Fact Check: Is Teething Fever Real? What About Teething Rash?

Many parents will recognise this scenario. Your little one is teething and is clearly uncomfortable. As well as the usual discomfort and niggling, you’re sure they’re feeling a little warmer than usual and have noticed an irritated, pink patch on their cheeks. Should you be worried? Is this just another symptom of teething or is it something else?

This worry is completely understandable. As parents we can be hyper aware of changes in our child. When babies can’t communicate for themselves, we can only use our best judgement about what to do (and erm, Google, which I’m sure has led to many sleepless nights for parents too!)

This article aims to clear up a little bit of that confusion and help you make the right call when it comes to teething fever.

Is teething fever real?

Teething rash and teething fever are frequently mentioned as teething symptoms - unfortunately, rashes and fever can be symptoms of many other things. All which can run through a parents mind! 6 months, the age that teething often occurs, is the same age that babies begin to get sick more often as their natural immunity from the womb wears off. This is normal but can make things even more confusing.

Various studies have not been able to find a definite link between teething and fever, but this doesn’t mean babies and toddlers don’t get hot and bothered when they’re teething. This, however, is different to a fever which is defined medically as 100.4 F or 38C or above. See how to take your baby’s temperature here and find out what’s normal for your baby’s age.

One thing we don’t want to do is put a higher temperature down to teething and potentially miss other problems or illnesses. Of course, if your baby’s temperature is reading high on the thermometer (close to what’s defined as a fever) then you should consult your doctor - but if it’s only slightly raised that’s a harder call to make.

To figure out if you should take further action, make a note of the other symptoms that your baby has. If your baby has a slightly raised temperature but no other symptoms aside from teeth cutting through, their usual teething crankiness, drooling, or fussiness then it’s likely your baby is experiencing what has been described as “teething fever”.

If, however, they have a runny or blocked nose, a rash or a temperature running high and other symptoms not consistent with or alongside teething then you should consult your doctor.

What about teething rash?

What’s referred to as teething rash is often caused by irritation from copious amounts of drooling. Really, it should be called “drooling rash”! Drooling can irritate the skin, not to mention the constant wiping that’s needed. As a result, skin around the face can often look and feel red and irritated.

If there’s a rash on the body rather than just the neck and face - this could be something else and is very unlikely to be related to teething so you should get it checked out.

Soothe teething pain

Soothing teething pain is something we know all about at Matchstick Monkey! Our Monkey teethers aren’t just created to be chomped on safely. They help you administer teething gel and granules too, right to the source of the pain. Specially shaped to safely get to where it hurts, they’re the perfect soother for any child who’s teething.