Your baby will get their first tooth anytime during their first year. For us parents, it’s another milestone to look forward to. Today, I am going to walk you through the baby teething stages, you will learn what are the baby teething stages, baby teething symptoms, baby teething remedies and extra tips you should know about baby teething.
Some babies get their first teeth when they are born. Others while they reach four months, while some will get it after twelve months.
However, a baby’s teething stage is not all smooth sailing. There are different baby teething stages and symptoms accompanied by it.
If you have a newborn, you will want to be equipped with ready-remedies to soothe and ease this stage for your baby.
Baby teething stages
Teething is the process of baby milk teeth sequentially appear by emerging through the gums. Today, we are going to give you insight about these 5 baby teething stages:
- Stage 1 (0 – 6 months)
- Stage 2 (6 – 8 months)
- Stage 3 (10 – 14 months)
- Stage 4 (16 – 22 months)
- Stage 5 ( 25 – 33 months)
Stage One: (0 – 6 months)
At this stage, the teeth have not emerged yet, even if your baby already has a set of 20 teeth under the gums. They are called milk teeth for the reason that they can only consume milk.
Stage Two: (6 – 8 months)
The first teeth will start to erupt:
- Two bottom middle teeth
- Two top middle teeth
- Another tooth on either side of the top two
- Another tooth on either side of the bottom two
Before they emerge, the edges of the teeth will press up the gum line. At this stage, you will find your baby chewing any hard objects from their hands to toys.
Stage Three: (10 – 14 months)
This is when the primary molars emerge in the lower and upper jaws. There will be an increase in drooling and fussiness. They may even lose their appetite. Unfortunately, their sleep will also become more irregular.
- Two upper canines and two lower canines between incisors and molars
Stage Four: (16 – 22 months)
The teeth between the top and bottom molars and incisors, also called the canines, will begin to emerge. This will be more painful because of the sharpness of the tooth.
- Two upper and two lower canines in between the incisors and the molars
Stage Five: (25 – 33 months)
This is the most painful part because this is when the biggest molars arrive through the gums. The good news? They are already toddlers, so they can easily voice their pain, and you can help them at this point.
- Two upper second molars and two lower molars at the back of the mouth next to the first molars
Baby teething symptoms
Some babies don’t experience any symptoms while teething, while unfortunately, other babies suffer for months. Symptoms were only significantly more frequent in the 4 days before a tooth emergence, the day of the emergence, and 3 days after it, so this 8-day window was defined as the teething period.
For some time, you will notice how fussy they can be because of teething pain. Here are the common signs that your baby is going through teething:
- Your baby is crying more than usual
This means that your baby is suffering from a good deal of pain because of the inflammation of the gum tissue. Aside from the molars, the first teeth hurt the most, and the only way they can voice it out is through crying or whining.
- Your baby is irritated
This is due to the discomfort of a tooth coming out of their gums. Thus, you might find your baby not in the mood that would last for hours, sometimes for days or weeks.
- Your baby starts to drool
A lot of drooling is being stimulated during the teething stage of a baby. It will be best to fasten a bib to keep your baby comfortable and clean. Just continue to wipe their chin throughout the day.
- They start to cough or gag reflex
With too much drooling and spit, it is not surprising to find them gag or cough. As long as there are no other symptoms, you should not worry at all.
- You will find rashes around your baby’s mouth
Too much drooling may cause chapping, redness, and rashes around your baby’s mouth. Try to apply Vaseline or an unscented skin cream that will create a moisture barrier to the area.
- You will find gum hematoma
A gum hematoma is that bluish lump under your baby’s gums. It might be blood trapped under the gums because of a tooth’s eruption. This is usual and is no cause for concern.
- Your baby bites a lot
Because of the teething pressure, your baby will find a console with biting. Thus, you will find him biting any hard objects possible.
Baby teething remedies
As parents, we want to alleviate any discomfort our babies feeling during the teething stage. Here are proven and tested baby teething remedies that can help:
- Get your baby some teething toys
Invest in teething relief products such as a bumpy rubber teething toy. There are plenty to choose from, from a baby banana infant training toothbrush to a Comotomo silicone baby teether.
- Apply cold onto your baby’s sore gums
Refrigerated toys they can chew is more effective because it numbs the gums. Cold drinks can also help, along with cold food such as yogurt or applesauce.
- Massage your baby’s gums
With one clean finger or a wet gauze, gently massage or rub your baby’s gums with firm pressure until the pain subsides. This pressure can ease the discomfort.
Additional Tips Parents Should Know About Baby Teething
When to call a doctor:
It will be the time to call the doctor when your baby starts to suffer from fever for more than three days, especially if other troublesome symptoms accompany it. Also, if you find your baby is having a runny stool or refusing food for a few days in a row.
When to start adding fluoride?
Fluoride helps in hardening the enamel of teeth, which prevents tooth decay. You can start adding fluoride to your child’s diet when they reach six months. Fluoride sources can range from drinking water to toothpaste. Start brushing your baby’s teeth twice a day with a smear of toothpaste (just the size of a rice grain).
What else to avoid?
Stay away from numbing agents and over-the-counter teething gels. They haven’t been proven to be effective, and they may contain harmful ingredients. Also, avoid amber teething necklaces that might pose a choking hazard.
Conclusion
Going through the five stages of teething will be a struggle for your baby, but with your help, understanding and patience, you can help him go through it.
Besides, when your child’s first tooth erupts, it means they can start on solids – another milestone to look forward to. This will be soon followed by a progress in their motor skills!
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