Teething in babies

Baby teeth growth

• Tooth germs form in the gums while the baby is still in the womb.  
• In most children, the first tooth appears at the age of 6 to 10 months, but it can also appear earlier, even at birth, or later, after the first year of life.
• They appear in a certain order, which is not necessarily always followed.
• Usually, lower central incisors erupt first, followed by upper central and lateral incisors, and by the end of the first year, the child usually has 6 teeth. 
• By the end of the third year, most children have 20 baby teeth.    

Teeth eruption

• While the teeth erupt through the gums, babies are especially sensitive. They need to constantly rub their gums with something, and the place where the teeth erupt is sometimes slightly red and swollen.
• Some children's teeth erupt imperceptibly, but in most children, parents notice certain behavioral changes: they cry or get cranky more, they do not eat normally; they drool, have difficulty falling asleep and wake up more often at night, they chew on everything they can get their hands on: toys, bibs; they ask for a pacifier, get their diapers dirty more often; they rub the ear on the side of the erupting tooth.
• These changes may be a normal part of development, but are sometimes the result of mild infections.
• If your child is not well, especially if he/she has a fever or diarrhea, or you are concerned about some other signs of disease, consult a pediatrician.

Help with teething

You will help your baby by:

• gently massaging the gums with a clean finger or brush them with a soft brush;
• offering your baby cold items to chew on: a teether or a toy that you kept in the fridge for a while;
• preparing puréed food if you find it necessary.