By what age should a child have 6 to 8 teeth?

By the age of 1 year, most children typically have around 6 to 8 teeth. The process of teething usually starts around 6 months of age, with the lower central incisors commonly being the first to emerge. As the first year progresses, it is common for children to continue developing molars and other incisors, leading to the general expectation of having multiple teeth by their first birthday. This period of dental development is crucial for providing children with the ability to chew food, which is essential as they transition to a more varied diet beyond purees.

Therefore, the age of 1 year accurately reflects the milestone of having 6 to 8 teeth, aligning with dental developmental norms observed in infants.

Other options suggest ages either too early or too late for this range of dentition. For example, 6 months is considered the beginning of teething, but few children will have 6 to 8 teeth by that age. Conversely, by 18 months or 2 years, many children typically develop even more teeth, often exceeding that number significantly.