When Do Babies Start Drooling?

Last Updated on June 9, 2026 by Jordyn Koveleski Gorman

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Picture it: we’ve all been there, waking up in the middle of the night to the unpleasant discovery that you drooled on your pillow. Drool isn’t glamorous, but spit happens. This is especially true for infants.

Understanding oral-motor function is foundational to my work as a speech-language pathologist and feeding specialist. If you’ve got a little one, you might be wondering when you can expect drooling to develop and what you can do to help. And what about that rash that sometimes accompanies drooling? Let’s talk about it!

When do babies start drooling?

Around 3–4 months of age, babies’ salivary glands mature and begin to produce increasing amounts of saliva. For many infants, drooling peaks around 5–6 months. (1)

Although drooling may continue beyond 6 months, it is expected to reduce and eventually stop entirely as littles enter toddlerhood. (2) For most, drooling subsides completely between 15–24 months. Drooling that continues past toddlerhood is most commonly associated with central nervous system and muscular disorders. (2)

Drooling is almost unnoticeable for some infants, while others experience significant and consistent amounts of drool. We’ll talk more about that below. If your baby doesn’t drool much, not to worry—that doesn’t mean anything is wrong! By the same token, if your baby seems to drool nonstop, they are likely just fine as well.

Remember what I always say: “The statistics are on your side that nothing is likely wrong!” But it’s good to check and see what’s going on if you’re concerned. 

Why do babies drool?

There are a few factors that influence drooling in infants in addition to increased saliva production.

The primary cause for drooling is the lack of salivary continence, which is simply the ability to keep saliva in the mouth and swallow it properly. (2) With limited oral-motor control, infants cannot effectively manage the saliva that their bodies produce. Instead of swallowing excess saliva, which is an unnoticeable reflex by adulthood, it dribbles from babies’ mouths.

Drooling is also commonly connected with teething. Specifically, it is linked to the few days leading up to and after initial eruption of a new tooth. (3) Parents often confuse the initial appearance of drooling with teething, though drooling normally begins several weeks or months before teething actually occurs.

Anatomically, the lack of front bottom teeth to serve as a dam also contributes to drooling. (1)

Eventually, these influences diminish, and baby develops the oral-motor control to manage their saliva without drooling. Waiting for that skill to develop can feel frustrating and messy, but hope is on the horizon!

Baby drooling a lot?

So what can you do if your baby drools a lot? Unfortunately, there’s not a ton of things you can do to reduce or stop their drooling. There are a few great tips below, but giving them time to continue developing is the best thing you can do to support them!

One of the best ways to help decrease excessive drooling is by increasing baby’s jaw strength. How do you do that? By introducing teethers of different toughness, and naturally through exploration of solid foods! Chomping on teethers and managing chewable foods will naturally help decrease drooling overtime. (Even though eating foods also stimulates salivary glands while eating…I know it’s confusing. You’ll just have to trust me on this one!)

When baby’s drooling becomes disruptive and you’re having to change their clothes multiple times a day just to keep up, it can be discouraging. Pair that with a baby who spits up frequently, and you’re probably wondering if clothes are even worth it. Reminding yourself that this is developmentally appropriate and that you’re doing all the right things can help you keep a good perspective.

Tips for when baby is drooling a lot

• Keep extra outfits on hand when out and about. It’s always best to keep at least 1 extra outfit on hand in case of a blowout! But if you find that baby’s drooling is significant, it may help to keep a second change of clothes with you just in case. A backup for your backup can save you in a pinch. Don’t forget to update sizes every couple of months!
• Bibs, bibs, and more bibs. Not all bibs are made alike. There are basic muslin bibs, silicone ones for starting solids, and teething bibs that tend to have an additional waterproof liner to keep baby dry. We recommend these teething bibs for babies who drool a lot!
• Burp cloths in every room. Truly, the burp cloth is vital in those early days, and continues to be helpful for the drooling phase! Keep them around to pat down baby’s face and neck so they can stay as dry as possible. The Copper Pearl burp cloths are our favorite!
• Introduce teethers around 3 months to encourage baby’s oral-motor development. Although teethers don’t necessarily reduce drooling, they do promote development that will eventually play a role in its reduction.
• Apply a moisture barrier cream to baby’s mouth, chin, and neck to prevent drool from remaining in contact with skin. This can be most helpful at nighttime if baby drools while sleeping. Nighttime drool may be more prominent if baby breathes through their mouth, though not necessarily. (Note that chronic mouth breathing should be assessed by a specialist.) 

Baby drool rash: Is it normal?

Some redness from drool remaining in contact with baby’s sensitive skin can be normal, but irritation, discomfort, or rashes that spread or don’t improve with the use of a barrier cream should be seen by a healthcare professional.

Sometimes, the warm and moist environment created by drooling can lead to rashes that respond best with prescription treatment. And the folds of baby’s neck are prone to things like yeast infections, which can be easily confused for typical drool rashes.

Drool rashes should not cause fevers, blisters, or ooze blood or liquid. In these instances, it is best to be checked by baby’s doctor for viral illnesses or skin infections.

When in doubt, a call to the pediatrician is worth it!

Is baby drool ever not normal?

The answer to this is a bit complex. Overall, yes, drooling can be a sign of an underlying concern.

If drooling is accompanied by the following behaviors, it’s best to speak to an oral motor specialist:

• Difficulty breast or bottle feeding
• Difficulty eating solids or progressing to harder textures
• Consistent open mouth posture
• Snoring or mouth breathing
• Loud breathing

If your baby is drooling in isolation without any of the other symptoms listed, the drooling is likely normal and not a cause for concern.

More infant support

With a better understanding of how drooling fits in with infant development, you can rest assured that this phase will soon pass. Although drooling may continue for a while, its peak will be over before you know it. And one day you’ll sit back and realize, “Hey, they don’t drool anymore!”

Parenthood is tough, but you’re doing it! Your little one is so lucky to have you.

You can find more parenting resources on our blog, covering all of your most asked questions! From tips and tricks about burping baby all the way to understanding wake windows, we’ve got your back. You can search for what you need right on the blog!

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Sources

1. Leung AK, Kao CP. Drooling in children. Paediatr Child Health. 1999 Sep;4(6):406-11. doi: 10.1093/pch/4.6.406. PMID: 20212951; PMCID: PMC2827743.
2. Lakraj AA, Moghimi N, Jabbari B. Sialorrhea: anatomy, pathophysiology and treatment with emphasis on the role of botulinum toxins. Toxins (Basel). 2013 May 21;5(5):1010-31. doi: 10.3390/toxins5051010. PMID: 23698357; PMCID: PMC3709276.
3. Memarpour M, Soltanimehr E, Eskandarian T. Signs and symptoms associated with primary tooth eruption: a clinical trial of nonpharmacological remedies. BMC Oral Health. 2015 Jul 28;15:88. doi: 10.1186/s12903-015-0070-2. PMID: 26215351; PMCID: PMC4517507.