Helping a Baby Who Is Cutting Teeth Sleep Better

Teething is often painful for babies, disrupting sleeping and eating patterns you've worked hard to establish. Help your baby get the rest she needs by easing her pain and giving her lots of love and cuddling. You have about two years of teething to endure, but only for a few days at a time.

  1. Signs of Teething

    • If your baby is having trouble sleeping, watch for signs of teething. Teething normally starts between ages 4 and 7 months and goes through about age 3, according to Healthychildren.org. Symptoms include chewing on everything -- including her fingers or yours -- drooling, fussiness, low-grade fever of less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit and trouble sleeping. Her gums might also appear red where the tooth is about to emerge. A higher fever or episodes of vomiting or diarrhea might signal a different problem, so check with your pediatrician if you notice those symptoms.

    Extra Attention

    • Giving your baby extra love and attention while she's teething can comfort her and help her get to sleep. Even if you've gotten her to fall asleep on her own and stay asleep all night, stay with her as she falls asleep if she needs you to, offering her the comfort of her presence. Some children want to be rocked again while they're teething. When she wakes during the night, give her a couple of minutes to self-soothe if she can, then go to her to give hugs and kisses as she tries to go back to sleep. You can get her back on schedule once her tooth pushes through and her pain eases.

    Toys and Massage

    • Offering a cold, damp washcloth can help your baby relieve the soreness in her gums, as can cold -- but not frozen -- plastic chew rings. Offering those to her at bedtime can help distract her from the pain long enough to fall asleep, as long as you stay in the room with her. Remove the toys when she falls asleep so she isn't surrounding by any choking hazards if she wakes up during the night. You can also massage her gums gently with a clean finger, especially areas that look red or irritated.

    Over-the-counter Help

    • If your baby seems to be in so much pain that she can't sleep, ask your pediatrician about giving her the recommended dose of acetaminophen or other approved pain medicine. These are usually recommended for babies at least 6 months old, according to Parents.com. Avoid topical numbing agents, which the American Academy of Pediatrics says is only helpful for a few minutes and can be harmful to your baby if she swallows too much of the medication. If your baby has a rash on her cheeks or chin from drooling that is adding to her discomfort, rub her face with petroleum jelly. Keeping her chin dry during the day can help reduce the chance of rash.

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