Teething occurs when your baby’s teeth emerge from their gums. There can be a lot of variation, but the process generally begins between four and seven months. By age three, your child should have 20 baby teeth. Although it’s normal, teething can be frustrating for both baby and parents, especially at bedtime.

Signs of Teething

Teething is painful for a baby, so expect your child to be upset during this process. They’ll be extra fussy and irritable and might cry more than usual. A baby drooling is normal, but it can become excessive during teething. The gums might be swollen and red. Your baby might also lose interest in eating and have difficulty sleeping.

Do Babies Sleep More When Teething?

Unfortunately, teething is generally disruptive to sleep. Studies suggest that wakefulness in their babies is one of the most common complaints of parents during this process. Because they are in pain, babies have a harder time falling asleep and are likely to wake up more often.

Tips and Home Remedies for Teething Babies

Teething makes it more difficult for both you and your baby to sleep. Anything you can do to soothe your baby and ease their pain will benefit parents and child:

• Use a teething toy. You might notice your baby or toddler chewing on hard items when teething. Massaging the gums helps ease the pain, so provide them with a plastic or rubber teething toy. Avoid teething necklaces, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns can cause choking, strangulation, and mouth injuries.
• Use your fingers. You can also use your fingers as a teething toy in a pinch. Apply pressure and massage the gums to provide relief. Make sure your hands are clean, of course, and dip them in cool water if available.
• Cool the gums. Something cold on the gums helps numb them and ease the pain. Store wet washcloths in the freezer to reach for as needed. Wet a cloth and tie it in a knot before freezing. This gives your baby something to chew on when they don’t feel good.
• Try medication. If other strategies don’t work, you might want to try a pain-relieving medication. Avoid those designed to be rubbed on the gums. All that baby drool will only wash it to the back of the throat. Talk to your pediatrician about what you can give your baby or toddler.

All of these can be useful at bedtime or when your child wakes during the night with teething pain. To improve sleep for both of you, it’s also important to practice good sleep hygiene. Create a relaxing bedtime routine and stick with a regular sleep schedule as much as possible.

You might also want to try white noise or other soothing sounds in your baby’s room at night and at nap time. Background noise helps drown out environmental sounds that disrupt sleep. Your baby will also come to associate it with going to sleep.

Teething is a normal, if frustrating, and disruptive process. You and your baby will get through it a little easier if you focus on getting enough sleep.