Each child is unique and doesn’t necessarily follow the traditional ages associated with teething. In fact, some babies are born with teeth! But for those on a more traditional path, teething usually begins around 6 months of age.
Teething can be a difficult time for babies and parents alike. Increased crankiness, fussiness, and irritability in your little one can be overwhelming. It’s helpful to understand the regular teething stages in babies in order to be fully prepared as a parent.
In addition to symptoms such as irritability and fussiness, other symptoms of teething include increased drooling, putting everything into their mouths, and puffy, swollen gums. Teething can occasionally cause undesirable symptoms such as fever and diarrhoea, though this is more based on speculation and doesn’t have a scientific basis.
Stage One: 0 – 6 Months of Age
Did you know that babies are born with a full set of milk teeth? These primary teeth, of which there are 20, are hidden under the gums. They exist as placeholders for adult teeth.
In some instances, a few of your baby’s milk teeth may come in before the 6 month threshold. Some may even have visible teeth when they are born!
Stage Two: 6 – 8 Months of Age
During stage two, you may notice some of your baby’s milk teeth popping through the gums. Usually, the first teeth to erupt are the front bottom followed by the front top (lower and upper incisors).
Your baby will usually be drooling excessively and putting everything in his mouth. The gentle pressure on the gums provides some relief for the teething baby.
Stage Three: 9 – 14 Months of Age
This stage is similar to stage two, but because the teeth that are starting to cut are the primary molars, you may notice that the symptoms of stage two are exaggerated. Expect a loss of sleep for both parent and baby!
If your little one is in extreme pain, discuss with your paediatrician. He or she may recommend baby paracetamol for teething.
Stage Four: 15 – 22 Months of Age
During stage four of baby teething, your little one will begin to cut his canines (the teeth next to the top front and top bottom teeth). Do everything you can, within reason, to keep your baby happy and comfortable during this stage.
Try freezing a wash cloth soaked in watermelon juice or making ‘milk popsicles’ in an ice cube tray. Babies tend to like cold temperatures on their gums while teething.
Stage Five: 24 to 33 Months of Age
This is usually the most uncomfortable stage of teething for babies, as this is when the molars come in. These are the largest teeth, so it’s understandable that this is the most uncomfortable stage for most babies.
If your usual methods aren’t working, try giving your little one a hard, cold carrot to chew (while keeping your baby supervised to avoid the choking hazard, of course).
Teething looks different in every baby, but hopefully this rough guide to the teething stages will help you and your baby handle it with more ease and comfort!