Being a parent is never easy. The schedules for eating and sleeping for a baby keep changing frequently, depending on the growth and milestones reached. Just when you get accustomed to a certain pattern and feel elated, a new development disrupts it all and once again you find yourself making more adjustments- teething. So can teething cause sleep disturbances in babies?
Among various developments that can affect your baby’s sleep, teething is one. Some babies pass through this phase easily without much fuss, while others face a lot of discomfort. And the more the discomfort, the less sleep. Let’s explore the reason behind sleep disturbance in babies during teething, and how you can help them sail through this difficult period smoothly.
In This Article
- Why Does Teething Cause Sleep Disturbances in Babies?
- How To Get A Teething Baby To Sleep?
- How To Soothe A Teething Baby?
- Do Teething Babies Sleep A Lot?
- Do All Babies Follow The Same Teething Pattern?
- How to Soothe a Sleeping Baby?
- When Should You Consider Seeing A Doctor?
- FAQ’s
Why Does Teething Cause Sleep Disturbances in Babies?
It is normal for babies to suffer from sleep disturbance while they are teething. They may wake up more than normal during the night when they are about to have a new tooth erupted.
This is attributed to increased gum soreness, pain, tenderness, and irritation. Gum soreness can lead to loss of appetite and a baby with an empty stomach is prone to wake up often in the night.
Babies usually begin the teething process from the time they reach the 4th month till the time they turn 2 (1). Given that teething continues till 2 to 21/2 years, you need to devise a plan because you cannot let your baby be sleep-deprived for such a long time.
So, watch out for disturbed sleep patterns during this time so you can help soothe the irritable gums and get your little one to sleep comfortably. While teething might be a cause we must also keep in mind that this is also the time when your little one learns new skills, like sitting and rolling over.
[Read: Teething in Babies – Signs and Tips]
How To Get A Teething Baby To Sleep?
How do you really ascertain that it is teething that is the real devil coming in the way of your baby’s otherwise undisturbed sleep?
Here are some symptoms to watch out for (2)
- Swollen/red gums
- Drooling excessively
- Going off food, refusing to eat
- Restlessness and irritability, especially at night
- Biting and chewing on everything
- Mild increase in temperature
How To Soothe A Teething Baby?
Here’s what you can do to help soothe your little one in pain and discomfort (3).
1. Try Teething Objects
There are zillions of teething toys available that you can buy and freeze. You can then give it to your baby to chew so that the frozen toys numb the gums and ease the pain (4). If your child is older, you can give them chilled plain yogurt. Sometimes even rubbing your clean finger over the gums might alleviate pain and soothe the baby.
2. Provide Comfort Without Changing The Established Routine
Of course, a fussy sleeper needs to be comforted, but that does not mean that you will make the baby sleep with you if she is already used to the crib. Try not to break the set routine, but at the same time soothe and console as much and as often as required.
3. Feed Soft Foods
Make sure you feed your baby mashed foods, pasta, and baby formula during this time. Hard foods are best avoided for dinner; they may give temporary relief but may irritate later.
4. Create A Calm Environment At Home
Around bedtime, make sure the home is quiet and comfortable to help your baby drift off to sleep easily. The baby must stay calm so that falling asleep is easy.
5. For Medications, Consult Your Pediatrician
In case you wish to opt for painkillers and gels, it is best to consult your pediatrician for help.
[Read : Top Tips to Treat Sore Gums in Babies]
Do Teething Babies Sleep A Lot?
While most parents have indicated that a budding tooth disrupts sleep, it is also possible that some babies might sleep more during this phase. This so happens because sometimes teething works like a nasty cold, making your baby sleep more.
Moreover, some babies tend to run mild fevers that can make them feel lousy or cause them them sleep more than usual. Some babies also fall sick during this time – like an infection from putting everything in their mouth (5).
Sometimes, a growth spurt accompanies a teething pattern, and this again will cause the baby to take more naps (6). However, if the symptoms get worse or your baby sleeps excessively, contact your pediatrician.
