Teething does have an impact on your child’s sleep, but not quite as much as most parents believe.
Perhaps your baby has been sleeping fairly well when all of a sudden you start to see a regression. And now they’re waking up crying once, twice, or maybe even three times in the night. Naturally you’re looking for a reason why your little one’s sleep has gone off the rails. And if there’s any chance a tooth might be coming in, that provides a quick and easy answer.
But there are several different reasons why your child could be experiencing a sleep regression. Perhaps they’ve recently learned a new skill such as rolling or standing, maybe their sleep schedule needs an adjustment, or perhaps they’re relying on a sleep prop to help them fall asleep.
Or maybe, it truly is teething that’s affecting your baby’s sleep after all.
Here’s how to tell if it’s teething and what you can do to help:
What are teething symptoms?
Teething may cause:
- Mild crankiness or irritability
- Crying
- A low-grade temperature (below 101°F or 38.3°C)
- Increased drooling
- A desire to chew on something hard
- Swollen and tender gums
Crankiness, irritability and crying are also natural stages of a child’s development.
Teething does not cause:
- A fever greater than 101°F or 38.3°C
- Diarrhea
- Congestion/runny nose
If you notice your baby showing any of these symptoms, it’s probably not because they’re teething, and you should contact your baby’s doctor.
When does teething start? And how long does it last?
When: Babies typically get their first tooth around 6 months of age, but teeth can come as early as 3 months or as late as 12 months. And most children will have all of their baby teeth by age 3.
How long: Babies may experience teething symptoms for up to 8 days, including 4 days before the tooth erupts and 3 days after.
So, if your child has been experiencing any of these symptoms for longer than 8 days, it’s a good idea to contact your baby’s doctor because there’s likely something else going on.
Although teething can cause some discomfort, many parents (including myself at one point) are hesitant to accept that teething doesn’t cause a significant amount of pain. Teeth don’t “stab” through a baby’s gums. The gums move out of the way to allow teeth to emerge, which is why they don’t bleed.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you should ignore teething altogether. Just keep in mind that a new tooth is likely not as disruptive to your child’s sleep as you may think.
How Can I Help?
If your baby has new teeth coming in and seems uncomfortable, here are some things that can help:
- Gently rub or massage baby’s gums with a clean finger or a damp washcloth
- Offer them a teething ring made of firm rubber
- Offer them a wet facecloth that has been chilled
- Wipe the drool from your baby’s face with a clean cloth to prevent irritated skin
- Monitor your baby’s pain and, if needed, offer doctor recommended pain reliever
Stay away from:
- Medication you rub on your child’s gums, as your child may swallow it
- Teething tablets that contain belladonna, due to potential side effects
- Teething gels with benzocaine, due to potential side effects
- Teething biscuits, which may contain sugar
- Teething necklaces or bracelets, which are considered unsafe for babies and toddlers
What About My Baby’s Sleep?
All these options are great, but what about when your baby needs to sleep?
What happens with your baby’s sleep (and actually everyone’s sleep) is that they have a brief wake-up at the end of each sleep cycle. And if they’re in that 8-day teething window, there may be times when they’re too preoccupied by the discomfort in their gums to relax and fall back asleep.
Here are some ways you can help provide comfort while encouraging sleep for your little one:
1) Maintain your regular sleep schedule, routines, and approach to night wakings
Making changes to your baby’s sleep routine every time you think they might have a tooth coming in will be confusing and can undo all the progress you’ve made with their sleep. In particular, try to avoid introducing new or old sleep props.
2) Provide comfort and relief right before sleep
Treat any of your child’s teething symptoms before you start their naptime and bedtime routine. If needed, give any doctor recommended pain reliever at least 20 to 30 minutes before sleep. This will allow the medication to take effect before your baby tries to fall asleep. It will also help them transition through sleep cycles without waking up due to discomfort.
3) Respond right away
If you think your baby is in pain, do not leave them to cry for any length of time. If they’re uncomfortable, they need you to provide comfort and relief. So, if your baby is having difficulty falling asleep, wakes up from a short nap or in the middle of the night, respond right away. Go in, pick your baby up and treat any of their symptoms.
4) Offer comfort as necessary
How your child falls asleep (or back to sleep after a wake-up) while teething can depend on their symptoms, their temperament, and whether or not they’re overtired.
Offer comfort as necessary but try to be as consistent around your child’s sleep as you possibly can. For example, if your child was already falling asleep independently, allow them the opportunity to do the same. If they’re too uncomfortable to soothe themselves to sleep as they normally would, try offering some crib-side comfort. If they need a bit more comfort, try picking them up for a minute or two. And so on. Offer as much comfort as your child needs, without overdoing it. And again, if at all possible, try to avoid introducing new or old sleep props.
5) Continue with your baby’s regular routine
Once your baby’s tooth pops through and they no longer have any symptoms, continue with your regular routine and approach to night wakings. Oftentimes, once the tooth comes through, your child who was an excellent sleeper will go right back to that.
One Final Tip
Yes, teething can cause disruptions to your baby’s sleep, but not as much and for as long as most parents think. If you hold off on teaching your child healthy sleep habits until they’re done teething, you could be waiting for 3 years! That’s a long time for your child to go without proper sleep, not to mention you, as parents.
And remember, your baby is going to be much happier and will handle teething a whole lot better if they’re getting full nights of uninterrupted sleep.
The same thing goes for you, as parents!
Need help getting your baby’s sleep back on track? Schedule your Free Sleep Evaluation Call to learn how we can work together to get your family sleeping again.
P.S. Here’s the research:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/Teething-4-to-7-Months.aspx
https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=304&language=english
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/Teething-Pain.aspx
https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/healthy-living/healthy_teeth_for_children
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.695.5675&rep=rep1&type=pdf
https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/05/teething-symptoms-in-babies-are-not-as-bad-as-parents-think.html
Separating Fact from Fiction in Pediatric Medicine: Infant Teething
https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=304&language=english
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/Teething-4-to-7-Months.aspx
https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/healthy-living/healthy_teeth_for_children