Teething Medicines for Babies: What Parents Need to Know

If your baby seems uncomfortable with teething, you may wonder whether they need medicine and, if so, which type is appropriate. For mild discomfort, medicine is not always necessary. The NHS recommends trying simple measures such as a suitable teething ring or gently rubbing the gums first.

If your baby appears to be in pain, sugar-free paracetamol or ibuprofen may sometimes be used for teething symptoms, provided the medicine is suitable for your child. Paracetamol can be given for teething symptoms from 2 months and ibuprofen from 3 months. For ibuprofen, NHS guidance also states that babies need to weigh more than 5kg.

Always check the instructions for the exact medicine you have. Children’s medicines come in different formulations and strengths, and suitability can depend on your baby’s age, weight and health. If anything is unclear, ask a pharmacist, GP or another qualified healthcare professional rather than guessing.

Does every teething baby need medicine?

No.

Some babies have very little discomfort as their teeth emerge. Others may have sore gums, become fretful or sleep less well for a short period.

The NHS recommends starting with simple teething measures. A teething ring gives your baby something safe to chew and may ease discomfort. Some rings can be chilled in the fridge if their instructions allow it.

You can also gently rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger.

Comfort and distraction may help too.

If those measures are enough, there is no reason to add medicine simply because your baby is teething.

What medicines can be used for teething pain?

The main pain-relieving medicines discussed in NHS guidance for teething are children’s paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Both are available as liquid medicines for young children.

The NHS recommends choosing sugar-free versions where possible because medicines containing sugar can contribute to tooth decay.

Neither medicine is right for every baby.

Read the packet and patient information leaflet carefully before giving any medicine, even if you have used the same brand previously.

Paracetamol for teething pain

Paracetamol is a commonly used painkiller for children and can help with teething pain.

NHS guidance says paracetamol can be given to relieve teething symptoms in babies and young children aged 2 months or older.

However, paracetamol is not suitable for every child. The correct amount depends on factors including the product, the child’s age and sometimes their weight.

Different children’s paracetamol products can also have different strengths.

For those reasons, use the instructions supplied with the medicine rather than relying on a dose remembered from another bottle or another child.

If you are uncertain, ask a pharmacist, doctor or nurse.

Ibuprofen for teething pain

Ibuprofen can also be used for teething pain in some babies.

The NHS says ibuprofen can be given to children aged 3 months or older who weigh more than 5kg.

It is not suitable for every child.

For example, NHS guidance says not to give ibuprofen to a child who is dehydrated or has chickenpox. If your child has asthma, you should ask a GP or pharmacist for advice before giving ibuprofen.

Check the medicine leaflet for any other reasons your baby should not take it.

If you are unsure, ask a pharmacist or doctor before giving a dose.

Which is better, paracetamol or ibuprofen?

There is no single teething medicine that is best for every baby.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen work differently, and both can relieve pain.

Which is suitable depends on your child’s age, weight, medical circumstances and the medicine you have available.

You do not need to automatically give both.

If you are unsure which medicine is the better choice for your baby, a pharmacist can help you decide.

Can you give paracetamol and ibuprofen together?

Do not routinely give paracetamol and ibuprofen at exactly the same time.

NHS guidance for children’s medicines says they should be given one at a time unless a doctor or nurse has provided different instructions.

For pain, including teething pain, NHS guidance says that if ibuprofen has been given and the child is still in pain an hour later, paracetamol can be tried. The medicines can then be alternated if pain continues, while giving only one medicine at a time and following the instructions for each product.

Keeping a written note of the medicine, time and dose can reduce the risk of mistakes.

If you are uncertain about combining or alternating medicines, ask a pharmacist or healthcare professional before doing so.

Why the exact product matters

It is easy to think of children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen as one standard medicine.

In reality, products can come in different strengths and formulations.

The dose printed for one bottle may not apply to another.

Always check:

The active ingredient
The medicine strength
Your baby’s age and any stated weight requirements
The amount recommended on the label or leaflet
How frequently it can be given
The maximum amount allowed
Any reasons your child should not take it

Use the measuring syringe, spoon or device supplied with the medicine where instructed.

Do not estimate a dose using an ordinary kitchen spoon.

Avoid accidental double dosing

Tired parents dealing with an unsettled baby can easily lose track of what has already been given.

Write down the name of the medicine, the amount and the time each dose was given.

This is especially useful if more than one adult is caring for your baby.

Check the ingredients in any other medicines your child is taking too.

For example, NHS guidance warns against giving another medicine containing paracetamol alongside children’s paracetamol because this could result in too much being given.

If you think your baby has received more medicine than the packet, leaflet or prescription recommends, get medical advice promptly. NHS guidance advises contacting NHS 111 for extra doses of paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Do not give aspirin for teething

Children under 16 should not be given aspirin unless it has been specifically prescribed by a doctor.

The NHS notes that aspirin in children has been linked with Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition.

Aspirin is therefore not an alternative teething painkiller for babies or young children.

If you do not have an appropriate children’s medicine available, ask a pharmacist rather than substituting an adult painkiller.

What about teething gels?

Teething gels are available, but they are not considered the first option.

The NHS says there is a lack of evidence that teething gels are effective and recommends trying teething rings or simple pain-relieving medicines first.

If you do use a gel, it needs to be one specifically designed for young children.

General oral pain-relief gels are not suitable for children.

Some infant teething products contain the local anaesthetic lidocaine. In the UK, oral lidocaine products authorised for infant teething are pharmacy medicines so parents and carers can receive professional advice about their correct use.

