Babies can begin teething as early as just a few months old, but it might take awhile before the actual tooth even appears. Many babies will start teething between four and six months old. Teething continues up to two years of age when the first and second year molars come in which can also lead to toddler night waking. Some babies never show many signs of teething apart from drooling and chewing on everything while others will get fussy and cranky as the tooth is popping through. Some babies will sleep through it all while others will have numerous night wakings. There are some experts who say teething will not disrupt sleep, but for many babies, teething will affect their ability to go to sleep and stay asleep. All babies are different and they will all have different pain tolerances. So, it’s your job, as parents, to be sympathetic and understanding as to how teething might be affecting them but to also make sure they get enough sleep.

Here are some tips for handling teething and your baby’s sleep:

If baby is extra fussy during the day when he’s awake (i.e. he is not fussy because he is sleepy), make sure you make him extra comfortable at bedtime with a dose of Motrin or Tylenol or natural teething tablets and possibly, Orajel. Note: You should check with your pediatrician about the appropriate age for giving medication to your baby.

A baby can be teething off and on for months up to two years of age so you should figure out a plan for how you will handle a new teething month because you can’t allow too much sleep deprivation in the name of “teething. ” You may think something is a teething problem, but it is really a sleep problem. Usually it is only about 2-4 days of super fussy times that baby will need extra soothing until the tooth pops through. However, there are other times, you will need to be more stringent on your nighttime visits even during teething periods, because of the sleep problems it can create.

If you are nursing, expect baby to possibly nurse more frequently as it feels good on their gums. As always, you may have to set limits and be careful not to create a sleep association with nursing to sleep.

Generally, there is not a need a stop sleep training during baby’s teething months. If you waited for all your baby’s teeth to pop through before you sleep train, you might wait over 2 years! Since you have no way of knowing how long or how often your baby’s sleep might be affected by teething, just be sure you prioritize your baby’s sleep. Be aware that during the teething months, you may need to alter your plan a bit, especially in the few days the teeth are about to erupt through the gums, but otherwise, help them feel comfortable, and continue to be consistent and help them learn to sleep better.