How to soothe a teething baby at night: five steps
Ah, teething. One of the biggest hurdles new parents face, it’s rarely a pleasant experience for mom, dad, or baby. We get it—it’s exhausting for everybody involved, especially your infant, whose baby teeth are now breaking through their gums to create a lot of pain.
Babies generally begin teething around four to six months old, though it can occur as early as three months or as late as a year. Average age and duration vary, since some babies have all of their teeth by that first birthday or they could just be getting started then. The bottom front teeth are typically the first to appear, followed by the top front teeth. You’ll probably notice their bottom front teeth peek through first, followed by the top front ones, but their gums will be sensitive in most areas as more teeth erupt.
It’s a difficult process for babies, who are too young to understand why their mouths are throbbing, and as a parent, it’s tough to see them grappling with such discomfort and confusion. It’s particularly tough at night, when teething interrupts their sleep.
Luckily, there are ways to minimize the effects of teething on your little one’s sleep schedule. We’ve put together a five-step guide on how to soothe a teething baby at night so that you can all return to restful sleep.
Step 1: Provide comfort and teething toys
A surefire technique for teething babies who are struggling to sleep well is physical contact with you. This means ALL the cuddles, rocking, and bonding you can spare! There’s a time and place for self-soothing practice, and during the teething stage, it’s better to offer lots of love and support to alleviate their symptoms.
You might also try walking around with your baby (inside your home or outdoors) if they’re extra fussy. As odd as it sounds, gentle movement like this and a change of scenery, even just indoors, diverts their attention so that they’ll be able to fall back asleep much easier.
Another useful tool for sore gums is a teething toy, which is designed for babies to chew on while their teeth are growing in. They’re made from rubber or silicone materials that are ideal for sucking or gnawing to distract your little one when their mouth is really hurting.
An elevated version of this solution is to put teething toys (or a clean washcloth) in the refrigerator or freezer to add a cooling element to them, so that your baby’s gums are numbed for additional relief. If a pacifier or binky does the trick, these items can be chilled too. Just be sure that any frozen teething toy you provide is still soft and malleable for chewing purposes—harder objects will harm your baby’s delicate gums or damage their incoming teeth.
Step 2: Consider pain relief options
Speaking of numbing, there are a few methods for stopping that nerve pain at the source. Infant Tylenol (acetaminophen) or a similar child-safe medication might be beneficial if your baby is dealing with extreme pain from teething that’s causing them to fight sleep.
But be careful in deciding which product to use. Teething gels or topical numbing agents such as lidocaine are not recommended due to concerns about the consequences of ingestion. It’s wise to stick to natural interventions and utilize medication only if it’s absolutely necessary.
Non-medicated pain relief options include: gently massaging baby’s gums with a clean finger to dull the ache there; adjusting their sleep position from their back to their side for easier rest, if they’re old enough to be moved in this way; or giving them a bottle (breastfeeding is obviously a challenge during the teething phase, but it’s also an option here—usually we don’t recommend feeding to sleep, but if your infant is running low on ZZZs, exceptions can always be made).
Step 3: Make sure the room itself is comfortable
If you want to know how to soothe a teething baby at night, it’s important to consider the environment in which they sleep, which plays a huge role in the quality (and quantity!) of rest they’ll get. It's best to choose a calm room for your baby’s naps and overnight sleep. This means the space is dimly lit, temperature-controlled, and quiet (though you may try using a white noise machine for babies who don’t like the silence).
Their crib should be conducive to good rest, as should their clothing—with warmer months ahead, your baby’s sleep outfits and swaddling will need to be less constricting. And if you have a light sleeper on your hands, that arms-to-crib transfer is an artform! As long as their comfort is optimized to the highest degree, they won’t wake as often (or as superfluously) throughout the night, potentially saving you all precious hours in dreamland.
Step 4: Stick to a consistent, loving routine
Since your entire household is likely jonesing for peaceful sleep with a teething baby in the mix, you’re understandably tired and at a loss, which would frustrate anyone. Staying patient and encouraging is key! While it’s hard to truly solve your baby’s teething pain, prioritizing a regular bedtime routine might ease their burden.
Scheduled sleep is possible at four months old and up, so it’s nice to take note of your baby’s wake windows and the ins and outs of their sleep habits to keep their routine consistent.
Step 5: Consult a sleep expert for more support
Are you desperate to find out how to soothe a teething baby at night? My Sweet Sleeper is here to help! You don’t have to just “get by” or manage this stage alone. We promise that it’s a mere bump in the road on your baby’s journey to healthy sleep.
But in the moment, the only thing worse than a teething baby is a sleep-deprived teething baby! You and your little one deserve expert advice and one-on-one support to achieve better sleep, even when those pesky baby teeth are coming in. A single pediatric sleep consult could change your family’s lives.
Book an appointment with us today to see how well you can sleep with our awesome team dedicated to helping your family thrive.
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