“Can I give my 3 month old teething gel?”

Your 3 months old does NOT need teething gel. The numbing medicine is toxic and easily absorbed from the mouth lining. It can cause heart rhythm problems that can be life-threatening. There are safe rubber toys to help with teething. If the infant is fussy despite chewing on those, there may be another cause for it, like being hungry, having a wet diaper and a sore diaper rash, needing human interaction, or even having colic.

I hope this helps,
Sincerely,
Dr. Tania Condurache 

It's unlikely that your 3 month old is teething -- teething pain typically doesn't appear until at least 4-5 mos of age for babies born at term. Regardless, "teething gel" is no longer recommended as it was determined to be unsafe for babies. Same with the frozen or cold teething rings -- they can cause frostbite on the gums. Ibuprofen orally can help with generalized pain or discomfort -- hard teething rings and such are good also. Homeopathic teething remedies that contain clove oil can be helpful.

Shelley C. Springer, MD, MBA, MSc, JD, FAAP
Pediatrician/Neonatologist
Casper Children's Center, LLC