How to Stop Baby From Chewing on Cribs: 7 Tips
A few years ago, I was concerned about my then six-month-old daughter, Avery because she kept chewing on the crib for a while. She’ll chew on the crib and then look so happy about it too! Gosh, that cute little thing (not so little anymore though!)
The good news is that chewing itself is normal and expected. What matters is what your baby is chewing on, and whether the crib is in good enough condition that it doesn’t matter.
I’ll share everything I’ve learned about how to stop baby from chewing on cribs, why they chew in the first place, when it’s actually a problem, and the one approach you’ll see recommended online that you should not use.
Checked against AAP, FDA and CPSC guidance in September 2026. Next review: March 2027. Reviewed by [REVIEWER NAME, CREDENTIAL].
Table of Contents
Why Does My Baby Chew on a Crib?
Mouthing objects is how babies explore, and it ramps up from around four to six months as they gain the coordination to bring things to their mouth deliberately. A crib rail happens to be the right height, the right hardness, and always there.
- It’s an expected stage, not a behavioural problem. It usually settles once the teeth are through and the novelty wears off.
- Babies chew on cribs for several reasons: teething discomfort, self-soothing, plain exploration, or wanting your attention. Your baby may even refuse bottle-feeding during teething.
1. Teething
Teething is the most common reason behind the chewing. First teeth usually arrive between four and seven months, and the pressure of biting on something firm genuinely does relieve sore gums.
- Counter-pressure is what helps. A chilled (not frozen) teether, a clean damp washcloth cooled in the fridge, or gentle pressure on the gums with a clean finger all work, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exactly these.
- Teething does not cause illness. It can cause drooling, irritability and mild gum swelling — but a fever, diarrhoea or a rash is a separate illness that happens to coincide, and it needs treating on its own terms.
2. Self-Soothing
Repetitive mouthing is one of the ways babies settle themselves, in much the same way that sucking a thumb or a pacifier is. It tends to show up most at bedtime, when your baby is winding down without you in the room.
3. To Explore
Your baby is new to this world, and they explore it using every sense they have — which at this age means mostly the mouth. Texture, temperature and hardness all get tested this way.
My son, Aiden, was super-active as a baby, exploring every nook and piece of furniture in the house. He used to chew on not only his crib but also the stuffed toys and the stroller.
You may also like: When Can Baby Have Stuffed Animals in Their Cribs?
4. Bored or Wants Your Attention
Sometimes a baby chews simply because there is nothing else going on.
In this case, I’d suggest keeping your baby occupied with teething toys. I used the same trick with my kids to keep them busy while I did house chores.
Kelleigh’s Quick Tip: If the chewing seems aimed at getting you back in the room, try not to react to it every time — but do check whether they’re actually uncomfortable first. Attention-seeking and teething pain look very similar from the doorway.
Is It Dangerous If a Baby Chews on Their Crib?
Usually not, and it helps to be precise about what the actual risk is.
- Paint is not the concern on a modern crib. Cribs sold in the US must meet federal lead limits under the CPSIA and comply with the CPSC crib safety standards that came into force in 2011. A baby gnawing a compliant, undamaged rail is not being poisoned.
- The condition of the wood is the concern. Splinters, a finish that has been chewed away, raised or flaking varnish, or any piece small enough to break off are genuine choking and injury risks. Run your hand along the rail weekly.
- Older and second-hand cribs are a different matter. A crib made before 2011, or one you cannot identify, may predate both the lead limits and the current structural standard. Check it against the CPSC recall list, and if you cannot establish its age, don’t use it. The same caution applies if your crib or mattress is old.
How to Stop Baby from Chewing on Cribs?
These are the approaches that actually work, in the order I’d try them.
1. Provide Safe Alternatives for Teething
If sore gums are driving the chewing, give your baby something better to bite. This is the fix that addresses the cause rather than the symptom.
- Solid silicone teethers and rubber teethers are the safest bet. Chill them in the fridge — never the freezer, since a rock-hard teether can bruise gums.
- Choose a size and shape your baby cannot fit wholly into their mouth.
- Skip teething necklaces, bracelets and amber beads entirely. The FDA has warned about strangulation and choking deaths linked to teething jewelry.
Kelleigh’s Tip: Follow the cleaning instructions that came with the teether rather than boiling everything. Many silicone toys tolerate boiling, but liquid- and gel-filled teethers can rupture and some plastics warp. Whatever the material, inspect it every few days for splits, and bin it the moment the surface breaks.
2. Fit a Crib Rail Cover
A fitted rail cover is the practical fix if your little one won’t stop chewing the rail. It puts a safe surface between your baby’s teeth and the wood, and protects the crib finish at the same time. I recommended one to a friend when her son started chewing his.
- Buy one made for your crib model, or measure the rail before ordering. A cover that slides, gaps or bunches is worse than none — it becomes something loose in the crib.
- Check the fit every few days. Replace it once it is chewed through, split, or no longer sits tight. Rail covers are aftermarket accessories and fall outside the federal crib standard, so the fit is entirely on you to monitor.