Why lidocaine teething products need care

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency reviewed oral lidocaine products used for infant teething and introduced additional safeguards around their use.

The MHRA recommends non-medicinal measures such as a teething ring or gum massage first.

Lidocaine-containing teething products should only be considered if those simple approaches have not provided enough relief.

If a pharmacist recommends one, read the patient information leaflet carefully and follow the directions.

Do not use more than one lidocaine-containing product at the same time.

Products containing lidocaine that are intended for adults or for other conditions, such as mouth ulcers, should not be used to treat infant teething pain.

Are homeopathic teething medicines recommended?

The NHS does not recommend homeopathic products for teething.

It also warns that some unlicensed homeopathic products advertised online have been linked with serious side effects.

A product being described as natural or homeopathic does not establish that it is safe for a baby.

If you are considering a remedy and cannot clearly establish what it contains, whether it is licensed or whether it is appropriate for your baby’s age, ask a pharmacist before using it.

Try non-medicinal comfort first

Medicine can be useful when a baby is genuinely in pain, but it does not need to be the first response to every teething sign.

The NHS suggests several simple approaches.

Offer a teething ring

A suitable teething ring can give your baby something safe to chew.

Some can be cooled in the fridge.

Do not freeze a teething ring because the NHS warns that a frozen ring could damage your baby’s gums.

Never tie one around your baby’s neck.

Massage the gums

Wash your hands and gently rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger.

If your baby does not seem to like it, stop and try another comfort measure.

Offer comfort and distraction

Cuddling, playing or talking to your baby may help distract them from sore gums.

Some babies simply want a little more reassurance while a tooth is coming through.

How do you know it is teething?

It is easy to blame teething for almost any unsettled behaviour during the first few years, but not every symptom is caused by emerging teeth.

The NHS lists possible teething symptoms including:

Sore and red gums
One flushed cheek
Increased dribbling
More chewing and gnawing
Ear rubbing
Increased fretfulness
Poorer sleep
A facial rash
A slightly raised temperature below 38°C

Some babies have very few symptoms.

If your baby seems genuinely ill, do not assume teething is the reason simply because they are also chewing or dribbling.

Teething and fever

The NHS says teething may be associated with a slightly raised temperature below 38°C.

A temperature of 38°C or above is a fever and should not simply be put down to teething.

If your baby has a fever, follow current NHS advice for fever in children and seek medical help when appropriate.

Giving a painkiller may reduce discomfort or temperature, but it does not tell you what is causing the fever.

Teething and diarrhoea

The NHS says there is no evidence that teething causes diarrhoea.

If your baby has diarrhoea, vomiting or appears unwell, consider another cause rather than treating the symptoms as part of teething.

Babies can become dehydrated more easily than adults, so follow NHS advice and seek medical help if you are worried.

What if medicine does not seem to help?

If your baby remains very distressed after an appropriate medicine has been given according to its instructions, do not simply keep increasing the dose.

Check that you have used the correct product and followed its directions.

If you are unsure, contact a pharmacist or NHS 111.

Persistent or severe pain may need assessment because the cause may not be teething.

A baby can have an ear infection, another illness or a different source of discomfort at the same time as teeth are emerging.

How long should you use pain relief?

Teething pain is usually temporary.

Follow the instructions for the particular medicine and do not continue giving it for longer than recommended without professional advice.

NHS guidance for children’s paracetamol says not to give it for more than 3 days without speaking to a doctor or pharmacist.

NHS guidance for ibuprofen says children aged 6 months or older should not receive it for more than 3 days without speaking to a doctor. For babies aged 3 to 5 months, medical advice is recommended if symptoms do not improve within 24 hours or get worse.

If your baby repeatedly seems to need medicine for teething, speak to a pharmacist, health visitor or GP.

Store medicines safely

Children’s medicines should be kept somewhere your baby and other children cannot reach them.

Follow any storage instructions on the bottle or packaging.

Keep the medicine with its original label, leaflet and measuring device.

This makes it easier to check the strength, expiry date and instructions each time you use it.

Do not transfer children’s medicine into an unlabelled container.

Check expiry dates periodically and ask a pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer need.

A simple approach to teething pain

If your baby seems uncomfortable, you can keep the process straightforward.

Look for familiar signs of teething and check that your baby does not appear unwell.
Try a suitable teething ring, gentle gum massage and comfort.
If your baby appears to be in pain, check whether an appropriate children’s painkiller is suitable.
Read the medicine instructions carefully and use the correct measuring device.
Keep a note of what you give and when.
Do not exceed the recommended amount or frequency.
Ask a pharmacist if you are considering a medicinal teething gel.
Seek professional advice if symptoms are severe, unusual or persistent.

You do not need to medicate every teething episode.

Equally, you do not have to avoid appropriate pain relief if your baby is clearly uncomfortable and the medicine is suitable for them.

When to get professional advice

Ask a pharmacist, GP, health visitor or another qualified healthcare professional if you are unsure which teething medicine is suitable for your baby, how to use it or whether it can be given alongside another medicine.

Contact NHS 111 or a GP if your baby seems unwell, remains very distressed, has persistent or significant pain, or has symptoms that concern you.

A temperature of 38°C or above should not simply be attributed to teething. The NHS says teething may be associated with a slightly raised temperature below 38°C, and there is no evidence that teething causes diarrhoea.

Get medical advice promptly if you think your baby has received more paracetamol or ibuprofen than the packet, leaflet or prescription recommends.

Seek urgent medical help if your baby has severe difficulty breathing, is difficult to wake, has a seizure or appears seriously unwell.