Could 4 Month Old Twins Be Teething?

Updated on June 11, 2008
J.S. asks from Lewisville, TX
28 answers

Within the last few weeks my twin boys have started drooling a lot and chewing on their fingers. The last few days they have started trying to stick their whole hands in their mouths, which causes them to gag and then a "volcanic eruption" soon follows. I was just wondering if these are the signs of teething or are they just discovering their hands....is it time to get out the teething rings?

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So What Happened?

Thank you to everyone who replied. I've tried giving them teething rings, but they have a hard time keeping them in their mouths without me holding them there. They seem to enjoy chewing on them, so I'm going to try the washcloth trick some of you talked about. I guess we'll just wait and see what happens. Thanks again for all the helpful posts, you guys gave me a lot of ideas!

J.

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C.P.

answers from Amarillo on

Hi J.! I have 6 month old twin boys and they have been doing the same thing since around 4 months also but no teeth yet. I am convinced they ARE teething though and use baby orajel when I feel it's getting to them. It seems to help some.

Good luck!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.E.

answers from Dallas on

Both of my girls got their first 2 teeth at 4 mo, and my son started the same thing at 3 1/2 to 4 month, but didn't get the first 2 teeth in until almost 7 mo. Good luck!

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S.E.

answers from Dallas on

I have 5 month old twins girls. (we should set them up-ha ha). One of my twins' first tooth broke through the skin right at 4 months and her second one is coming in right behind it. However, the other is doing the drooling and hands in mouth, but no teeth just yet. I DID read that the drooling comes from them teething, but it also can come from their salivary glands. Around 4 months their salivary glands go into overload preparing them for solid foods. Hope this helps.

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J.G.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter cut her first tooth at 4 months. (I didn't know what was wrong, so I took her to the Dr!!) Teeting Tabs were something that worked great for us in soothing her discomfort, especially during the night. You can find them at any grocery store or drug store. I think Wal-Mart has the best price. They are homeopathic, so I didn't feel like I was drugging her up.

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A.D.

answers from Dallas on

My son hat 4 teeth at 4 mo. old,,,,,So yes!

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N.R.

answers from Dallas on

I just read the other day that teething could start as early as 4 mths! So, I guess it's very possible that they could be getting their first teeth! Go ahead and break out the teething rings..it doesn't hurt anything to let them have them either way. My son drooled constantly...I had to invest in some of those waterproof bibs~

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

Yes, it could be teething.... My little guy is almost 11 months now, but he cut his first tooth at 4 months and almost a week later had another one. He had 8 teeth at 7 months, and now he is working on his molars...YUCK!
I can't for sure tell you, but sounds like it might be teething, and the doctors have also told us that babies this young have a very sensitive gag reflex. Hope this helps in some small way...

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M.H.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter (who is now 22) got her first two teeth at 4 months old. She always cut two teeth at a time. Everyone was surprised because she was so young, but she has perfectly beautiful teeth now.

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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter got her 1st tooth at the beginning of her 4th month. Drooling is the key sign. Use vaseline on their cheeks if they get a rash.

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

You're right on both counts- they probably are teething, and it is also the normal part of development to discover and mouth their hands. The thing that people forget is that the teething process lasts sometimes for months. My son began teething at this time, and no teeth until 9 months. My 6 month old has been doing the same thing now for 1-2 months. Teething rings would be great because it helps with hand to mouth coordination, and it helps desensitize the gums in preparation for eating more solid foods as well as for when the teeth do come in. As far as the comment about reflux because of gagging, maybe, but I know my pediatrician also said that this self-gagging is normal developmentally because they are desensitizing the gag reflex in preparation for solids and feeding.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Yes -- they are teething! My son got his first tooth the day he turned 4 months old, and then got another one a few days later. Some kids get their teeth early, and some don't even get them until a year old. The average is 6 months of age. (My daughter got her first tooth around 5 months old.) If they use a pacifier, you might try putting it in the refrigerator and letting them chew on that. It works pretty well for the little ones that can't hold a teething ring yet. Good luck!

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C.P.

answers from Dallas on

Hello J.,

Yes it's possible. My niece had teeth at 3 months! =) ~C.~

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J.L.

answers from Dallas on

My twins boys started doing that as well as 4 months. I was convinced that they were teething, but they just got their first two teeth in recently and they are now 8 months old. I think they just start drooling a lot around that time.

