Most toddlers get their first molars between 11 and 18 months of age, with the second set following between 20 and 30 months. These are the largest teeth to push through your child’s gums during infancy, and they tend to cause more discomfort than the front teeth that came before them.
First Molars: 11 to 18 Months
The first primary molars are the sixth and seventh teeth to appear, arriving after the four front teeth (central incisors) and the two teeth flanking them (lateral incisors). According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, both the upper and lower first molars typically erupt between 11 and 18 months. Some sources place the upper first molars slightly later, at 13 to 19 months, and the lower ones at 14 to 18 months. Either way, most children have their first molars by around a year and a half.
You might notice a gap between the lateral incisors and these new molars. That’s normal. The canine teeth (the pointed ones) fill in that gap later, usually between 16 and 20 months, sometimes overlapping with or arriving just after the first molars.
Second Molars: 20 to 30 Months
The second primary molars sit behind the first set and are the last baby teeth to come in. They erupt between 20 and 30 months for both the upper and lower jaw. By your child’s third birthday, all 20 primary teeth are usually in place. These second molars complete the back row your toddler needs for grinding food properly, which is why chewing ability improves noticeably around age two and a half to three.
Why Molars Hurt More Than Other Teeth
Molars have a broad, flat surface, which means a larger area of gum tissue has to stretch and break open for them to push through. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles notes that the first teeth and molars tend to be the most uncomfortable stages of teething. Because the pain radiates through the gums, it can travel to the cheek and ear on the same side. That’s why toddlers cutting molars often rub their cheeks or pull at their ears, a behavior that parents sometimes mistake for an ear infection.
Other common signs include increased drooling, irritability, disrupted sleep, and a slight rise in temperature. However, true fever (above 100.4°F) is not a normal teething symptom. Diarrhea isn’t either. If your toddler develops a fever or loose stools while cutting molars, something else is likely going on.
Soothing Sore Gums at Home
Pressure is one of the simplest ways to ease molar pain. Rubbing your toddler’s gums with a clean finger or a piece of wet gauze for about two minutes can provide relief, and you can repeat it as often as needed. For children older than one, wrapping a small piece of ice in a wet cloth and gently pressing it against the gums adds a cooling effect.
Chilled teething rings, pacifiers, or wet washcloths kept in the refrigerator also work well. If you use a teething ring, choose one filled with distilled water rather than gel, since new teeth can puncture gel-filled rings. Avoid anything frozen solid, like ice pops or frozen teething toys straight from the freezer, because these can cause frostbite on delicate gum tissue.
When discomfort is severe, infant-appropriate pain relievers containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help, but the Mayo Clinic recommends limiting use to one or two days at a time. A few products to avoid entirely: topical gels containing benzocaine or lidocaine (which can be dangerous for young children), homeopathic teething tablets (some have been found to contain unsafe levels of belladonna), and teething necklaces or bracelets, which pose choking and strangulation risks.
Feeding During Molar Eruption
Many toddlers temporarily refuse foods they normally enjoy when molars are pushing through. Chewing hurts, so they gravitate toward anything soft or cold. Leaning into that preference for a few days won’t set back their eating habits.
Good options include plain yogurt, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, hummus, applesauce, and mashed banana. Chilling purees or mashed foods before serving adds a soothing effect. A mesh feeder filled with frozen fruit like banana or peach slices, frozen pureed vegetables, or even frozen breast milk cubes lets your toddler gnaw safely while numbing sore gums. As the worst of the pain passes, you can reintroduce firmer textures like whole-grain toast cut into small pieces, peas, or thin cucumber slices.
When Molars Are Late
The eruption ranges above are averages, and plenty of healthy toddlers fall outside them by a month or two. Genetics plays the biggest role in timing. If you or your partner were late teethers, your child likely will be too. Premature birth and low birth weight can also shift the timeline.
As a general benchmark, if your child has no teeth at all by nine months, that’s worth a visit to a pediatric dentist. For molars specifically, there’s no single red-flag age, but if your toddler hasn’t started getting first molars by around 20 months or second molars by age three, mentioning it at a regular dental or well-child visit is reasonable. Delayed eruption on its own is rarely a sign of a serious problem, but a dentist can take an X-ray to confirm the teeth are present beneath the gums and developing normally.