 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||
You would not believe how many times I get this
exasperated comment: “My baby is teething and
that’s why he is getting up 10 times a night!”
I get to hear that exclamation an average of five times
a day. There is some legitimacy to the teething "excuse,"
but there's also a way to handle the situation so neither you nor your little one has to suffer—well, beyond the pain of cutting teeth, that is.
Most babies start teething around 4 months, although you more than likely won’t see a tooth for another couple of months. Teeth move around their little gums; they move up and down and that can be painful for them. Can this pain affect your little one's sleep? A lot of doctors say no, but ultimately, it depends on your baby’s ability (or lack thereof) to tolerate pain.
So, now you are probably wondering what your baby's pain tolerance threshold is.
Well, it is hard to say, but if you have a baby that is or was sensitive to noise and sounds, and gets over-stimulated pretty easily, then it is more likely that your baby won’t have such a high pain tolerance. He will most likely be one of the babies whose sleep gets disrupted during this time. If that is the case, do your best to keep to a strict sleep schedule and remember not to run into your baby’s room right away every time he cries. Give your little one a chance to soothe himself back to sleep by letting him cry for three to five minutes before you check on him. This way, you will still be responding to him in a timely manner but also giving him the opportunity to self-soothe.
But how do you really know if it's teething or just the normal will of a baby?
There are five telltale signs that your baby is about to cut a tooth:
| Red gums | |
| Swollen gums | |
| Lots of drool | |
| Fever | |
| Cranky and fussy |
If your baby has all these symptoms, then he is most likely teething. In this case, for 72 hours before and after the tooth erupts, abandon all sleep training and do whatever your baby needs, including feeding him at off times, if that’s what he needs. You will probably have to revert to an earlier version of sleep training after the tooth has erupted to get him back on track, but it will most likely only take one to two nights.
You can also check with your pediatrician regarding Tylenol dosage and inquire about giving your baby Hyland’s Teething Tablets and Camilia Teething Relief. Teething toys and blankets as well as a frozen, wet washcloth (that your baby can suck/chew on) are also quite helpful. Lastly, if your baby is older than 10 months, you can give him frozen mini bagels to soothe his gums.
Your baby—and you!—will survive teething. It's not fun, but hopefully with my tips it's now a little easier.
Kathy Sinclair, CNCS, CPD, CLE, CHBE, graduated from Australia’s prestigious Charlton Brown Nanny College and began her professional career as a nanny in 1993. Kathy developed her specialty with infant sleep while working as a newborn care specialist in Los Angeles. Currently the founder of Baby Sleep Solutions, Kathy provides one-on-one individualized sleep consultations, leads Mommy & Infant groups for new moms, and lectures on sleep in and around Los Angeles. She lives in Ventura, Calif., with her husband and three dogs. She may be contacted through her website at www.babysleepsolutionsla.com.
HOME | ABOUT TFG | CONTACT TFG | FREE TFG | ADVERTISE TFG | SHOP TFG | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS & CONDITIONS
