Teething Timeline

Its National Children’s Dental Health Month, and a great time to talk about your children’s teeth –especially the ones that are new. The teething process takes quite a bit of time. The thought of that might have some mums reaching for the pain reliever for themselves, especially if baby is extra fussy right now. No need to worry though, it does get easier and is quite a milestone in baby development. Let’s start with the basic teething timeline, or the order in which those new teeth will be arriving.  Remember, no two babies are alike so teething is different for every baby. The order of tooth succession will be generally predictable, but your baby will likely have her own teething timeline.

Starting Point

Teething generally begins around 6 months of age and lasts until age 2. Some babies may start earlier, around 4 months, while other may not start teething until 6 or 7 months. Teeth tend to come it two’s, but some babies can get several at once or just one at a time. On average, teeth arrive at a rate of about 1 per month once the first tooth appears. Just like everything else going on during the first 2 years, you can’t judge your baby’s progress by looking at others- save yourself the trouble and don’t even go there. Your baby will develop teeth when he is ready, and whether you’re ready or not.

Here is the basic teething timeline:

• 5-7 months: The first 2 central incisors (cutters), those cute front and center teeth, typically the bottoms ones arrive first shortly followed by the top
• 8-9 months: the second set, on top of central incisors
• 1 year: the two lateral upper incisors – right on either side of the 2 that arrived first for a grand total of about 6 teeth during the first year shortly followed by the bottom incisors

Pause: yes, thank goodness, both parents and baby may get a little teething break.

• 13 months: the first molars erupt
• 15-20 months: four canine teeth or eye teeth arrive between the molars and the central incisors
• 2 years: these second set of molars are often called the 2 year molars as they tend to arrive around baby’s second birthday

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist