When and Why?????

NEVER compare your baby to other babies. I have heard one tooth and walking by one is a GENERAL rule of thumb to think of. If your pediatrician is not concerned, you shouldn't be, either. Relax. Every child is different and this is only the beginning....enjoy her!

Hi J.,

As many others have said, there is NO "milestone" or "schedule" for teeth to come in. Its not like other things that you have to worry about if they don't happen by a certain time. It just doesn't work like that! Also... be prepared, because after they break the surface, they can still take awhile to sprout up to their full size. I think my daughter's took another 6 - 8 weeks before they were fully in. Another thing that might happen is her gum might get a little bruise right before or after the tooth first breaks through. This might freak you out, but I believe its normal.

At 6 mos, she's just at the beginning of the curve for sitting, so don't worry about that. If you don't already have a "First Year" book, you might want to get one. Keep in mind that these milestones are on a continuum. If you're really worried, you should speak with your pediatrician.

Good luck!

Stop comparing your child to others. As soon as you do this, life will become much easier. You may consider taking her out of the walker for a few weeks and encourage sitting, even with a boppy pillow behind for support until she gets the hang of it. And if she still insists on standing, she will sit eventually! Just be patient.

Your daughter will get her teeth when they are ready to come through. My son did not get his teeth until much later though he was teething before it happened. Poor little guy got 3-4 at once but he got them much later than my daughter who had a full set by the time she was 9 months. My son had only four or five at that time but he turned out fine and with your daughter wanting to stand and not sit,just let her do it. Kids do not always do things in the average order that we are told. My daughter learned to run before she could crawl. I am sure your daughter is fine just work with her and one day she will do everything she is supposed to do.

I don't have anything for you on your why. My kids loved to stand all the time, but they still sat and played quite a bit.

As for the when, my oldest was 9 months old before she got her first tooth. Yes, some kids might get them at 3 months! Some are even born with teeth that need to be removed. There's nothing wrong with her not having any teeth yet. It's perfectly normal. I think my second daughter got her first tooth earlier than my oldest, but I don't remember when that was...

My son definitely got his teeth later then other kids. He didn't get his first tooth until he was 10 1/2 months while other kids were getting them at 6 or 7 months. I don't think there is any rhyme or reason to when they get them.

Yes, I agree with the few responces I read below. I have 2 sons - the 1st got his first 2 teeth the day he was 5 months old and had 10 by the time he was 1. My younger guy just cut his first tooth yesterday and he's 12-1/2 months!

J.,
If she is able to walk in the walker it would seem as if her spine is strong. She just may prefer standing because she is used to the walker. As to the teeth, my daughter was 11 months old when she got her first tooth, and my son was almost 9 months. (Mind you , they started drooling at 2 months and I thought the teeth were coming then.) They both have beautiful teeth! The longer they take to erupt, the better! She will also lose her teeth later if they come in late!

My daughter is 7 months and she is in the same boat. Dont worry as all kids hit milestones at different times. She isn't teething yet either, but my son was also a late teether so I am not worried about that yet either. Talk to your doctor but i am sure he will tell you the same thing. good luck.

Try not to compare. It is hard when you hear everyone else talking about what their kids are doing. Your daughter is her own, she will do or not do things on her own time. Don't waist your time obsessing or comparing. Our daughter didn't get her first tooth until 10 mon. And let me tell you when it happens you will wonder why you wished it. Once they start coming in they don't stop. Luckily, the whole teething has been fairly easy here, but for some it is dreadful. Don't let me scare you it is just something that happens on it own time. Take in all of your daughters milestones, remember them, write them down, take photos, remember dates, ect. Make each one special for you and for her. Just bask in what she is doing right now not what everyone else's children are doing and when. Taking your mind off of what is going on around you and pay attention and focus on what is in front of you. This will help you to stop dwelling over what your daughter can and cannot do... yet. It will all come in time, some of which you wish would not have come at all. Stop dwelling over what everyone else's children are doing. I have been there. Maybe focus on what your baby IS doing. On another note, our daughter never sat up either. She went from rolling around on the floor to crawling to walking. I am not sure she ever sat up on her own. It is perfectly normal for some babies to skip a step.

J.,
I have 3 kids, and honestly all kids are different, they all grow at different rates and diffrent times. I would not panic. One of my daughters did everything by the book. My second daughter, not so much. She was fourteen months old before she started walking or talking and then all at once everything started. Now she is a basketball player and she talks your ear off. As far as teeth go, I actually know someone that had a child that was born with 2 teeth. Crazy! Then while a lot of kids in scholl already have been throught the brace stage, my daughter finally lost her last tooth just last year. She finally was able to get braces and she's 15. My son who is 7 still hasn't lost any of his baby teeth and most kids his age have lost several already. Don't worry and don't rush it. Children grow up way too fast.

