It is completely normal for molars to take several weeks, or even months, to fully emerge after the gums first begin to swell. While official timelines suggest second molars often appear between 23 and 33 months, many toddlers experience symptoms for a long time before the tooth actually breaks through. If your child is in significant discomfort, focus on managing the symptoms rather than worrying about the timeline; the process can be slow and varies greatly from child to child.