How Long Will My Baby Be Teething?
Some children have teeth before they are six months old and some have no teeth until after age 12 months. There really is no one set month when all children start developing teeth, and no cast in stone date as to when the permanent teeth will start making their apprearances, but all parents do know that their baby will more than likely experience discomfort .
Teething most likely will follow hereditary patterns. If the mother and father teethed early or late, there is a good chance that the baby could follow that same pattern. On average, the first tooth is likely to come around the sixth month. It can, however, arrive as early as the third month or as late as one year. In rare cases, it can be even earlier or even later; there is a wide range of normal and there is just no way to predict when this will occur.
There are a total of twenty primary teeth. A full grown adult has twelve more teeth than the full complement of primary teeth. Most children have all their primary teeth by the time they are 2 or 3 years old. Primary teeth usually remain until the child is approximately 6 years old. That's when they start getting loose and coming out, as the permanent teeth grow in to replace them. The primary teeth continue being replaced by the permanent teeth through about the age of twelve. Again, bear in mind that these are only averages, and different timing is not an indication of abnormal development in your child.
Teething symptoms vary widely from one child to anther. Because of this, parents and physicians don't always agree as to how severe the symptoms of teething are, and how painful they are. Check with your pediatrician to make sure your baby is not ill if your baby is experiencing these symptoms.
Irritability is a common symptom of teething. Your baby can become very cranky due to the tenderness of the gums caused by the rise of a new tooth. The pain and discomfort is worse when the first teeth are coming in, and later when the molars come in (they are the largest teeth). Babies can become accustomed to teething, so they are less cranky after the first few teeth.
Babies also drool and cough more during teething. The extra saliva caused by teething can result in some coughing. As long as there are no signs of a cold or flu, this extra saliva and drooling should be nothing to worry about. Your baby may also develop a chin rash during teething, especially if he or she drools a lot. To help prevent chin rash, gently wipe your baby's chin and mouth at intervals throughout the day.
Some ways to help ease teething pain are chilled teething toys or teething rings, or even frozen bagels. Cold water can also help. Additionally, you can do activities that can distract your child to help him or her 'forget' the pain of teething. Keep in mind that teething is a phase and will not last forever, and the end result will be a wonderful smile for your child.
About the Author
David Cummings is a devoted parent and husband and a regular author on many family topics. He is devoted to helping parents build better family time together and to ensuring a brighter future for all children through his contributions to children-based organizations. David is also the General Manager for Bustling Baby, LLC => http://www.BustlingBaby.com
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here