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Baby Teething

What Is Teething?

Teething is the eruption of primary, or baby teeth through the gums.

As many parents know, baby teething symptoms are usually unavoidable and most times a challenging experience. All of a baby’s teething aches, pains and discomfort is not a milestone that we look forward to.

Think about the time you experienced growing your wisdom teeth? For the majority, it is usually a pretty uncomfortable experience. And for those of you that haven’t…it will find you. And it will hurt you.

Now just imagine this pain, but for a baby’s whole entire mouth. That is what a baby is experiencing through the eruption of teeth.

I’m sure I’d be irritated too…..I probably was.

The timing and symptoms of baby teething vary from child to child, although the order at which baby teeth come in tends to follow a fairly predictable eruption pattern.

To save yourself the time and the headache, become aware and understand the baby teething process, order of baby teeth eruption, and the signs and symptoms of baby teething.

Yes, it is true that we cannot avoid the entire teething experience, but at least some awareness will help address your baby’s teething issues and you will know exactly how to soothe your baby’s teething troubles.

Okay, maybe you haven’t been able to get much sleep, or the dread of your teething baby is weighing heavy. But as it has been said many times before…” this too shall pass.”

If you’re nervous, don’t be! The coming in of your baby’s teeth is like opening the door of opportunity: they are now able to eat more solid foods, obtain more nutrients, and consume a well-rounded diet.

A better diet will improve bone structure, brain develop, and allow them to grow into the beautiful keiki they are meant to be!

Eating more is also a perk! With their exposure to more foods and textures, your child’s oral-motor musculature (which is just a fancier way to say their ability to talk) will exercise and improve. This will help them prepare for speech and language efficacy!

So, teething is not always bad. Remember, teething is temporary. And keep this one as a mantra…” This too shall pass.”

 

What’s A Normal Age For My Baby To Start Teething?

When we first make our way into the world of teeth, those newly grown pearls are called primary teeth, or baby teeth. Same thing.

We call them primary teeth because it is the first set of teeth that we will ever have, and we call them baby teeth because it’s easier to say.

These primary, baby teeth start coming in around 4-6 months and the last of the bunch will finish growing around the age of 3 years old. Generally, babies will grow up to 20 baby teeth.

Once again, a baby’s teething age and symptoms tend to vary depending on which baby we’re talking about.

For some, teething can start as young as 3 months. And for an even smaller some, a baby will be born with teeth or grow all of their teeth within the first month. This really depends on a baby’s genes or whether they were preemies.

Around age 5 or 6, baby teeth will begin to fall out and be replaced with permanent teeth. I can still remember the first time I pulled a loose tooth. Do you?

The process of growing all of your permanent teeth can take up to a decade! That’s ten years guys. Teething for ten years. Usually, there are up to 32 permanent teeth that come in.

Baby Teeth Order and Sequence of Tooth Eruption

The pattern of baby teeth eruption tends to be pretty predictable. However, as I have mentioned (broken record), a baby’s teething age tends to vary depending on the baby.

Babies will usually get teeth in pairs, in which one will quickly grow in after the other. Although, some babies will wait weeks, or even months, to see a mirroring tooth.

Below is a baby teeth order chart to guide you in recognizing the eruption of teeth in your growing baby. This chart reflects the general and predictable order of baby teeth eruption.

Baby Teething Timeline

6-10 months The Two Bottom Front Teeth – The Central Incisors

8-12 months – The Two Top Front Teeth – The Central Incisors

9-13 months – The Sides of the Top Front Teeth – The Top Lateral Incisors

10-16 months – The Sides of the Bottom Front Teeth – The Bottom Lateral Incisors

13-19 months – The Back Teeth – The Molars

17-23 months – Between Incisors and Molars – The Canines

23-33 months – The Second Molars of Child Develop

The first 12 teeth of a teething baby will come in their first year of life. Baby molars tend to appear in year 2 and 3, with 4 baby molars coming in each of those years.

Don’t be alarmed if your baby doesn’t follow this teething order provided in the teething chart. They just don’t follow the crowd.

Some parents become worried that their babies’ teeth aren’t growing normal. But rest assured, an unpredictable teething pattern can occur. And this is DEFINTIELY normal.

What Is An Irregular Teeth Eruption Timeline?

There is no clear-cut teething timeline that is accurate for every baby.

Some parents report their baby to grow teeth in the first 3 months. Some parents report their baby to grow teeth after 15 months of birth. It really all depends.

For the aforementioned children who are born with teeth or grow teeth within their first month, there is actually a name for both occurrences. A child born with teeth have natal teeth. A child that grows their teeth within the first month of life have neonatal teeth.

This trend is genetic, in which other family members were also born with natal or neonatal teeth. It’s quite interesting.

Whether your child is an early or late bloomer, be proactive in recognizing when your baby may be exhibiting signs or symptoms of teething.

Feel around on their gums (please clean your hands) or take a look to see if there are any signs of teeth breaking through the gums.

If you’re a worrier, you can actually read the signs of your baby’s health by their hair, skin, and nails. If there is anything out of the ordinary, then consider reaching out to a pediatrician.

Most professionals recommend setting up your baby’s first dental check-up around 12 months. Here, you can address any teething concerns or issues with more reassurance.

