Teething is no joke, and no parent wants to see their little ones in pain. A teething baby can keep you up all night, as knowing how to soothe a teething baby at night is not an easy task.
The teething period usually occurs between 4 months and two years old, and it can be distressing when you don’t know how to help teething baby sleep. Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to make it easier for them at night.
Signs and Symptoms of Teething for Babies
The signs of teething are usually not the same for every baby. Nonetheless, the most common teething symptoms include:
- Excessive drooling
If your baby is teething, expect them to drool than usual. You should, however, wipe the drool as it can irritate.
- Biting
When babies start to teeth, the gums can be extremely painful. Hence, the need to apply pressure. For this reason, you may find that your teething baby bites on almost everything they see to suppress the pain.
- Sore or tender gums
As the teeth try to poke, your baby’s gums can become inflamed and tender.
- Reduced Appetite
Because of the sore gums associated with teething, your baby may lose interest in food, including nursing from the breast.
- Crankiness
Another common symptom of teething in babies is crankiness or irritability. So expect them to be fussy, cry every now and then and have a sour mood.
- Interrupted Sleep
During the teething phase, you may notice your little one having trouble going to sleep or waking up at night every so often.
- Pulling or Rubbing or Cheeks or Ears
Sometimes, you may notice your little one furiously pulling their ear or rubbing their cheek. This happens because of the shared nerve pathways on the ears and cheeks.
How Long Does Teething Pain Last for Babies?
A common question among parents to teething babies in relation to how to soothe a teething baby at night is, “How long does the teething pain last?” Well, this is a tricky question because the teething pain may differ from one child to another.
While others feel the pain before the teeth appear, others may experience the pain after the teeth have come through the gums. More often than not, the discomfort usually alleviates when the teeth have grown out of the gums.
10 Brilliant Tips on How to Soothe A Teething Baby at Night
Now that you know the sins of teething let us look at ways on how to soothe a teething baby at night.
1. Massage the Gums
If your baby is showing any signs of discomfort, try massaging their gums. Massaging your baby’s sores and tender gums can help to provide some teething relief as part of how to soothe a teething baby at night. To do this, wash your hands and gently rub the sensitive parts of the gum with your finger. I especially love to do this in circular motions as I get a feel of the particulars where the teeth are coming through. Pay attention to these areas to ease the pain. If you can’t feel the teeth, allow your baby to bite on your finger.
Along with easing the pain, massaging the gums is also useful in helping your baby fall asleep. You can, therefore, use this remedy to put them to sleep if they wake up in the middle of the night.
2. Give Them Cold Food
If your baby eats solid food, try giving them cold food to help soothe the gums as a way on how to soothe a teething baby at night. Put solid foods like fruits, veggies, and yogurt in the freezer for about one hour. For older babies, you can give them a frozen banana or carrot for them to gnaw and release teething pain.
For safety purposes, it is recommendable to place these foods in a silicone teether or mesh type teether such as the Munchkin fresh food feeder. This product can use different types of fruits, which is excellent because teething babies can be picky when it comes to taste. Moreover, it helps to prevent choking and swallowing of large food particles. A mesh feeder also allows you to use other types of food and fruits.
3. Frozen Washcloth
A favorite for most parents, a frozen washcloth, is one of the baby teething remedies night. I particularly love this because it is a safe option and helps to numb the area. It also helps to reduce inflammation on the gums.
Use a clean cloth and soak it in water before putting it in the freezer for at least one hour. Then give your little one to chew on. Similarly, you can massage your baby’s gums with the frozen washcloth. It is important to note that the washcloth can be a choking hazard; hence, don’t leave your child unattended as they chew the cold washcloth.
4. Breastfeed
Breastfeeding is another way you can soothe your baby and provide them with comfort during the teething period. Research has shown that breastfeeding is a comforting act that helps to reduce pain in babies, including teething pain when talking about how to soothe a teething baby at night.
Apart from calming your child, nursing can also help your baby get antibodies that boost their immune system. This way, you won’t have to worry about other health issues. You may even notice that babies who are teething may bite your nipple during breastfeeding. To prevent this, dip your clean fingers in cold water and massage your baby’s gum before every feeding session.
