Teething and Sleep
Is teething affecting your baby’s sleep?
Teething is a significant developmental milestone for your baby, but it can also present challenges, particularly when it comes to sleep.
As a mum and a sleep consultant, I’ve been there and I understand the concerns parents face when their little ones are teething.
In this post, I’ll explain what teething is, how it may impact your baby's sleep, and provide practical strategies to provide comfort.
What is Teething and When Does it Start?
Teething marks the arrival of your baby's first teeth through the gums, typically beginning around 6 months of age. However, it's important to note that the timing can vary from one child to another. I remember calling my health visitor when Phoebe was 3 months old to ask if I could give her teething gel and the HV said I was wrong and she couldn’t possibly be teething yet. Meanwhile I was looking at two teeth which had broken through her bottom gums. So, look out for common signs such as excessive dribbling, irritability, and a tendency to chew on anything they can reach. It can also take up to 3 years for your baby’s teeth to all come through. You will likely go throughs several phases of teething during the baby and toddler years.
How Teething Affects Sleep:
Teething discomfort can disrupt your baby's sleep patterns, leading to more frequent night waking and difficulty settling for naps. If you notice that, along with the symptoms listed above that sleep has become a bit of a nightmare then there’s a good chance your baby is teething. If you are breastfeeding, you may also notice that your baby is feeding more as they are looking for comfort which they receive from the breast. If you are bottle feeding, you may notice your baby chomping on the bottle whilst feeding.
Providing Comfort for Teething Babies:
Supporting your baby through teething might bring some concern around introducing habits that you may not want to do if you weren’t already. For example, if your baby settles quite well in the cot but through this period they require rocking to sleep - do not worry, providing extra comfort will not undo your baby’s ability to settle in the cot again. Additionally, if you are breastfeeding, this can offer not only nourishment but also comfort and pain relief for teething babies, so if you end up doing more night feeds than usual this won’t be forever. You can also try gentle face massages (you can apply pressure along their cheekbones), extra cuddles, and safe teething toys during awake time.
While teething may temporarily disrupt sleep patterns, rest assured that it is a phase that will pass. As the discomfort subsides and the teeth emerge, sleep patterns typically return to normal. You can gently reintroduce established bedtime routines and sleep practices, ensuring consistency and reassurance for your baby. Remember, providing comfort during teething does not create "bad habits" and any habits you have created that you want to change can be changed.
Conclusion:
Teething is a natural part of your baby's development, but it can present challenges, especially in terms of sleep. It’s normal to worry about this. However, by understanding the impact of teething on sleep and offering comfort where necessary you will get through it and it will pass.
If you are going through a phase of teething and you would like some advice on how to manage it, book a one off 30 Minute Confidence Call and I can help.
