings and the degree of labeling transparency.

Though European and American recipes vary in iron levels or forms of sugar, neither is inherently superior. Each is constructed within a distinct regulatory and cultural context.

Rather than advocating for one over the other, Kennedy's report aims to take the best from both worlds merging U.S. regulation with evidence-driven international nutritional research.

What Parents Need to Know Before Buying Baby Formula

While no short-term changes are being implemented to the amount or type of infant formula available on retail shelves, the review is a significant departure from the manner in which the federal government plans to regulate the nutrition of babies.

The review will take a minimum of one year and will require coordination among government, industry, pediatric nutritionists, and consumers. Abrams cautions that this cannot be a cosmetic effort: "No shortcuts are possible. No one white paper or committee report will suffice."

For the moment, health professionals are assuring parents that infant formulas available today are still safe and nutritionally adequate. But the future could bring formulas that are not only safe but even more biologically relevant and designed to the most recent science regarding infant development.

Kids love copying their parents, whether it is because they wish to act like grown-up or just wish to feel connected to them. However, what we may not have realized is that the eating habits of our parents can unknowingly seep into our own lifestyle, especially our parents’.

A father's eating habits can have a big effect on what their children eat, even before those children are born, according to a new study. Men who ate healthy as teenagers were more likely to show good eating habits to their own kids and keep a close eye on what their children consumed. Habits like eating healthy, exercising and other healthy lifestyle choices are something one should teach their child. These findings were shared at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando, Florida.

Teen Habits Shape Future Dads

Researchers explained that fathers who ate healthier as teenagers were more likely to encourage positive food habits in their children. She noted that these fathers were better at modeling healthy eating—showing good dietary habits themselves—and monitoring how many unhealthy foods, like certain sweets and snacks, their children ate.

For this study, researchers looked at information from 669 men. These men had filled out questionnaires about their eating habits when they were teenagers. Years later, in 2021 and 2022, when they had children aged 1 to 6, researchers asked them about their kids' diets. The men in the study were initially part of a larger study in the 1990s and 2000s and had completed at least two diet surveys during their teen years.

The researchers used a common tool called the Healthy Eating Index to score how well the men ate. A higher score meant eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and lean proteins. It also meant eating less refined grains, salt, added sugars, and unhealthy fats. This tool helped them clearly see the quality of the men's diets.

Teen Diet Quality Varied, with Clear Outcomes

The study found that as teenagers:

• About 44% of the men had a poor diet.
• Around 40% had their diet quality get worse over time.
• Only 16% had a diet that improved and became healthier as they grew up.

The results showed that men whose diets improved during their teenage years were 90% more likely to show healthy eating habits to their kids as fathers. They were also 60% more likely to keep an eye on what their children ate.

Healthier Next Generation

Because these fathers had healthier habits, their children were much more likely to eat the daily recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. This difference was especially clear when compared to kids whose dads had unhealthy diets as teenagers.

The research highlighted that healthy eating habits developed during the teen years don't just help individuals, but also influence how they parent in the future, leading to better nutrition for the next generation. This finding is particularly important given the rising concerns about childhood obesity and poor diets. Investing in good nutrition for teenagers, including boys, can create long-lasting benefits that extend across many generations.

India has made commendable progress in maternal health over the past few years. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) dropped from 130 deaths per 100,000 live births (2014–16) to 97 in 2018–19. Yet, experts argue that now is the time to move beyond just reducing deaths—towards strengthening maternal well-being, long-term recovery, and dignity.

Girish Agarwal, co-founder and COO of Zeno Health, a generic medicine delivery brand, shares, as reported in India Today, how improving access to essential medicines can be the next big step in this journey.

The Hidden Cost of Nutritional Deficiencies

Maternal nutrition is often reduced to calorie intake—but that’s only part of the picture. True maternal health depends on access to key micronutrients that support foetal growth, improve maternal immunity, and speed up postpartum recovery.

However, deficiencies remain a significant problem. As per the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21), 52.2% of pregnant women in India are anaemic. This is more than a health statistic; it signals a gap in equitable access to vital care—particularly among low-income and rural households.

These deficiencies are linked to complications such as low birth weight, premature delivery, and chronic fatigue after childbirth. Fortunately, many of these issues can be prevented with consistent access to supplements and timely medical care.

Moving from Crisis to Continuity

While antenatal care in India has improved, postnatal care remains uneven—especially in underserved areas. According to a 2023 NITI Aayog report, women in rural regions are almost twice as likely to face complications post-childbirth compared to those in urban settings.

This disparity points to more than just inadequate infrastructure. It highlights the need for sustained and affordable healthcare models that work in real-world conditions—beyond just big cities and well-funded hospitals.

Generics: A Scalable, Affordable Solution

One of the most practical ways to close this gap is through high-quality generic medicines and supplements. These can drastically cut costs for families without compromising on efficacy.

However, affordability alone is not enough. Generic medicines must be embedded in a system of trust and accessibility. That means empowering pharmacists, making generics part of regular health conversations, and ensuring last-mile delivery systems that work consistently across geographies.

Building Trust in What’s Affordable

There’s a persistent myth that affordable means inferior. To shift this perception, public confidence in generic medicines must be reinforced through transparent communication, pharmacist training, and quality assurance.

Generic medicines shouldn’t be seen as second-best. They can help transform maternal healthcare from a series of emergency interventions to a continuous, proactive care system. With the right support, they offer not just cost savings—but a path to health equity and long-term maternal well-being.