Do All Babies Follow The Same Teething Pattern?
Most babies follow a certain teething pattern, but not necessarily all of them need to. The teeth are present in the gums, but they need to make their way out, which can be quite unpleasant for most babies. Some escape the ordeal while others might not be so lucky. In fact, for some, the symptoms may change from one new tooth to the next.
[Read: Stages of Teething in Babies]
How to Soothe a Sleeping Baby?
It is essential to set a bedtime routine to soothe and settle them down at night, especially while they are teething. Follow the tips below to help soothe a sleeping baby (7)
- Set a bedtime routine and no matter what follow it consistently
- Give your baby a gentle bath before putting them to sleep. This can help relax them.
- Read a book or sing your baby’s favorite rhyme to indicate that it is bedtime.
- Your baby favorite toy may also do wonders in relaxing and soothing them
- A pacifier may also help calm and relax a baby due to the suckling reflex. It calms their sore nerve endings to a great extent.
- Rock your baby to sleep which will soothe them. But remember to put them down on bed when they are drowsy and awake. This helps them fall asleep on their own.
- Try to keep the lights and resist the urge to play or talk to your baby.
- You may also use soothing music to calm and soothe your baby by cutting off any external sounds that may disturb their sleep.
When Should You Consider Seeing A Doctor?
Teething usually does not necessitate a visit to the doctor. However, if your baby has a high temperature that lingers for no obvious cause, or if he or she has chronic diarrhea, it is recommended to contact a doctor as soon as possible.
Babies undergo lots of changes during their first year and teething is just one of them. Teething can cause sleep disturbances in babies. It’s normal to feel anxious when your baby feels uncomfortable, and the baby is neither eating well nor sleeping normally. But remember, like all other phases, this too shall pass, and the worst part is about 3-4 days before a tooth appears up to about 3 days after it has popped out. And when you see the shiny, pearly white toothy smile, all your worries will simply vanish!!
FAQ’s
1. How Long Does Sleep Disruption From Teething Last?
Teething and sleep deprivation can be linked in the 1-3 days preceding your child’s tooth cutting through. The pain and discomfort your infant is experiencing during the night is a common reason for them not sleeping well.
2. How Do I Know If Baby Is Waking From Teething?
You’ll usually be able to tell if your baby’s nightly restlessness is caused by teething because they’ll exhibit other frequent teething symptoms. These symptoms frequently include drooling excessively, irritability/fussiness in addition to problems sleeping.
3. Can Teething Cause A Baby To Wake Up Screaming?
Teething is a typical cause of nightly wakings between the ages of 4 and 6 months. Teething can cause a baby to wake up screaming due to the pain and discomfort.
4. Does Teething Cause Night Terrors?
Probably. Your teething baby may wake up weeping for a variety of reasons, including nightmares or night terrors.
5. Is Sleepiness a Side Effect of Teething?
Yes, sleeping could be a side effect of teething. While many toddlers suffer from sleep regression, some may experience increased sleepiness during nap times and at night. This is because of increased irritation, and crankiness that may tire them out too soon.
References
- Misconceptions and traditional practices towards infant teething symptoms among mothers in Southwest Ethiopia – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6151031/]
- Symptoms Associated With Infant Teething: A Prospective Study | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics – [https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/105/4/747/65718/Symptoms-Associated-With-Infant-Teething-A?redirectedFrom=fulltext]
- Methods of Symptomatic Relief of Teething in Infants and Young Children Recommended by South Dakota Physicians – PubMed – [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31985901/]
- Soothing Effect of an Edible Teether: A Pilot Study in Children during Primary Dentition Age – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8585899/]
- Teething disturbances; prevalence of objective manifestations in children under age 4 months to 36 months – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3476083/]
- Study is the first to link sleep duration to infant growth spurts – American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers – [https://aasm.org/study-is-the-first-to-link-sleep-duration-to-infant-growth-spurts/]
