Soothing Soreness

Distraction. "Teething pain is like headache pain -- it causes chronic, low-grade discomfort," says Casamassimo. So while an achy baby may be irritable, you can often soothe her by doubling up on one-on-one time or offering her a toy she's never seen before. Kristine Chamberlain of Belmont, Massachusetts, plays music for her 18-month-old daughter to dance to. And don't underestimate the healing power of touch: A little extra cuddling on the sofa may be all that's needed to take a child's mind off the turmoil in her mouth.

Massage. If the tooth is still deep in the gum and hasn't formed a painful bruise, counterpressure or friction where it's about to erupt can work wonders. "My daughter, Eliza, loved to mouth the rail of her crib, so to protect her teeth and the crib, I covered the rail with soft plastic strips she could chomp on to her heart's content," says Parenting staffer Maura Rhodes. If your baby's gums seem too tender for such measures, try massaging them with your clean finger (bare or wrapped in a washcloth).

Chill the pain. "Both our kids were soothed by 'fake Popsicles.' We'd keep them in the refrigerator and pull them out whenever someone was hurting," says Tia Scott of Brentwood, Tennessee, mom of Lara, 8, and Kira, 2. Heather Hill, mom of 3-year-old Sean, found a special pacifier with bumps on it. "I bought several of them and kept them in the fridge," says the Jackson, Michigan, mom.

Since nothing will stay cool for long in a baby's warm little mouth, you may be tempted to put teething rings in the freezer. But don't, since infant skin is very sensitive, says Dr. McCoy. A teether that's frozen solid could actually do more harm than good to a baby's tender gums when she chomps down on it. Medicate when necessary. Some parents swear by over-the-counter local anesthetics (like Anbesol or Orajel). Be sure to follow directions: They can make a baby sick if overused (more than four doses a day or for more than two weeks). If your baby's too uncomfortable to sleep, acetaminophen may help. Be judicious, though: Reserve the drops for nap- or nighttime, and rely on other methods when the baby's awake.

Teething may be heralded by tears, but with a little help, your baby will have a lifetime of happy smiles.