I’m not going to lie, experiencing my toddler cutting his first molars was something else! While I was very familiar with teething symptoms, this time around threw me for a loop!
Carson was less than a year old when he cut all eight of his front teeth over the course of about a month – definitely a painful time for both of us.
When his next teeth came in, I expected it to do the same. One tooth would break through then the rest would quickly follow.
Cut to a few months later, around 16 months old, and we’re getting the early signs of teething. You know, the drooling, irritability, clinginess, changes in appetite, and on-and-off light fever.
What I failed to realize, is that the next teeth were molars, no incisors or canines.
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Your Teething Toddler and Their First Molars
What mainly messed me up this time around was my lack of knowledge about teeth and teething. Our dentist failed to mention what tooth came next or what to expect, so I was waiting for the next ‘front tooth’ to pop up!
Thankfully, after a little research, I discovered that after your toddler or baby cuts their incisors, molars are next! But, it’s not cut and dry.
Molars can appear at the same time as canine teeth or before, and not all molars will come in over the same period of time.
They’ll take a short break so to speak – your little ones will get their first molars, then their canines, then they’ll start cutting their second molars!
Here’s a chart if you’re curious about what I’m talking about:
Overall, your toddler will cut their first 20 teeth before (or by) three years old! Crazy, right?
Carson decided to cut all four teeth at once! He cut the top two over a weekend and the bottom two molars the following week.
What to Expect and Look Out for With Your Toddler
Don’t be surprised when your toddler is inconsolable and clingy, first molars are hard to cut.
They’re not sharp like incisors and canines, they’re flat and large. This causes more pressure and pain when they’re breaking through your toddler’s gums – sometimes the tooth can even cause ‘blisters’ that burst and bleed.
If your toddler is cutting their first molars, you’ll quickly realize that the physical signs are not the only ones to look out for – their behavior can drastically change as well.
Behavior changes can include:
- Irritability and fussiness
- Decreased appetite
- Rubbing of ears or cheeks
- Chewing
- Biting
- Clinginess
Of course, every toddler behaves differently and some may not experience the same discomfort as others – Carson experienced them all to varying ranges each day, making it really hard to try and calm him or prepare for the next day ahead of time!
Symptoms Related to Toddlers Cutting Their Molars
The main symptom your toddler will experience with cutting their first molar is pain. The pain will most likely be the worst on the day a tooth is actually cutting through their gum.
This means that on the days your toddler is acting out and you suspect it’s teething, not only should you try and take a quick peek at their gums, but you should also keep a look out for other symptoms.
The most common teething symptoms related to toddlers cutting their first molars are:
- Swollen or sore gums
- Drooling
- Mouth rash
- Red or rosy cheeks
- Low-grade fever (less than 101F)
- Loose stool or diarrhea
- Coughing
It’s safe to say that no matter what symptoms you notice, if you’re toddler is teething then they’re in pain!
While it’s our job to make sure we help them in any way that we can, it’s also okay if we’re a little slow on the pick-up – if you know what I mean.
We’re human too and because our littles can’t always communicate what they’re feeling means that sometimes it takes us a minute to figure out what’s going on.
How to Help Your Teething Toddler
A teething toddler cutting first molars might just be another world mystery when trying to figure out the foolproof solution to their pain. Since we can’t really predict when the tooth is going to pop through, we just have to work with what we can see when we start seeing symptoms.
Every toddler will be different when it comes to what works best when teething. Some toddlers even do best with a bit of cuddling versus using Tylenol or ibuprofen.
Carson does best with a little bit of ibuprofen combined with cuddling and a good nap – otherwise, I like to use:
- Cactus teether, after letting it chill in the fridge
- Yogurt
- Rubbing his gums
- Cool damp rags, he loves to suck/chew on these
- Cuddles and a movie
This is just what I found made him the happiest and the calmest! Try different things with your toddler to figure out what works best for them.
Every mom has to deal with a teething toddler at some point, so why not be prepared? Next time you go, ask your pediatrician what to expect from your toddler’s next development and what teeth or changes are coming next!
The post What to Expect When Your Toddler is Cutting Their First Molars appeared first on Everyday She Moms.