Re: Thankfully, our child is usually a good sleeper, but now that she’s teething, her nights are totally thrown off. What should we do?
We’re asked about sleeping-teething issues from parents a lot, and for good reason. Cutting an entire mouthful of teeth is a long process -- two to three years -- and the experience of teething varies from child to child. Some babies are very sensitive teethers while others pop out tooth after tooth without any evidence of suffering.
It sounds like you have a sensitive teether. Typically, the most painful teething period lasts two to three days. During this time, parents want to make their child more comfortable. During the day, cool teething toys are helpful. For nighttime, we recommend Infant’s Motrin or homeopathic teething tablets. Consult with your pediatrician to discuss what sort of pain reliever they recommend for your child.
If you decide to use a pain reliever, give it about 15 minutes before bedtime. Then, if your daughter wakes up at night and lets you know she’s uncomfortable, you can give her another dose if it’s at least 6 to 8 hours from bedtime. Keep these nighttime visits as quiet and unexciting as possible. And if she’s inconsolable at night, do whatever you need to do to make her feel better. She’s naturally a good sleeper, so assume she’ll fall back into that routine after this intense teething period passes.
This heightened pain should subside in a couple of days. But, as always, trust your instincts. Each child is different and you know your daughter best!
Conner Herman and Kira Ryan, cofounders of Dream Team Baby | May 21 , 2009 12:22 PM