Every parent will tell you of the joys of teething. The classic signs are that your baby may seem a bit off-colour and irritable. They may have redder than usual cheeks, sometimes just on one side, and may slobber much more than usual. They usually look to chew things, and keep putting their fingers in their mouth. And the real killer…they don’t sleep very well…at all!

What to do? Well teething rings definitely help – you can even get ones that go in the fridge first and these seem to have an added benefit. Anaesthetic gels offer limited relief – they are washed away pretty quickly but by all means try them if you are desperate. Be careful to read the instructions for the gels carefully and make sure you don’t over-use them

You can expect the first of the teeth to erupt (that means break through the gums) any time from three months, but more usually six months. The first teeth to come through are usually the lower front teeth. Teething carries on until about the age of 2 years, when all 20 first teeth should have come through. Don’t worry if they are behind schedule, often teeth come through later than expected. If you are concerned about anything, simply go and see your dentist.