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P.M.

answers from Dallas on

Could be teething or could be just exploration. They are definitely not too young to be getting teeth. My son (now 3) started teething between 3 and 4 months. And my 2 month old daughter got teeth at 3 weeks. Yes, for all of you, she got both her bottom teeth in at 3 weeks.

So no, believe me, your kids aren't too young! :-)

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N.C.

answers from Dallas on

My son began teething at 3 months! They very well could be teething! If they are drooling a lot (and it sounds like they are!) I'm sure they are teething!

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T.K.

answers from Dallas on

All my boys teethed by 4 months and had a full mouth of teeth by 8 months. It was not so bad for me since they all weened themselves from breastmilk by 3 months. My girl teethed a little later, but not much.
A simple economic teething "ring" is to saturate a baby washcloth, ring it out good, roll it up, and freeze it. That way, they chew on it, nothing can "break open", and it gives them that cold comfort that is easy to hold.

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N.B.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter started drooling and showing all of what I considered the signs of teething at four months too. I was convinced she was getting teeth and she didn't get her first one until right before her first birthday. They could be starting the process, but sometimes it is a long one. The teething rings won't hurt them, so if it keeps their fists out of their mouths go ahead. You probably don't need to keep them in the fridge yet though. They will just play with them at first. Good luck.

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J.L.

answers from Dallas on

Oh yes, and so it begins. Good luck to you with all of that. My son had both bottom teeth fully in by 15 weeks and both top teeth in by 6 months. If found an awesome teether at www.jejeteether.com (I bought 2). It was the only teether he would take.

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

I would say yes to both that they probably are teething and discovering hands as well. They would enjoy chewing on teething toys for sure at this age. Give them infant Tylenol at nighttime if it's really hard on them, and they can't sleep well.

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

J.,My mother used to say it was time to break out the whiskyat teething time,not for the baby but for you! HaHa Just a laugh.

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L.G.

answers from Dallas on

YEs. They are teething. Expect the lower front two to pop up.

L.

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R.E.

answers from Dallas on

Hi J.:

Your twins could be pre-teething, but the average age when the first teeth come in is 6 months. In addition, many babies do not have teeth come in until as late as 12 months.

Self-gagging (sticking the hand in the mouth/throat) is often a sign a reflux. You should take your boys in to see their pediatrician. They could have silent reflux that comes up to the hypopharynx or mid throat, but not out. It could be irritating their esophagus or food pipe, which is why babies often self-gag. For other signs of infant reflux, go to www.infantrefluxdisease.com. This website has good, straightforward information for parents. I treat more multiples for reflux than singletons. They seem to be more prone to it, but it can be treated many different ways. Questions to ask yourself would be:
1. Do they sneeze frequently after feedings?
2. Do they have dry coughs occasionally?
3. Are they poor nappers and take "cat naps" during the day?
4. Do they sound congested during and after drinking, or frequently?
5. Do they move around in their sleep quite a bit?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, talk to your pediatrician.

R. Elkin, MOT, OTR/L, CKT

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J.H.

answers from Amarillo on

Sounds like they may start teething soon to me. But my daughter drooled quite awhhile before her first tooth. I even had to put a bib on her to keep her clothes dryer she drooled so much.

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K.G.

answers from Dallas on

Yes, my twins had all of the signs of teething around 4-5 months; however, only one of them has a tooth now. It showed about at 8 months. Seems like they have been teething forever!

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A.J.

answers from Dallas on

The teething process takes up to 3 months, they can actually be teething several weeks to months before the teeth actually erupt. and 4 months is about when it starts.

A. J

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C.R.

answers from Dallas on

HI J. ,
Glad you asked I also have a four month old girl who is doing the same drooling alot and her hands are allways in her mouth and yes I bought her some teething rings they grow so fast Good Luck..

SAHM married with four great kids ....

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K.B.

answers from Dallas on

Yes. I have two kids, almost 3 and 4 1/2 months. My oldest got her first 2 teeth at 4 months and my baby just got her first 2 as well. Completely normal.

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H.C.

answers from Dallas on

Its entirely possible, my son started teething at 3 months. Have fun : )

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