Now your little one has recently started biting and drooling a lot. Could these possibly be signs of teething? Is there a delay in teething, and what can you do about it? Here is a guide that will help you learn about your baby’s teething and what to do.

When Does A Baby’s First Tooth Appear?

The first teeth can develop anywhere from 4-7 months. Babies who develop teeth earlier can start to show their first tooth as early as 3 months old. Other babies might show delay until 12 months.

Baby teeth and tooth buds start developing while he is in the womb, then they develop over a period of months until they appear

Teething Order

Teeth often appear in this order, bottom central incisors, upper central incisors, lateral incisors and finally molars.

Teething can erupt all at once, or several teeth together. They might not all come in straight, but they straighten out over the months.

By the time your baby is 3 years he should have developed a full 20 teeth that stay with him until the permanent teeth develop at 6 years.

Signs of Teething

Signs of teething vary from a child to another. Most parents report that their little ones feel discomfort. The most common signs are:

• Bites objects or bites his mom instead of suckling.
• Drooling
• Irritability or being fussy
• Swollen gums

How To Ease Teething Symptoms?

Even though teething symptoms are difficult to avoid, there is a lot you can do to ease the pain:

• Give him something to chew on such as a teething ring, cold washcloth.
• Rub his gum with a clean finger to ease the pain.
• Give him finger foods to chew if he is older. Carrots, cucumber, biscuits. Keep an eye on him to avoid choking.
• Consult your doctor about medication or a teething gel.

What If There Is A Delay in Teething?

A baby’s first tooth can appear as late as 15 months. If the baby doesn’t show any teeth by the age he’s 18 months you should see a doctor.

The doctor will need some blood tests to make sure your baby doesn’t suffer from illness. He may also need x-rays.

Resources:

Babycenter.com - Teething: Your baby's first teeth