Hi J.. I just wanted you to know that you sound exactly like me when I was raising my first. All you need to know now is that they all catch up to each other. That is what everyone else told me at the time and they were right!

Hi J.,

If you are truly concerned about the not sitting up part, why not explain that to the pediatrician at your next visit.

As for the teething -- my oldest son had a tooth by the time he was 5 months old and the rest sprung up like mushrooms very quickly. My youngest son was teething for what seemed like forever, and didn't have any teeth until he was past his first birthday. (Just as they were getting ready to refer me out for x-rays for any possibly abnormalities).

While I think it is important to note any major deviation from the norm, I think we also have to keep things in perspective.

In the meantime, enjoy your daughter -- time flies by so quickly!

Yes, all normal. Relax! It's not a race. :)

My daughter got her teeth very late, but when they started they all came in at once. dont stress yet, they will come

J., my daughter is 8 1/2 months old and she would rather sit or stand. However, she just started crawling this past week. We placed the TV switcher in front of her over the weekend, and that is the most I have seen her crawl ... she also has no teeth yet. My daughter goes to daycare and there are kids in her class 2-3 months younger than her crawling and even standing already, plus have 5-6 teeth already. I have felt the same way you do. Just remember, every child is different and grows at his/her own pace. I wouldn't worry too much that she hasn't yet reached these milestones. Enjoy this time ... because once she becomes mobile, you will be very busy.

(I haven't read the replies, so apologies for any duplicate info.)

Every child is different, and some things can't be helped along (like the teeth), while others can be helped along (like the sitting up).

I had 3 teeth at 4mos old (because I was very large, haha) and so our Peed said that our son might get teeth early as well (something about inheriting the teeth genes from the mom). He started teething at 4mos, but nothing until 6mos. In our mom's group of several children, we have a few 16mos who still only have 2 teeth and an 18mo who has all of her teeth. We also have a 3yo cousin who still has 2 teeth to come in (I hope my son doesn't teeth for an extra year!!!).

For the sitting up, I can share things we've learned from our son's therapists and developmentalists (he was a premie):

- don't use anything that encourages standing/walking until they're crawling; otherwise, you're building up their lower body strength too soon (throwing off balance) and they need core strength before anything
- don't use the Bumbo seats to 'help' them sit; it doesn't help them learn anything, it does the sitting for them; something else that keeps them from getting core strength
- don't hold their hands up, moving them along (as if they're walking) until they actually do walk against furniture; otherwise, you're building their upper body strength and setting off their balance
- the best way for their core strength is to sit them between your legs and let them (gently) fall to the side, correcting and catching themselves on their own
- once they have good core strength, the sitting up is natural, and you want about 3mos of confident sitting up before the crawling, just as you want 3 mos of crawling before the walking (its amazing how good they walk when they have good balance/strength, as opposed to looking like 'drunken sailors' for several months).

Wanting to stand is natural for their age, they stiff-leg you, haha. Then once they walk, they pull their legs up when you try to stand them :) Play with her on the floor as much as you can. In the end, all kids pretty much reach the same level at kindergarten, so maybe don't stress out too much on how she gets there? Good luck!

My daughter never crawled. she went right from sitting to walking! If she is strong and can move around in her walker I wouldn't be worried. My son who is now 2 years old only has 6 teeth in the front and 4 molars in the back. he didn't sprout any teeth until after he was 1. My daughter had her first two teeth when she was 4 months. Each kid is different. My pediatrician said as long as they start getting teeth by the time they are 18 months there are no worries. My son was always so busy i couldn't keep him still long enough to sit. he was always tring to roll away or scoot. it sounds like your little one is busy too! :-)

As far as the sitting goes...I am sure that once she figured out how fun it was to stand, she decided that sitting wasn't fun at all. Don't worry about it. She will sit on her own in time.

As far as the teeth, my kids were teething and drooling for months before their first teeth came through, which was about 7 to 8 months old. My friend's son didn't get his first tooth until he was 1 year old. As you said, all kids develop at different paces. Just because other kids are getting their teeth prior to 6 months old, doesn't mean that there is something wrong with your kid.

My daughter didn't sit up until 7 months. My daughter also teethed for about 3 months before any teeth came through and she didn't get her 1st tooth until she was 9 months old. 4-5 months is EXTREMELY early for teeth. Teething is one thing where they are all so different.

i agree with others... you can't compare kids to each other.

My first daughter had TWELVE teeth at 12 months, 16 teeth at 13 months.... my younger daughter had TWO teeth at 12 months! haha! she got her top four front teeth at 13 months.
such a difference just between siblings... so you can imagine the difference between people not related.

