First teeth

stages of life > 6-18 Monate

A real breakthrough

[Translate to South Africa:] first teeth

A small white tip flashes in a smile. Hurray, the first tooth! A great breakthrough in your child’s development – this means learning to eat like the big ones and also making a great leap with learning to talk, because sounds are more intelligible when you have new little teeth.

Nowhere in the body are there so many muscles and nerves as in the mouth. The activities here, in such a small space, are what make survival and interpersonal communication possible: breathing, sucking, biting, chewing, swallowing, speaking and facial expressions all require the same muscles and nerves. The tongue also plays a major role in this perfect interaction, for if it cannot be moved properly, then it is easy for everything to get really mixed up.

The mouth and tongue enable your baby’s development from day one: the first thing newborns learn is sucking at the breast – usually immediately after birth. Straight after that comes swallowing. A few months later, chewing begins with the first milk teeth and, when they are about one year old, children then start with the supreme discipline of oral development: speaking.

Each of these steps builds on the other. That is why the palate’s healthy development is of great importance for babies. You can support them in four steps: breastfeeding and, if necessary, the right teat and pacifier to exercise the muscles and satisfy the innate sucking reflex. During teething comes the beneficial and important massaging of the gums and, with the first tooth, learning to clean the teeth and, finally, showing your children how to take care of their teeth themselves.

One tooth, many signs.

Long before the first tooth shows, it has already taken up its position – the first teeth begin to grow between the sixth and eighth weeks of pregnancy! So, drooling is just the tip of the iceberg. In some children, teething goes unnoticed; in others, it makes itself known for days or weeks. Many have an increased flow of saliva through their attempts at chewing and put everything that is within their reach into their mouths. As a result, bacteria and dirt have easier access and this can lead to skin rashes or diarrhoea during that time. However, sleep problems, loss of appetite, red cheeks, restlessness and, in some cases, a high temperature can also be other early signs.

All in good time.

With some children, the first teeth are already visible at four months, while, with others, they are still not in sight at half a year. But that is no reason to worry. All ages given here are only averages. The breakthrough times can vary considerably from child to child.

NUK All Stages Teether

[Translate to South Africa:] teething ring seahorse

massages with different materials and levels of hardness
reaches all areas in the mouth
suitable for differnt teething phases

NUK Cooling Teether Ring Set

[Translate to South Africa:] NUK Cool Teether Set for babies

promotes the motor skills in a playful way
two rings of different levels of hardness
can be cooled

Further teething topics and product information