When it comes to baby teething, you want to know what’s going on with your little one and why they’re acting the way they are at each stage of their journey from no teeth to all their teeth in place. You may wonder, when will my baby start teething? Why does my baby have swollen gums? How can I help my baby during this time? Find answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive guide to baby teething timeline here.
Baby Teething Timeline
Baby teething occurs in two phases. The first phase begins around 6 months old when babies begin to lose their baby teeth (milk teeth). Baby teeth start coming in around 3-4 months and peak at about 6 months, with a total of 20 baby teeth. The second phase is called transitional teething and happens between ages 3 and 4 years old. It refers to primary adult teeth that come in behind baby teeth that have fallen out.
6 Months – Lower Central Incisors (bottom front)
Babies start teething around 6 months, but some may experience early signs of teething as early as 3 months. Typically, babies begin teething with their lower central incisors (bottom front teeth), which usually emerge between 4 and 7 months of age. At first, babies will likely drool more than usual while chewing on their fists or your hands!
8 Months – Upper Central Incisors (top front)
Starting around eight months, babies typically lose their first set of baby teeth (primary teeth). In its place grows a permanent pair of upper central incisors. The baby teething timeline kicks into high gear now, as your child starts working on one tooth at a time. And you may find yourself catching her chewing on just about anything in sight.
10 Months – Lower and Upper Lateral Incisors (side front)
These are one of the baby’s first teeth and typically begin emerging around 10 months. By about 15 months, the baby will have two teeth on each side. The lateral incisors are on top and the central incisors are in front. The gum tissue surrounding these teeth can get irritated easily, so be sure that baby is not chewing on objects like pencils or crayons. It’s also common for babies to chew on other things like blankets or toys while they wait for their teeth to erupt.
14 Months First Molars
Many babies begin teething around 6 months, but most won’t get their first two molars until around age 14 months. They’ll continue teething for about 18-24 months. By that time, they should have between 10 and 12 teeth (4-8 per arch). They’ll also be able to chew some foods by themselves, even if it takes them a while to learn how.
18 Months Canines (pointy teeth)
Around 18 months, the baby’s canine teeth will start breaking through her gums. Don’t worry if your child doesn’t have a set of pearly whites yet. Just remember that all babies teethe differently; some get their first teeth early and others are late bloomers. Remember that children might be able to place food in their mouths themselves but don’t try hard foods or finger foods until they have teeth.
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24 Months Second Molars
Babies are not born with teeth. By 12 months, some babies may have a small number of temporary teeth known as baby or milk teeth, which may fall out within a few weeks or a couple of years. When a baby’s first molars (or primary teeth) begin to erupt around 6 months old, they usually grow within 3–8 weeks. The second set begins to appear between 16 and 24 months.
FAQs
Q1. How old are babies when they start teething?
Babies typically begin teething between six and eight months. It’s important for parents to know what signs of teething their child is displaying so they can be prepared for any discomfort or irritability. The younger your baby is when he begins teething, generally speaking, the worse his symptoms will be; older babies experience less severe symptoms.
Q2. What stage of teething hurts the most?
The pain of teething is often experienced in waves, meaning that a baby may be okay one day and incredibly fussy on another. However, there is one stage of teething that causes more discomfort than others. This occurs when your baby has 4 teeth at once (upper front teeth, bottom front teeth, and upper back molars). Most babies usually cut their first tooth around 6 months, which is why many pediatricians recommend introducing solid foods around that time.
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