How to Help a Teething Baby Sleep: A Guide

Summary

Teething often begins around the ages of 4 to 6 months and can pose a host of challenges for both caregivers and baby. Some ways to ease teething discomfort and help your baby go to sleep are with a chilled pacifier, massaging their gums, and a warm bath before bedtime. When caring for your little one’s smile, gently clean their gums with an extra-soft bristled toothbrush like Oral-B Manual Toothbrush Baby 0-2 Years Featuring Winnie the Pooh or wipe gently along the gum line with a damp washcloth.

Teething is one of your baby’s first big milestones - and one of the first potential sleep challenges. If your baby is showing signs of teething, here are a few things you can do to help your teething baby sleep.

How to Help a Teething Baby Sleep

Teething can make it harder for your baby to settle and stay asleep. These simple, soothing ideas can help ease tender gums and make bedtime a little easier.

Try these parent-friendly ways to comfort a teething baby during the day or at night:

Gently Wipe Away Drool: Extra drool is common during teething, and it can sometimes irritate your baby’s skin. Keep your baby’s chin and cheeks clean and dry with a soft cloth to help prevent drool rash from adding to bedtime fussiness.

Try a Gentle Gum Massage: With clean hands, gently rub your baby’s gums to help soothe tender spots before sleep.

Offer a Chilled Teething Ring: A firm teething ring can help massage sore gums and give your baby something safe to chew on. Choose one that is chilled, not frozen, and avoid liquid-filled teethers.

Use a Cool Washcloth: A cool, damp washcloth can feel soothing on sore gums. You can gently press it against your baby's gums or let your baby chew on it while closely supervised.

Offer Chilled Soft Foods, If Age-Appropriate: For babies who are already eating solids, cool soft foods may help soothe tender gums. If you try this close to bedtime, gently clean your baby's gums or teeth afterward.

Try a Chilled Spoon: Some parents find that a cool spoon can be soothing for sore gums. If you try this, make sure it feels cool, not too cold, before offering it to your baby.

Delayed tooth eruption: Many babies get their first tooth around 6 months, but timing can vary. If your child still has no teeth by about 18 months, reach out to a pediatric dentist or pediatrician for guidance.

Loose teeth or tooth pain: If your child has a loose tooth earlier than expected or seems to have tooth pain, schedule a dental visit to find out what is going on.

Signs of tooth decay: If you notice spots, damage, or anything that looks unusual on your child's teeth, make an appointment with a dental professional as soon as you can.

Teething and Sleep

Many parents notice that teething seems harder at night. Even if your baby’s gums are not necessarily more uncomfortable after dark, the quiet of bedtime can make those sensations feel more noticeable.

During the day, your baby has more distractions—sounds, sights, play, and activity. At night, with fewer distractions, teething discomfort may be harder to ignore.

That can lead to more crying, shorter stretches of sleep, and a tougher night for everyone. The good news is that a few soothing strategies and a steady bedtime routine may help your baby settle more comfortably.

If your baby becomes overtired, it can be even harder for them to calm down and fall asleep. Offering comfort early may help prevent that overtired cycle from building.

Some babies also find sucking on a pacifier comforting during teething. If your child uses one, it may help them settle on especially fussy nights.

Teething Timeline

Baby teeth usually start coming in around 6 months, though every child is different. Some babies start a little earlier, while others do not get their first tooth until later.

When to See a Dental Professional

Teething is a normal part of development, but there are times when it makes sense to check in with a pediatric dentist or pediatrician:

• Delayed tooth eruption: Many babies get their first tooth around 6 months, but timing can vary. If your child still has no teeth by about 18 months, reach out to a pediatric dentist or pediatrician for guidance.
• Loose teeth or tooth pain: If your child has a loose tooth earlier than expected or seems to have tooth pain, schedule a dental visit to find out what is going on.
• Signs of tooth decay: If you notice spots, damage, or anything that looks unusual on your child's teeth, make an appointment with a dental professional as soon as you can.

Caring for Baby’s Teething Gums and Teeth

Teething can be a challenging stage for both babies and caregivers. Even so, it is a great time to build healthy oral care habits and care for your baby’s smile every step of the way.

As new teeth come in, your baby’s gums may look a little swollen, red, or ridged, and they may seem more sensitive than usual.

Caring for your baby’s gums and teeth before and during teething can be simple:

• You can gently wipe your baby's gums with a clean, damp cloth before teeth come in.
• Once the first tooth appears, brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and use a 'smear' of toothpaste for children from 2-3 years old and a "pea-sized" amount for children aged 3 to 6 years.
• Avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle of formula or juice, since sugars can raise the risk of tooth decay.
• It is also a good idea to schedule an early dental visit, often by your child's first birthday, to help support a healthy start.

Daily Oral Care for Baby’s Teeth

Once your child is 3 or older, these simple brushing tips can help support a healthy routine:

1. Brush along the gum line for 2 minutes, twice a day, using a toothbrush with extra-soft bristles.
2. At age 3 and up, you can introduce an electric toothbrush. Choose a brush head designed to fit small mouths and gently clean each tooth.
3. With an electric toothbrush, gently hold the brush head against each tooth surface—front, back, and chewing surfaces—to help get a thorough clean.
4. Have your child spit out the toothpaste after brushing.
5. Skip rinsing with water right after brushing so the fluoride toothpaste can keep working.
6. You can also make brushing more fun with the Disney Magic Timer App, which uses rewards and challenges to help keep kids engaged.

Kids Oral Care Recommendations

Complete Your Child’s Oral Care Routine

• For children with teeth, use a ‘smear’ of toothpaste for children from 2-3 years old and a “pea-sized” amount for children aged 3 to 6 years and choose products that match your child’s age.
• Once your child is 3 or older, an electric toothbrush can be a great addition to their routine and help support healthy teeth and gums.
• Pair brushing with a fluoride toothpaste made for kids to help support cavity protection.
• Make brushing more fun with tools like the Disney Magic Timer App to help keep kids motivated.
• Keep up with regular dental checkups based on your child’s dentist’s recommendations.

Find the kids’ oral care routine that fits your child’s growing smile.