Teething and Sleep – The Hard Truth

It’s pretty rare that a family I’m working with doesn’t ask how to handle sleep when their little one is teething. When this question inevitably comes up, I pull out my soap box and share a little bit of tough love about teething and sleep. Today I’m hopping on my soapbox (with so much love) for you.

Here is a little teething and sleep FAQ session…

Should I hold off on sleep training if I think my baby might be teething?

No. No. And No. Here’s the deal – our kiddos are teething for much of their first 2.5 to 3 years of life. No joke. Oh, and every child is different when it comes to the exact timing of tooth eruption. This means you can never know exactly when your little one is teething. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a general rule of thumb is that 4 teeth erupt every 6 months until the full set of 20 primary teeth have come in. If you do the math, that’s 2.5 years of teething once the first tooth starts to erupt. 

I like to think of teething as a constant from 4 months to 2.5 to 3 years old. If you are waiting for a window when your little one isn’t teething to focus on their sleep, there is a good chance you’ll be waiting a long time. 

I hear you, Allison, but could my baby have teething discomfort during the night?

Yes, I think they can have teething discomfort if they are awake during the night. But I do not believe teething actually causes night wakings. When you google teething and sleep, you’ll read about teething being a sleep disruptor. I respectfully disagree. Yes, if your baby is awake during the night, they may be uncomfortable, just like they may be uncomfortable during the day. BUT, once your baby learns healthy sleep habits and they are sleeping soundly at night, teething will not “disrupt” their sleep. Your little one can avoid middle of the night teething discomfort all together if they are sleeping!  

That’s right, avoiding teething discomfort is one of the many benefits of helping your baby learn to sleep for healthy consolidated stretches at night! Woohoo!

So what CAN I do about bedtime resistance and night wakings if I think my baby is having a hard time falling asleep or back to sleep because of teething discomfort?

Skip rubbing whisky on the gums and the teething gels. Ask your pediatrician whether you can give your little one an appropriate dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen at bedtime. (I don’t recommend giving medications throughout the night for teething.) 

If your little one’s sleep has gotten more challenging recently, focus on the healthy sleep habits. Click here to download my 4 Sleep Hacks That Will Change Your Life. Most importantly, take a deep breathe and focus on sticking to the plan you’ve chosen to help your kiddo get back on track.

Not sure what “plan” to use? Click here to schedule a free 15 minute get acquainted call.