Also, be careful: your baby might accidentally hit their head on the crib in their eagerness to chew on something.
3. Consistent Redirecting
Be present where you can, and give your baby something else to do with their hands and mouth. Play sessions, lullabies, teething toys and music all work. Lifting them out of the crib as soon as they wake, rather than leaving them to chew the rail, breaks the habit loop quickly.
4. Keep the Rail Clean
A chewed rail collects saliva and dust, so it’s worth wiping down regularly. This is ordinary hygiene rather than an urgent health measure — a clean-ish crib rail is not going to make your baby sick.
- Warm water and a little mild soap is enough for routine cleaning. Wipe, rinse with clean water, and let it air dry fully.
- If you want to disinfect, use a product labelled as a disinfectant and safe for nursery use, and follow its contact time. Diluted vinegar cuts grease and deodorises but is not a disinfectant, so don’t rely on it to kill anything.
- Let the crib dry completely before making it up again, and vacuum any debris. Same principle applies to the crib mattress.
5. Watch, and Adjust as They Grow
Keep an eye on how the chewing changes. If it’s worst at bedtime, teething is the likely driver. If it happens whenever you leave the room, it’s more about you than their gums.
- Expect this to take weeks rather than days. It’s a stage, and it passes on its own timetable.
6. Lower the Mattress
If your baby’s mouth sits right at rail height when they pull up to stand, the rail is simply the easiest thing to reach. Lowering the mattress to the next setting puts it out of range — and you need to lower it anyway once they can pull to standing, for fall safety. Here’s when and how to lower the crib mattress.
- Use only the mattress supplied or specified for your crib, on the manufacturer’s own support platform. Never stack a second mattress or add padding underneath to change the height.
- Keep laying your baby on their back for every sleep, and keep the crib clear of everything but a fitted sheet.
What Not to Do: Bitter Sprays, Gels and Home Remedies
You will find advice online — including in an earlier version of this article, which I’ve since corrected — recommending that you coat the crib rail in something bitter so your baby learns to leave it alone. Please don’t. There are three separate problems with it.
- Teething gels are medicines with a dose. Spreading one on a surface your baby mouths for hours means you have no control over how much they get. The FDA has warned against over-the-counter benzocaine teething products for children under two because of a rare but serious blood disorder, and asked manufacturers to stop marketing them for infants. The AAP advises against numbing gels for teething generally.
- Homemade versions are not safer. Lemon juice and cider vinegar are acidic enough to irritate gums and wear at newly emerging enamel with repeated contact.
- Commercial bitter deterrents are not made for babies. Anti-chew sprays use denatonium benzoate, formulated to stop dogs and adult nail-biters. They are not intended for an infant to ingest nightly, and nothing on the label supports that use.
The rule is simple: cover the rail, don’t coat it. A physical barrier solves the same problem without asking your baby to swallow anything.
When to Call Your Pediatrician
Crib chewing is almost always ordinary. Get it checked if:
- Your baby has a fever, is refusing feeds, or seems unwell — that is an illness, not teething.
- The chewing is frantic or distressed rather than idle, or your baby is inconsolable.
- Their gums are bleeding, badly swollen, or the chewing seems genuinely painful.
- You think they may have swallowed a splinter, a paint flake, or a piece of the rail cover.
- No teeth have appeared by around 18 months, which is worth a dental or pediatric check.
FAQs on How to Stop Crib-Chewing
1. Why Is My Baby Chewing More At Bedtime?
Bedtime removes the distractions, so any gum discomfort is more noticeable — and repetitive mouthing is one of the ways babies settle themselves. If it only happens at bedtime and your baby is otherwise content, it is very likely self-soothing rather than pain.
2. Can I Speed Up My Baby’s Teething?
No. Teeth arrive on their own schedule and nothing shortens it. What you can do is make it more comfortable: a chilled (not frozen) teether, a clean damp washcloth cooled in the fridge, or gentle counter-pressure on the gums with a clean finger. Skip numbing gels — the FDA has warned against over-the-counter benzocaine products for children under two.
3. Will Chewing Damage the Crib?
It can. Repeated chewing wears through the finish and eventually the wood, which is a splinter and choking risk rather than a cosmetic one. A fitted rail cover prevents it. If the rail is already gouged or splintering, stop using the crib until it is repaired or replaced.
4. Is It Safe to Put Anything on the Rail to Stop the Chewing?
No. Do not apply teething gel, bitter anti-chew spray, lemon juice or vinegar to a surface your baby will mouth. Gels are dosed medicines and lose all dosing control when smeared on a rail, acids irritate gums and emerging enamel, and commercial deterrents are formulated for pets and adults. Use a fitted rail cover instead.
Bottom Line
Chewing on the crib is a normal stage, and on a modern, undamaged crib it is not doing your baby any harm. Give them a better thing to bite, fit a rail cover if the wood is taking a beating, lower the mattress once they can pull to standing, and check the rail regularly for splinters.
The one thing not to do is put anything on the rail for them to taste. Cover it, don’t coat it — and give it a few weeks. Happy parenting, as always.
