16-Month Old Teething Too Slowly?

Hi S., I do not think there is a time limit on teething although I do believe my children had their teeth earlier. If you are concerned, check with a dentist. Yes, his appetite can be affected by teething, and children go up and down with eating as they go through growth spurts. I believe I have heard the longer they take to come in, the stronger the teeth are. Hope this is true. Grandma Mary

Three teeth at once is hard! If you can tell that those teeth are coming in, then don't stress at all about him not eating. My son won't eat or take a sippy cup when he's getting a tooth- and that's just one at a time! :)

Babies are all different. Don't stress about the teeth. As I'm sure you've discovered, they can chew real food just fine without a whole bunch of choppers. And I'd say you've been lucky! My son had 6 teeth by six months, and is now getting his first molar before his 11 month birthday. ACK! They come in when they come in.

I wouldn't worry about the late teething. My friend's son had no teeth at all until he was 19 months, and now at age 8 has a full set of healthy teeth. His adult teeth are coming in later than average too but in some ways I think this is a good thing.
I also think it is quite normal for kids to lose their appetite a bit when teething. I also found with my kids that they got more fussy as they got older. My older child ate almost everything at age one and by about two there were only about 3 things left that she liked!! It was a phase (quite a long one though!), and now she is 8 and eats almost everything again.

Like other moms said, I think your son is fine on the teething. Everyone develops at their own pace.

As far as the loss of interest in food, I'm totally with you there. It's just the age. They're learning that they have some say in what happens in their lives, and also are so curious about what's around them that they're often too busy to eat. My 17 month old was a great eater when she was younger, I made her homemade purees and she'd eat everything including kale and spinach. Now she's super picky and only has a limited list of things she'll eat. Even then she often won't eat what I give her, leaving me to scramble to come up with something else. I just make sure she's getting enough milk/cheese/yogurt, iron from fortified sources like baby cereal, and try to feed her good fats like avocadoes.

My 16th month old daughter only has 5 teeth as well (her front top 2, bottom front 2 and a molar) with 2 of the top lateral incisors coming in now and her eating is very picky as well. I would say do not worry about the teeth. All kids develop differently but if you are worried take her to a pediatric dentist (my ped said they recommend now a first visit to the dentist at 12 months). The picky eating could be a result of teething..afterall do you want to eat if your mouth hurts..lol. But it could also be typical toddler behaviour. Those little ones are infamous for keeping us parents guessing which food is on the black list and which ones they like at any given moment. Plus they do not grow as quickly now as they did from birth to 12 months hence less food is necessary. Remember 1/4 of an adult serving (not supersized) is what a toddler should eat or 1 tablespoon of a food group for each year of life ( 1 tablespoon at 16 months). Their tummies are the size of their fist.

I wish you well!

Hi S.,

My son didn't get his first tooth until he was 11 months. My daughter, who is 13 months, doesn't have any teeth yet.

My sister, dental hygeinist, tells me the teeth are healthy and strong when they stay under the gums -- not a bad thing!

Maybe he's teething, that's why he's not interested. Or, maybe he just finished a growth spurt.

No worries!

Dont be too concerned with this.

When the teeth take longer to come in it is a good thing.. According to the dentist my mother took me to... they will be good and strong. The kids whos teeth come in fast.. tend to have soft teeth that get cavities quickly.

My teeth didnt come in until I was almost 3 and I have not had a problem with any of them.

My sons teeth came in really early and he had cavities in his baby teeth. While my daugters teeth took longer to come in and they dont have any issues.

As for the disinterest in foods, it could be teething but it could also be chalked up to him being a kid and his tastes changing. My kids went thru many different fazes of eating. One week they loved some food..My son was a tomato sauce fanatic.. wanted it on everything.. then the next week, he wouldnt eat it anymore and wouldnt for about 5 years or so.
Also, My kids wouldnt eat baby food.. I bought a baby food mill so that I could feed them what we ate.

If it is teathing.. you may be able to feel a puffy spot in his mouth. let him have sugar free popcycles.. or make them yourself out of juice and that will make him feel better if it is. My kids tended to eat a little more if I gave them a popcycle about 15 minutes before dinner was ready. I know..first thought... a treat before dinner... It helped though.
Treats are treated as regular foods in my household so my kids didnt freak out when the did get them.

Hope this helps.

W. in Watkins Glen
Mom to 3 kids.
Korey-Mikel 16, Whitney 13 and Andrea 6

Got you beat there! When my daughter was 18 months she only had 4 teeth. Teething is sooooo varied it's not something to worry about. Appetites come and go (could be teeth, slow growth period, being more interested in playing than eating). Is he bored with his food? Does he want to eat from a big boy plate and with a big boy fork? Experiment a bit and see.

Hi S.,
I would guess that's not too much of a concern, but if it worries you, absolutely call your son's doctor for reassurance. Teeth or lack thereof likely wont' affect his interest in eating. My son had only 6 teeth by the time he turned a year, and at 10 months, he refused baby food, would point at our plates and scream so he was eating shredded whatever we had for dinner with his 5 or 6 teeth.
Good luck!

Hi S., my name is D.. I am a first time mom as well, working as a dental hygienist. I work in a pediatric dental office in East Brunswick. As far as your son's teeth are concerned, I don't think you should be too concerned. Some children get their teeth quickly and others very slowly. The whole "teeth thing" is hereditary, so unless you, dad or a close family member are missing teeth, there shouldn't be a problem. By the time your son is 2, give or take a couple of months he should have 24 teeth.
I think it is common for the loss of food interest because it may hurt him to eat. Good luck!
Hope everything works out!

Hi, My twins had their teeth come in at different times. My daughter got hers at 10 months and they came in prob at a normal time she is 2.5 and has all of them. My son got his first tooth at 13 months and they have come in slowly. He still is missing 5 and 1 is coming in now. I took both of them to the dentist and she said that is was fine. His mouth hurts his at times, he likes to bite things (not people) bc i am assuming the teething. He also used to eat everything and has become much pickier at times not even eating a meal. The ped told me that was normal also. sometimes they will eat and sometimes they will skip meal time. good luck.

DON'T WORRY. my 14mo doesn't have ANY teeth, and i didn't get any teeth until i was two. it's completely genetic. my ped. isn't concerned in the slightest, and neither am i. my little girl can eat just about anything. food interest comes and goes. just keep offering, and he'll be fine.