Teething can be a difficult period of time for both parents and babies. These important milestones are still important to understand, and we’re here to help with that.
But, first what is teething?
If you don’t know what teething is yet, don’t stress! You’re in the same boat as many other parents. Teething is the process in which teeth erupt from the gums, and lasts from 6 months to 3 years. Your baby will have symptoms from teething about a week during each stage.
Symptoms of Teething
- Sore or red gums
- Mild temperature increase
- Drooling
- Gnawing/Chewing
- Potential Irritability
Stage 1 (0-6 months)
The first stage is right before teeth start to erupt. Babies are born with all of the 20 baby teeth, but they’re just located inside the gums. During this stage, gently massage your baby’s gums with a finger or damp washcloth to help them adjust.
Stage 2 (6-8 months)
When the first teeth, incisors, start to erupt, your baby has officially entered stage 2 of the teething process. You might notice your baby starting to chew objects or their hands, which is a result of the teeth applying pressure directly on the gums. Provide your baby with a hard rubber teething ring to aid them in this process.
Also, make sure that you schedule your child’s first dentist appointment as soon as their first tooth appears.
Stage 3 (10-14 months)
This stage is when the primary molars start to emerge. Provide hard, safe-to-eat foods for your baby, and watch out for restlessness during the night as well as a poor appetite, fussiness, and drooling.
Stage 4 (16-22 months)
During this stage, canine teeth start to erupt. Give your child a cold washcloth or teething ring to help soothe the symptoms.
Stage 5 (25-33 months)
Stage 5 is the final stage of teething when the large molars emerge. This is the most uncomfortable stage of teething, so you may also see your baby experiencing more symptoms, like biting on objects. Give them harder food to see if it helps.
