When should my child’s first baby tooth come in?

This is a very common question, particularly with first-time parents.  One thing you must understand is that children are highly variable in their personalities, growth and especially their teeth.  There is no hard and fast rule as to when your child will get their first tooth, but rather general guidelines to refer to.  These relative times of tooth eruption can vary by many months, so when I say it is a general guideline I truly mean it.  Generally speaking, the first tooth will appear between 6 and 9 months of age.  My youngest son did not get his first tooth until he was 11 months old!  So don’t worry too much if your child is not following the guidelines exactly.

There are also extremes on the other end of the spectrum.  There are some infants that are actually born with a tooth or two.  These are called “natal teeth” and are a lot of fun for breastfeeding moms! It is usually only a concern  if they interfere with breastfeeding or if the teeth are loose and feared to be a choking hazard..  This is a situation that your pediatrician will discuss with you.

Here is a quick reference guide to follow and refers only to baby teeth:

6-8 months old

The first tooth usually appears and is almost always a lower front tooth (called lower central incisors)

8-12 months old

The top front teeth appear (called upper central incisors)

9-13 months old

Upper lateral incisors appear; these are the teeth immediately next to the already existing top teeth (lateral simply means “to the side of”)

10-16 months old

The lower lateral incisors appear; these are the teeth next to the now existing lower front teeth

13-19 months old

The first primary/baby molars appear on the top and bottom; They may appear simultaneously or at various times; There will be a large space between these molars and the other existing baby teeth.

16-22 months old

The canine teeth appear (also called cuspids or “fangs”) on the top and bottom and may appear simultaneously or separately.

Tags: 19 Months, 9 Months, Baby Molars, Baby Teeth, Baby Tooth, Canine Teeth, Cuspids, Extremes, Fangs, First Time Parents, Front Teeth, Front Tooth, Lateral Incisors, Lower Lateral, Natal Teeth, Pediatrician, Personalities, Quick Reference Guide, Relative Times, Tooth Eruption, Top And Bottom, Upper Lateral, Youngest Son