I didn't know much about babies when my first one was born, so I didn't realize how fast her teeth came in... but it made me appreciate my younger one's gummy smile all that much more. :-D

enjoy her! they grow up before you know it!!!!!!

Can't compare and can't rush anything. It will happen with time and it really doesn't mean much that some do things earlier and some later. My son didn't get his 1st 2 teeth until he was 12 months. :)

Hi, J.,

Sound like you have a strong baby. When did you or your husband cut your teeth?

Don't worry about her getting her teeth. Before you know it, she will be losing them. lol

Compare your baby to herself. Make notes in her baby book and give it to her when she gets married. That will keep your mind occupied.

Good luck. Everything happens in its own time.

D.

Don't panic she might be one of those kids that gets several at a time. You said that she has been teething for awhile now so just be patient.

M. R.

My daughter didn't sit until about 7 months, and her first tooth didn't come in until probably 7.5 or 8 months. Don't stress....every child develops at their own pace!!! Just enjoy this time!

This is all perfectly normal. THe normal range for STARTING to cut teeth is 4 months to 14 or 15 months! Every baby is different. Most kids who start later wind up with healthier teeth b/c the have had fewer months of the teeth in contact with breastmilk or formula. (At least according to my friend's pediatric dentist). Also, the later they teeth the more likely they will have multiple teeth come in at once. I think this would be nicer, get it all done at once. My oldest got his first teeth at 6 months & then continuously got one tooth at a time for almost 6 months. It seemed like we were constantly giving him oragel & tylenol. And it took him forever to sleep through the night b/c he was always uncomfortable. Be grateful she hasn't gotten teeth yet. Also, whether or not she has teeth has no effect on when she can start solid foods or even finger foods.
As for sitting up, I think you have a few more months before you have to worry about her not doing it. I recommend you buy the "What to Expect: The First Year". It is an excellent book, you can look up each month & see what your child should be capable of & what they might be capable of.
Good luck.

Some babies go straight for walking, I know a 8 month old who can walk across entire rooms. My third baby didn't sit up unassisted until close to 7 months. She is 10 months & just got her first tooth. My other kids got their first teeth at 1 month & at 11 months. Every kid is different. Relax.

Dear J.,
My daughter was much older than yours before her teeth came in. Her teeth took a long time, but they were very good.
By putting a infant in the walker, I was told that they will crawl less. However, It is my understanding that the coordination development is necessary for each child. Therefore, I do not believe that leaving a child in a walker for a long period of time is advantageous for the coordination skills of the infant/toddler.
I hope that this is helpful to you.
E.

Hey, J. -
Don't worry about your daughter's milestones at 6 months old. EVERY kid is different, even kids from the same 2 parents. My older daughter did the military crawl for a few months before she FINALLY got up on all fours to crawl. Teeth will come in, trust me. Comparing YOUR child to OTHER children isn't healthy for you OR your baby. Do NOT second-guess yourself, either. Know that you're a wonderful mother who loves her little girl - that's IT! Before you know it, your baby will be a year, then 18 mos., then 2 yrs old, etc., so enjoy the baby-ness while it lasts. As long as she's eating/sleeping pretty well, gets her checkups/shots, etc., she'll do just fine :) When kids want to sit up and walk, they'll do it when they're ready, especially if they want to do it badly enough! And once your daughter starts walking, forget it! She'll want to go EVERYWHERE, so get your gates ready!

You obviously love your daughter, 'cuz you're worried, and that's a normal feeling to have. Be realistic about your expectations of your daughter's growth, and ease up on YOURSELF as a mother. The more that you stress yourself out and waste energy worrying about your baby, the LESS energy you'll have to enjoy her.

Hope that helps, God bless!

Babies do things on their own schedule. My first wasn't walking until 13 months. My second waited until about 14. My baby is 8.5 months old and would be walking if she had the balance. BUT she didn't sit until she was almost 7 months. Be patient. She'll sit and crawl and walk when she is ready.

As for teeth, this baby doesn't have any yet and she's 8.5 months. My older 2 didn't get them until 9 or 10 months.

Enjoy your time with your baby. Don't rush her, she's going to grow faster than you want her to :)

J.

My youngest is 13 months old and just cut his first 2 teeth this week. Actually none of my kids had teeth before they were 13 months old. As for sitting up on their own, mine were also older than 6 months before they sat up by themselves. I think closer to 9 months. They are all perfectly "normal" kids. Don't compare her to other kids, it will just keep you worrying. If at her 1st birthday she hasn't made the right milestones, talk to her pediatrician. Until then have fun with her, she'll get it when she's ready!!!

My son didnt get any teeth until he was 14 Months! Just dont worry about it its not that big a deal she can stil eat pleny by mashing her gums.