An infant teething schedule can help new parents anticipate and ease discomfort for infants during the process of developing new teeth. Babies may begin teething as early as three months of age or as late as one year. Children will usually have all 20 of their primary teeth by their third birthday. While a teething schedule varies from child to child, teeth usually erupt in a specific pattern, and babies will often show similar symptoms of teething.
Most of the time, babies will get the bottom two front teeth, i.e., the central incisors, first, followed by the four upper front teeth, called the central and lateral incisors. The two lower lateral incisors typically come next, followed by the first molars. The four canine teeth, located next to the lateral incisors, emerge next, and the remaining molars are last. Children will typically keep those baby teeth until approximately age six when permanent teeth begin to erupt in a pattern and sequence similar to how the baby teeth arrived.
Knowing the typical teething schedule and the signs of teething can be helpful in easing a baby’s discomfort. One of the most obvious signs is bulging gums, where the outline of the new tooth is visible inside the gums. Babies will often be more fussy than usual and drool a lot when teething. Often a teething baby will start chewing and biting on everything within reach and wake up frequently throughout the night.
Doctors sometimes disagree about whether teething and fever or teething and vomiting are related. Parents do often notice a correlation between these side effects of teething and a baby’s teething schedule, and an awareness of these possible symptoms is important. Babies will often get a rash on the face, chin, neck or lips, and parents should gently wash the area with warm water and then carefully pat it dry. Some infants will cough or gag somewhat due to the extra saliva generated by teething. Mild diarrhea is common, and babies may experience low-grade fevers with temperatures under 101 degrees.
There are many remedies for teething pain in infants throughout a teething schedule utilizing both traditional medicine and homeopathic teething remedies. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are generally both effective and safe for infants in the midst of a teething schedule, and parents should check with the child’s doctor for the proper dosage. Many teething gels are available over the counter that numb the gums, and there are homeopathic tablets that can be placed under a baby’s tongue to relieve teething pain as well. Babies usually respond well to anything cold when teething is imminent, including a frozen washcloth, chilled teething rings, or frozen bananas or bagels.