Crossword Genius

Support item during early development stage … (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

teething

'during early development stage' is the definition.
(as in a baby teething)

'support item' is the wordplay.
'support' becomes 'tee' (tee is a kind of support).
'item' becomes 'thing' (I've seen this in another clue).
'tee'+'thing'='TEETHING'

(Other definitions for teething that I've seen before include "It'd painful for baby" , "Occasion of initial troubles" , "Painful time for baby" , "The process is painful for babies" , "problem in infancy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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