I have an 11 month old that usually sleeps 11 hours at night. The past couple of weeks he has been up every 4 or 5 days crying because of a third bottom tooth that is very slow to break through. He also had trouble with is first tooth. I have been going in to help him get back to sleep by rubbing his back, but I'm worried that I am undoing all of my hard work of teaching him to get back to sleep on his own (he will scream once he realizes I have left the room.) I do think that he is waking up because of tooth pain, but was wanting other's opinions on how much I should be interfering or if the pain isn't so severe that I should let him work it out on his own. I have read numerous times that teething should not cause night wakings, but just find it very hard to believe! I want to soothe him if he really needs me, but do not want to start any bad habits after doing so well with sleep. Thanks!
Dental pain often causes night wakings, so whoever thinks it should not clearly didn't bother to ask the kids.
A topical analgesic will probably help more than anything else.
Who benefits from experiencing physical pain? If you'd take a pill for a headache instead of 'working it out', why would you ever expect a pre-verbal infant to understand what's going on?
Hi, K.:
Ask your ped for a RX for Hurricane gel for the gums.
Good luck. D.
You won't undo your work too much. If it took him two weeks to sleep 11 hours, once he's through with the pain (which DOES wake babies up!!!) in should only really take a couple days. :)
Comforting your little one is much easier and better for them than letting them suffer in the night with the pain.
We used infant tylenol once our son started going through pain at night from teething.
Good luck, it will pass soon :)
I agree, the pain is waking him. I have had more success with Motrin before bedtime for teething pain with my guys. It seems to last longer so we all get some better sleep. You could also use baby orajel when he wakes up in pain. I am a Mom that does not let my kids ride out pain, colds, fever. I will give Tylenol and Motrin in appropriate doses so they feel better. It's worth it for everyone.
give some tylenol before bed and rub some liquid children's benedryl on the gum. no, you're not 'drugging' your baby! this too shall pass.
