When your baby is teething, all you want to do is soothe them. But how can you help a teething baby sleep at night? You can’t teeth for them, after all.
Luckily, there are ways to help if your teething infant won’t sleep.
In this article we’ll discuss when do babies start teething, signs of a teething baby, how to help teething babies in pain, and what to do (and not do) if your teething baby won’t stop crying at night.
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When Do Babies Start Teething?
Babies typically start teething around 6-months-old, though some babies begin teething around 4 months, others it’s later, around 12 months. Each baby is unique and develops at their own pace.
Teething can affect sleep for the first two or three years of life, as different sets of teeth often come in at different times.
How to Know Your Baby is Teething
It can be hard right away to know your baby is teething, since your baby can’t talk yet. However, there are common signs your baby may be teething that will help you confirm if that’s the cause of any teething pain or sleep problems.
Signs of teething baby
- Crying for No Obvious Reason: If your baby has been fed and is well-rested and there’s no apparent reason for them to cry, they may be teething.
- Excessive Drooling: One of the most common signs a baby is teething is excessive drooling.
- Chewing On Hard Items: If your baby is chewing on anything they can, especially hard items like a plastic toy or building block, they may be teething. Some babies refuse solids when teething.
- One Red Cheek: A single red cheek may be a sign your baby is teething on that side.
- A Rash on their Face: Sometimes teething will exhibit itself as a rash on your baby’s face.
- Swollen, Tender Gums: If you look in your baby’s mouth and see swollen, red, or otherwise inflamed gums, they are likely teething.
- Irritability: Irritability in a well-rested baby may be a sign they’re uncomfortable from teething. Teething can also disrupt sleep, which can lead to irritability.
- Sleep Regression: Teething often comes at the same time as a sleep regression. While disruption in sleep can be frustrating, it’s a sign of your baby’s development – and growing teeth is part of that!
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How Long Does Teething Fussiness Last?
Teething fussiness can vary widely from baby to baby, but generally it lasts a few days before and after each tooth breaks through.
Some babies experience teething pain at night and during the day for a day or two, while others might have symptoms for up to a week.
Teething can affect sleep, too which may exasperate your teething baby crying at night if they become overtired.
How to Help Teething Baby Sleep at Night
There are a few tried and true methods for how to soothe a teething baby before putting them to sleep and ultimately help a teething baby sleep at night.
Here are 10 tips to help a teething baby sleep:
- Wipe Away Drool: Excessive drool can lead to a rash called drool rash. Prevent drool rash by regularly wiping drool with a soft, dry cloth.
- Give a Gum Massage: Gently rubbing your baby’s gums with your clean finger can alleviate teething pain and help the teething process. The benefits of baby massage in general include calming your baby to help them sleep.
- Offer a Teething Ring: A rubber teething ring also massages the gums and lets your baby “target” the right area. It’s especially helpful if stored in the fridge. Note: Gel-based teething rings can be hazardous to your baby’s health, so stick to hard rubber options.
- Try a Chilled Washcloth: Pressing a cool washcloth against your baby’s gums or letting them chew on a washcloth can help alleviate teething pain and help a teething baby sleep. Note: Always supervise a baby if using the washcloth method.
- Serve Chilled Fruit: As your baby reaches 9-10 months, it is okay to give them soft solid foods, so letting your baby chew on chunks of fruit from the fridge may be just the ticket to relieve teething pain, as chilled fruit can soothe teething babies. Again, though, be sure to hold the fruit and supervise your baby to prevent choking or use a net feeder.
- Offer a Chilled Metal Spoon: A hard, cold spoon is soothing and round enough that it won’t hurt your baby.
- Run a Nice, Warm Bath: While the bath itself won't relieve teething pain, often a bath calms your baby and may reset them to help them sleep.
- Cuddle: Again, this is about comforting your baby. Sometimes no amount of medicines or teething rings can help your baby’s teething discomfort. Cuddles and kisses, however, will offer emotional support and positive reinforcement. Even try one of their favorite lullabies!
- Consider Teething Medicines: There are baby teething medicines out there, but it’s best to consult with your doctor before trying any baby teething medicine, even an over-the-counter option. If you’re curious about home remedies for teething babies, speak to your healthcare provider as well.
