(HealthDay News) -- Newer parents may feel helpless when they've got a teething, cranky baby on their hands.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions to help soothe teething babies:

• Use your finger to gently massage the baby's sore gums.
• Offer a teething ring made of firm rubber. The type of ring you freeze tends to get too hard.
• Medication that you rub on baby's gums tends to wash from the mouth quickly and may wind up being harmful.
• If your baby is very fussy or has a fever of higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, call a pediatrician at once. Teething may not be the cause.