Baby fell and chipped or loosened a tooth, what should I do?

At this age, the tooth root hasn't fully developed yet, so loosening after an impact is common. What matters is the degree of looseness and whether there are other signs.

What to do right away:

• Don't put pressure on the tooth or try to wiggle it with your finger.
• For the next 1–2 days, offer soft foods and minimize pacifier/bottle use if possible.
• If there's bleeding in the gum area, gently press with a clean gauze.

When to see a pediatric dentist:

• If the tooth is noticeably tilted or displaced from its normal position, or if it appears to have come completely out of its socket → see a pediatric dentist as soon as possible.
• If looseness is mild, the tooth is in normal position, baby can nurse/eat comfortably, and nothing else seems wrong → watch for 2–3 days; looseness usually resolves on its own.
• Urgent referral (within a few hours): if the tooth is completely out of its socket, baby seems drowsy, vomiting, or has different-sized pupils.

Watch for these signs:

The loosened tooth may turn pink, purple, or gray over the next few days — this is pulp trauma and usually heals on its own. However, if the tooth turns black or an abscess forms (swelling, bump-like pustule on the gum), a pediatric dentist should evaluate.

In summary: mild looseness with normal position means you can wait; tilted or out-of-position tooth requires prompt dental care.