Babies have so many special milestones during their first year. However, one of them can come with a slight sense of dread, teething. Teething can affect babies in very different ways. For some, the first you’ll learn of a new tooth will be a sudden toothy grin, while other babies may seemingly suffer all day and night from painful gums, and unfortunately, this can lead to disturbed naps and sleepless nights.
Most children we work with sail through their teething journey, that’s because with the independent sleep skills we teach, the ability to sleep and stay asleep prevents any new or noticeable disturbances. However, for many babies and children that are parent or prop-dependent for sleep, teething can cause new sleep issues.
Here’s our guide to identifying whether your baby is teething and helping them settle back to sleep.
What are the signs that a baby is teething?
There are a few common teething signs to look out for, including:
- Increased drooling
- Irritability/fussiness
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Increased sucking
- Excessive chewing
- Decreased appetite
- Pulling on ears
When it comes to their sleep, they may have:
- Shorter naps
- Trouble settling at bedtime
- Lots of early morning wakeups
- More frequent awakenings at night
How can you help a teething baby to sleep?
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to ease these symptoms and help your baby sleep.
- Introduce a teething toy
Teething toys or rings can help reduce your little one’s discomfort. Opt for solid plastic rather than gel-filled teething rings to avoid splits and put them in the fridge (or freezer for a short period) to cool them, as this will help soothe the gums.
- Make your own teething toy
You can easily make your own if you don’t have a teething toy. Just take a clean washcloth, wet it and place it in the freezer for 30 minutes. Your baby can then happily gnaw away while it cools and soothes their gums.
- Apply some pressure
This tip is more labour-intensive, which may not be what you’re looking for in the middle of the night. However, it can be effective. Make sure your hands are clean, and use your fingers to apply some gentle pressure to the baby’s gums. Even just rubbing the gums can provide some relief from the pain.
- Give your baby medicine before bed
Pain-numbing baby medicines that contain ibuprofen or paracetamol can be used as a and is encouraged since it’s a quick and sustained way to provide relief. Give the medicine around 30 minutes before bedtime, always follow the instructions on the packet and never exceed the recommended dose. This may help your baby to sleep through, since we don’t feel pain when we are asleep.
Alternatively, if your baby has been struggling, providing another dose will be helpful. Gently sit your baby up and administer the medicine through a syringe. Make sure they swallow it and then gradually lay them back down. Your baby should fall straight back to sleep. If they stir, it’s okay to soothe them quickly before leaving the room.
Stay calm and you will get through it
While disturbed sleep due to teething is something every parent could do without, you’re certainly not the first to experience it. Keep calm, try the suggested strategies, and always provide extra cuddles.Please don’t suffer alone; we are here to support all sleep-related issues. We offer a free, 30-minute consultation with one of our Sweet Dreams Sleep Coaches, so get in touch to see how we can help you and your family regain a healthy night’s sleep. We never find teething is an obstacle for sleep training so the good news is you don’t have to wait. If you suspect your child is teething and also want them to enjoy better sleep, reach out to us to find out how.