5. Wipe Drool to Prevent Irritation
As mentioned earlier, teething can cause a baby to produce excessive saliva in the form of drool. Excessive drool might irritate the face and neck, making the situation unbearable for them. For this reason, it is essential to frequently dry baby’s drool from the face and chin using drool bibs or a dry cloth.
Wipe the drool continually to ensure that the baby’s face is dry and clean at all times while taking care not to cause further irritation. If the skin becomes irritated, use a gentle lotion to soothe it. You may also want to change their clothes if necessary.
6. Set a Sleeping Schedule
For years now, pediatricians and scientists have emphasized the importance of sleep for babies. As a parent, it is recommendable to let your child have 12-14 hours of rest every day. However, the pattern of sleep for babies can be distracted by factors such as illness and teething. You, therefore, may be wondering how to help teething baby sleep.
One way to help your teething child get enough rest is by maintaining a regular bedtime routine for them. When you set a sleeping schedule, it will be straightforward for them to fall asleep as that time approaches. You can also include a bedtime routine that will help them fall asleep quickly.
How to soothe a teething baby at night can include giving them a warm bath, rocking them in your arms, and many more. It is also essential to create a calm environment that will encourage your fussy baby to fall asleep with ease.
7. Use Teething Toys
If your child has a sore mouth as a result of teething, consider giving them cool, non-gel teething toys or rings. If your baby shows signs of teething by chewing on things, try giving them teething rings and toys so they can safely ease the pain. These teething remedies at night can also help to distract them from the pain so they can have an easier time sleeping.
Some of these rings and toys can be put in the fridge to cool them. This can help soothe sore gums more effectively. Avoid freezing them because they are likely to damage your child’s gums. Just chill refrigerator-friendly toys and give your baby to chew on.
8. Give Them Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is a common natural remedy for soothing teething, stomach aches, boost relaxation, and promote sleep. For years, parents have used this herbal remedy to alleviate teething pain in children. You can make tea using this herb and give it to your teething baby to soothe the pain and promote sleep.
Alternatively, soak a clean cloth in chamomile tea before freezing it. Then give it your little one to chew on. You can also dip your finger in chamomile tea and massage on the gums for relief. Do not use this remedy on babies below the age of 6 months. Also, consult with a doctor before you use this remedy on your teething child.
9. Comfort with Hugs and Cuddles
Truth be told, teething isn’t a joke, and even the calmest baby can become fussy in no time. It, therefore, helps to comfort your child and gives lots of hugs and cuddles. Hugs and cuddles help to reassure babies and enable them to cope with the discomfort associated with teething.
It also goes a long way when you play with them and say kind words as a means of how to soothe your teething baby at night. This way, your toddlers can feel comforted in this difficult time. Furthermore, studies have shown that babywearing can promote parent-child bonding as well as reassurance. To keep your teething infant or toddler close, opt to carry them in a wrap, sling, or structured carrier.
10. Use Pain Killers
If all the other pain-relieving methods have no positive result and your baby experiences teething pain worse at night, then you can opt to give your fussy baby pain-killing medication.
Pain killers can help to alleviate teething pain and put your baby to sleep. Pain-killing medication like acetaminophen i.e., Tylenol and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others) can work effectively for babies who are above six months old. Ibuprofen is great for children and babies because it contains diluted formulas.
However, before you give any medication to your baby, be sure to consult with your pediatrician or doctor. Seek their advice regarding the best remedy for soothing your cranky baby.
Conclusion
If you have been wondering what to do for teething baby at night, consider trying these useful tips. These teething remedies at night will help soothe your baby during the painful teething phase so they can have adequate rest.
Whether it is using something cold to soothe the gums, applying pressure with your finger, letting them nurse, using natural remedies or OTC medication, these simple solutions will bring relief to baby’s sore gums.
Since no two children are alike, what works for one may not work for another. Therefore, find what works best for your little one and help them get some relief for each new tooth that erupts.