The Signs and Symptoms of Teething

There is the occasional baby that doesn’t show signs or symptoms of teething and next thing you know, they’ve got a full set. Those parents definitely got a stroke of good fortune.

However, for the rest of us, baby teething can become a nightmare. Teething symptoms of pain and discomfort can last anywhere from a few days to a few months.

Teething signs and symptoms vary greatly for each baby, so be diligent in recognizing your baby’s teething symptoms. This way, you’ll be prepared to know how and when to give your teething baby relief for their symptoms.

Common Teething Symptoms

  • Drooling
  • Swollen/red gums
  • Trying to chew/bite everything
  • Irritability
  • Trouble Sleeping
  • Decreased appetite
  • Rubbing their face
  • Grabbing their ears
  • Raised temperature (below 100⁰F)
  • A visible tooth below the gum
prevalence comparison bar chart teething signs and symptoms

If your little one is showing signs of fever over 100 ⁰F (37.7 ⁰C) degrees, diarrhea, and vomiting, this likely is NOT related to teething. These symptoms should not be easily dismissed or treated as such.

A slight fever of under 100 ⁰F sometimes occur, however, if your baby experiences a high fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, it is best to consult a medical professional for advice.

Teething rashes are not very common but can sometimes occur. This teething rash can be caused by excessive saliva being produced during teething.

Excessive drooling is pretty common, and any saliva that is left on your babies’ skin, such as their face or hands, may cause a rash.

The best way to handle this is by wiping any excess drool continuously. Keep a bib around them for easy wiping.

There are very few cases where swallowed saliva leads to vomiting and diarrhea. This is pretty uncommon, however, if this is an observation in your teething baby – saliva being a cause for vomiting or diarrhea – be extra diligent in wiping away excess drool.

If the rash persists for an unusual amount of time, contact a medical professional to make sure the rash is not a symptom of a larger problem.

DIY Tips to Soothe a Teething Baby

What better way to soothe your teething baby with an alternative that is free or may be lying around the house?

Even a little distraction by taking a walk outside can help immensely with teething troubles. Below is a list of DIY alternative options to relieve your teething infant’s struggles.

  • Use a clean finger and apply pressure by rubbing your baby’s gums
  • Use a clean, moist, and chilled towel for baby to chew on
  • Try a chilled spoon, always chilled in the fridge (never the freezer)
  • Distract your little one with a trip to the park
  • Give them attention with play time

It is not recommended that you give them frozen foods, as the extreme cold is not suitable for your baby’s gums. This could lead to frostbite on baby’s gums. Who cares if someone double dog or triple dog dared ya.

Food can also break up into chunks, which poses a choking hazard for your baby.

Just avoid the frozen stuff, and you’ll be good!

Although it was an ancient practice, it is also not recommended that you rub whiskey or brandy on the baby’s gums. Even small amounts of alcohol are poisonous to babies. And we barely notice this now?

Natural Teething Remedies

You’d be surprised to realize how many contaminants and toxins we are exposed to on the daily.

Although our bodies as adults may be resilient to these foreign matters, our babies are not.

One common item that contains an abundance of toxic chemicals is plastic. There is a certain chemical compound in plastic known as bisphenol A, or BPA. Some plastic containers may have a label stating, “BPA free,” which means there are no free radicals of BPA floating around on the plastic.

Although most plastics may be BPA free, heating up, say a plastic baby bottle, can free up these molecules and contaminate anything inside the bottle.

This is some pretty scary stuff since BPA is known as an “endocrine-hormone-disruptor,” which can lead to health and hormonal issues later down the line.

Today, there are so many plastic baby teethers available that, unfortunately, some parents don’t have a second thought about buying anything else.

Before you reach for that plastic baby teething toy or toxic teething gels, try out these natural teething remedies. In most cases, they are much more effective!

Best alternative to plastic or water filled teethers

Immediate teething relief

Chilled in the fridge or freezer

Easy to grip for baby

Visually stimulating to distract baby

Textured surface for multi-sensory development

Won’t react with food or chemicals ensuring safety

Eases teething pain and discomfort

Boosts baby immune system

Reduces baby’s anxiety

Knot between each amber bead for stability

Snug fit so baby won’t know that they’re wearing it!

Must be diluted with a carrier oil

Can be used in a diffuser or humidifier

Provides natural teething relief

Improves overall health and well-being for baby and parent

What is the best option for me?

Really, it is all about knowing how your teething baby will react to their symptoms and the teething relief you provide.

There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ teething relief for a teething baby, but trying your safest, natural options is a start.

It is our kuleana, or responsibility, to provide you with the information you need to optimize your baby’s health and longevity. We believe in products that will benefit the health and development of your keiki.

Kute Keiki teething toys and necklaces are made of food-grade silicone, making them safe for your teething baby. Food grade silicone is essentially in a stable form that makes it resistant to reacting with other chemicals.

All Kute Keiki teething products are safe and free from any and all toxins that could harm the health and safety of your baby. Rest assured, their risk to harmful exposure will certainly be reduced!

Kute Keiki teething toys are also dishwasher safe, which will save you time and energy in the cleaning process. Just pop that sucker into the dishwasher and viola! Your baby is on its way to multi-sensory stimulation and healthy teeth development.

Kute Keiki places the highest priority on your child’s health and safety by providing all-natural, high-quality teething products for your little one.

Try ours today!

 

Dive Deeper into Teething