Sunday, October 18, 2009

Toofies

I know, I know, you're not supposed to use "baby talk" with kids because it doesn't teach them the correct way to say things. But, darn it, I don't think it's possible to stop calling teeth "toofies" with my kids. If their verbal development is scarred by it, I take full responsibility.

My kids are sloooooow teethers. The average time for a baby to cut that first tooth is about 6 or 7 months. Chickie's first broke through at 11 months old. I said to myself, "Oh, surely Zoodle's won't be that late!" He set out to prove me wrong.

A couple of weeks after his first birthday, Zoodle's first tooth (one of the bottom middle ones) finally started to pop out. (I was so relieved to realize he wouldn't be gumming his hamburgers and fries in high school.) A few weeks later, tooth number two made its appearance.

He was a two-toothed wonder until the first top middle tooth showed up at around 17 months. And then apparently he decided he'd better make up for lost time.

He hit 18 months a couple of weeks ago, and that week the second top middle tooth finally popped out of the gums. But it wasn't until a week later that I realized his exceptionally fussy mood the previous week had been due to cutting not one tooth, but two. I hadn't noticed the second because it was a molar. Now, molars don't usually come out until quite a bit further along in the teething process, so of course I'm taking this as a sign that Zoodle is exceptional and creative. Soon afterward, the other top molar started making its appearance.

And while I think his bottom gums may remain two-toothed for awhile, on the top I can see every other little tooth (with the exception of the two-year molars) pushing against his gums, just waiting to pop out. We may have a rough few months ahead of us.

So if I come on here one day and my post says nothing but "AAAAAAARGH!" just chalk it up to little Zoodle, making it clear to me that these "toofies" are bringing pain and drama to his life--and mine.

6 comments:

beckiwithani said...

Hopefully they'll all erupt at once, so you can get it over with!

BTW, who on earth told you that using baby talk hurts a kid's linguistic development? Linguists have found that to be absolutely untrue.

Rachel Cotterill said...

There are some entertaining examples from language acquisition of kids who use some incorrect forms of words but will correct their parents if a parent copies the mistake. Kids always know more than you think! And it's very hard to break them ;)

C. Beth said...

Becki & Rachel--Oh, I don't know, I've heard that somewhere. Honestly I am not concerned about scarring my kids by calling them "toofies," I was joking. But good to hear that my baby talk isn't a bad thing. :)

LEstes65 said...

Yay Zoodle! How exceptionally creative of him to have his teeth come in in this fashion. He lives on the edge. He's a trend setter!

Call Me Cate said...

As long as he's getting teeth, sounds like he's all clear to do it however he likes. He has no idea what he's missing, not being able to sink those teeth into a nice juicy steak.

Unknown said...

Tootsies on your feet, toofies in your mouth. What's wrong with that?