For most of us, it will feel like our baby is getting teeth for what feels like two years straight. This is true particularly if your baby struggles when he gets teeth or doesn’t sleep well. This article will help you learn when babies start teething and what order your baby gets teeth, on average.

When Babies Start Teething

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to know exactly when babies start teething because all babies are unique and genetics play a part, too. There are very few babies born with teeth and for most babies, they will not get their first tooth until 6-7 months old. Unfortunately, just because a tooth does not come through until 6-7 months, on average, does not mean that the teething process does not start sooner. Your baby can show signs of teething a month or two before the first tooth actually comes through the gums. Your 3 or 4 month old can drool and chew on toys or her hand like she will get teeth any day, but it just might not happen that quickly.

If you are breastfeeding, you might want teething to start later as it can be painful when your baby decides to chomp down at an inopportune moment. Don’t worry, women have been breastfeeding successfully for thousands of years, even babies with teeth and there is hope. You do not have to stop breastfeeding. If you can feel your baby’s teeth while breastfeeding, try removing your baby and re-latching him. If your baby bites at the end of a breastfeeding session, that usually means he’s finished so try to watch for signs he’s finishing before he bites such as slow sucking or looking around looking bored. If your baby does bite, end the breastfeeding session (or take a break if baby does need a feeding) and say “No bite.” firmly (but not yelling). He will quickly learn not to bite the breast that feeds him.

Order of Baby Teeth

Do not worry if your baby does not get teeth in the same order as other babies. The general guideline is your baby will get the bottom middle teeth, then the top middle, then the top incisors right next to the top middle and then bottom incisors next to the bottom middle. In other words, the top and bottom four teeth, in the middle, will be the first eight teeth your baby will get. In general, teeth usually come in pairs (but not always) about one per month or so. After the first eight, the first-year molars will begin to come in. The first-year and second-year molars are often the most difficult on your baby to come in. These teeth tend to take longer to come in and hurt your baby more as they break through the gums. Note: when your baby is teething, she may like to breastfeed more often to help massage her gums.

My personal teething story

I have two sons and when my first son started teething, it was around 4 months, but then didn’t pop through until just after 5 months old. He struggled with the first few teeth, but one day just had molars. His younger brother, on the other hand, didn’t get his first tooth until after 6 months and struggled for over a month to get his one-year molars and we all seemed to feel it with all the fussiness. So, even within the same family, when babies start teething varies and how difficult it is on the baby varies, too. A friend of mine’s son didn’t get his first tooth until well after he was a year old!

I hope this article has helped you figure out when your baby might start teething or whether she has already started. Make sure you send your family and friends a picture of her first tooth from her online baby album!

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