What helps a teething baby sleep?

A baby’s teething time can be challenging for everyone involved. Knowing your little one is uncomfortable can be naturally upsetting and this period sometimes impacts sleeping habits for the entire family.

However, by introducing careful techniques and strategies, you can help you baby access relief when they’re struggling through this period of their development.

Easy ways to soothe teething-related pain

Apply pressure

During this time, alleviating the pain can be key to helping your little one get a good night’s sleep. By applying pressure to their gums, it can relieve discomfort and help them get some much-needed rest. Wash your hands and gently massage the sorest areas of their gums to ease the irritation.

Give them things to chew

Chewing can significantly reduce the symptoms of this kind of pain as well. If your child is older, try giving them harder foods to chew.

Using cold foods to munch on – such as chilled cucumber or carrot – can also be a lifesaver. Note that it is important to make sure you keep a keen eye on your little one as they chomp away, though, as they are vulnerable to choking hazards.

You can also place the food in a mesh teething bag or offer biscuits, mitts or rings. These specialised products can help teach your little one how to self-soothe during this uncomfortable time.

Cool the area down

When it comes to sensitive pain, one of the easiest ways to settle inflammation down is to cool the area. Give your baby a chilled washcloth, spoon or teether, but make sure you avoid any frozen items. These can potentially inflict more harm than good in this situation.

A chilled dummy

If your baby enjoys using a dummy, give them a chilled one right before you settle them down for the night. This targets pain before they head off to sleep and provides effective relief from a wide variety of irritation-caused symptoms.

Keep your routine

Although it can be easy to divert from your baby’s usual sleep routine during this time, it is important to stick to it as best as you can.

As your bub adjusts, they will get used to understanding when its time to nod off for the day. During this time, they’ll naturally become tired on their own.

By changing the routine during the teething period, it can make it even more difficult for your baby to get good night’s sleep, as the behaviour and schedule have shifted from what they’re used to. Try incorporating soothing activities into your bedtime routine so your little one can head off to sleep with as little pain as possible.