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8 TIPS TO HELP YOUR BABY SLEEP WHEN TEETHING share this
Babies typically begin teething at the age of around 6 months, although it can be as early as 3 months or as late as 12 months. If you notice they are chewing on their fingers (or yours!) - as well as any other object they can raise to their mouth, it's highly likely that there is some teething activity going on underneath their gums.
Teething can cause your baby to be fussy, irritable and hard to calm, which you may also find causes disruption to your bedtime routine. This can be a challenging time for both of you - especially if you're already operating on limited sleep!
But by reducing some of the swelling and soreness of your baby's gums during the day, you may find that they are more settled and able to drift off when it comes to bedtime.
Here are a few things you can try to soothe your baby's gums and help them get to sleep when their pearly whites are cutting through...
Ways to soothe baby's gums and help them sleep
1. A comforting bedtime routine
By the time your baby is teething, you will (hopefully!) have a bedtime routine in place, which can really help to settle your little one when it comes to going down at night. There are plenty of lovely and calming elements you can incorporate into your bedtime routine to promote relaxation, such as: a warm bath, soothing massage and gentle lullabies, all of which will encourage your baby to switch off and close their eyes.
While it may not always be easy, particularly if they are distressed and unsettled, try to persevere with their routine as closely as you can. The familiar process will signal to them that it's time to be still, and help their body drift off to dreamland.
It's also a good idea if they wake up again soon after falling asleep, to leave them for a few moments so they learn to self-settle.
2. Give your baby a teething ring to chew on
Remedies to soothe gums during the daytime will reduce swelling and take the heat out of the gums, so this may help them fall off to sleep more easily at night. During the day, offer them a teething ring to bite down on to safely ease their discomfort and distract them from any pain.
Some teething toys can be popped into the fridge to boost their relief-giving capabilities even further. Although it might seem like a good idea, never put teething rings into the freezer as this could damage your little one's gums.
As teethers are destined for your baby's mouth, it's also important to ensure they are cleaned/sterilised regularly to prevent any germs from causing illness.
3. Give your baby a healthy treat to bite down on
If your baby is eating solids (6 months or older), you can give them a healthy treat such as a piece of carrot, or soothing cucumber to chew on during their waking hours, which might offer some relief for sore gums when it comes to naps and bedtime. Melon is also a great option thanks to its cooling credentials, or you may like to offer another type of soft fruit, or how about some chilled yoghurt or puree.
Remember that it's important to never leave your child unattended (even for a split second) when eating. Ensure they are supervised closely at all times to reduce the risk of choking.
4. D is for Distraction
Even when babies are feeling discomfort, they can be easily distracted by exciting things happening around them. Playing with toys, having you read to them and looking at picture books, or singing their favourite songs may go some way to help them when they're experiencing teething pain.
To help them prepare for sleep, a colourful mobile, or one with lights and gentle sounds might help distract them enough to sail to slumberland.
5. Play white noise or soothing sounds
Another way you might offer some distraction and soothe your teething baby at bedtime is by playing white noise as they settle. To your baby, white noise sounds a lot like the sounds they could hear when they were in the womb, which is calming and reassuring.
White noise (or there is also brown and pink) can help to calm and soothe babies to sleep - so it's definitely worth a try if your baby is struggling to settle when teething. White noise machines are available to buy as specialist standalone units, or there are many apps available to use with your smartphone.
6. Gently massage the gums/apply pressure
You can help to alleviate teething discomfort and promote relaxation before bedtime by gently massaging your little one's gums. Before you put them down for the night, apply light pressure to their gums by pressing a clean finger or a damp gauze pad on them (the latter may be preferable when their sharp pointy teeth start to cut through!). This can help to numb the area and help them relax enough to fall asleep.
The direct interaction with you can also help to soothe and distract them. Biting down on a cool flannel (that has been in the fridge for a little while) can also offer some relief to your little one. This can help just ahead of breastfeeding to allow your baby to settle enough to latch on, before the gums become painful again.
7. Keep drool at bay
Along with irritability and fussiness, teething can cause a baby to produce excess drool which unless wiped away can cause a sore rash around your baby's mouth — all adding to their teething discomfort.
To help minimise this at night, make sure you're on drool patrol during the day, wiping their mouth regularly and keeping the area as clean and dry as you can. It's also a good idea to invest in absorbent bibs to prevent their underclothes getting wet. Some bibs even have a soft silicone tip which makes the perfect teether for babies to chew on and give sore gums a massage.
8. Give extra cuddles
When your baby is teething, it can be a tricky, emotionally challenging time for you, as well as a time of discomfort for your little one. And being unable to easily relieve that discomfort for them, as their parents, can be incredibly difficult! While we have listed some of the things you can try to alleviate the pain of teething, your touch and presence can be one of the greatest soothers of all.
If your baby is distressed and crying due to teething, extra cuddles can go a long, long way. Hold each other close so they can feel your heartbeat, and remind yourself that teething is just a short transitory phase. Before you know it, your baby will be smiling right back at you – a brand new, gorgeous toothy one!
As a last resort, medicine can help
There will be times when you have tried all of the above and your baby is still experiencing pain and distress from teething, and so you may want to try a sugar-free pain-relieving medicine to help them.
Both paracetamol and ibuprofen can be given to babies aged 3 months and older to relieve teething pain. Make sure you follow the instructions on the bottle for administration and dosage.
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Baby teething timeline 
Signs your baby is teething 
Teething tips 
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