- Maintain Your Bedtime Routine: Even if your baby is teething, be sure to keep up your bedtime routine. While your baby may be uncomfortable, the bedtime routine will cue them it’s time to sleep, building up your baby’s sleep drive and helping them fall asleep, teething discomfort aside. If baby is teething and sleep training, you can decide to be more flexible with your method to further comfort your baby without creating a new sleep crutch, such as being held to sleep.
How to Soothe a Teething Baby at 3-4 months old? Top 5 recommendations for this age when teething often starts
Teething typically begins around 6 months of age, although it can start as early as 3-4 months. Here are the top 5 ways to soothe a teething baby in the 3-4 month age range:
- Cool Teething Toys: Provide your baby with teething toys that have been chilled in the refrigerator (not the freezer) for a short time. The coolness can help numb the gums and provide relief. Look for toys designed for teething that are easy for your baby to grasp.
- Clean Finger Massage: Gently rub your clean finger along your baby's gums. The gentle pressure can provide relief. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before doing this.
- Comfort and Cuddles: Sometimes, what a teething baby needs most is comfort and cuddles. Hold and comfort your baby during their fussy moments. Singing or gentle rocking can also help soothe them.
- Cool Metal Spoon: Gently rub your baby's gums with a cool metal spoon to provide relief.
- Warm Bath: A warm bath can relax and soothe your teething baby's discomfort.
Teething Remedies to Avoid
There are teething solutions experts say to avoid for safety reasons.
- Frozen Items: While cold can help soothe teething pain, putting a teething toy in the freezer can actually hurt your baby’s gums. It’s far too cold and can sometimes stick to their skin, and even lead to freezing burns.
- Teething Necklace: A teething device around your baby’s neck seems convenient – they can’t drop it – but it’s also a choking hazard. Therefore, teething necklaces should be avoided for soothing your baby’s teething pain.
- Hard Teething Toys: Rubber teething toys are the best route; anything too hard, such as wood or metal, can be harsh on your baby’s gentle gums.
- Benzocaine or Lidocaine: Though these chemicals are often safe for adult usage, they’re dangerous for your baby. Only use baby teething medication that your doctor recommends.
- Home Remedies for Teething Babies: As with over-the-counter teething medications, it’s best to consult with your doctor before attempting a home remedy for teething. While some of the homeopathic ingredients may work, other popular homeopathic teething remedies, such as belladonna, can lead to health problems later.
Remember: Teething babies under 12-months-old should always be put to sleep on their back.
Is Teething Pain Worse at Night?
While the actual “pain level” of teething may not be worse at night, there are different reasons why teething pain is worse at night (or feels worse).
Similar to why it is hard for a sick baby to sleep, reasons why teething pain affects sleep include:
- No Distractions: Teething pain is worse at night sometimes because your baby is more aware of it and therefore will cry more. During the day, your baby has a lot of activities and stimulation to distract from any discomfort they may feel. At night, without those distractions, your baby is freshly aware of pain from teething.
- They’re Tired and Frustrated: Does teething disrupt sleep is another big question that parents ask. The answer is yes, teething and sleep are not the best combo. Since teething can disrupt sleep, your teething baby may be crying because they’re overtired or because they can’t sleep. You’ve probably felt the same sensation: all you want to do is sleep and your body “won’t” let you. Often times, you’ll fall back to sleep. The same is true with your baby: they may wake up and cry from teething, but then self-soothe back to sleep.
If your teething baby won’t stop crying at night, you can try any of the above tips on how to help a sleeping baby.
Remember: speak to your provider about giving them medicine before they go to sleep. Sometimes if your teething infant won’t sleep, they may simply need some extra cuddles!
Final Thoughts
Relieving teething pain at night can be a struggle for many parents of babies and toddlers.
It’s normal – and challenging – when your teething infant won't sleep, but luckily the teething phase is temporary and there are ways to help soothe your little one.
Maintaining a comforting bedtime routine and offering gentle relief can help ease your baby through any day or nighttime teething pain. A mix of consistency and flexibility will provide your little one the support they need without disrupting their sleep habits.
Remember, teething doesn’t last forever, and each little tooth brings you one step closer to a big, beautiful smile.
