MONTH NINE: I had such high hopes I wouldn’t need to write this month’s Sleep Challenge. Unfortunately, my month has been plagued with teething and developmental leaps. Yes, just call me lucky, I guess.
I envisaged sleep deprivation would be a thing of the past. After last month’s sleep through, I thought I was on the path to sleepy heaven. Alas, no. Here I am, bags under my eyes, and blinking like a camera shutter in a room full of babies.
Baby Holly even teased me four nights in a row this week by sleeping from 7pm ‘til 7am and only having two shorts feeds. Then that was thrown out the window Wednesday night, when yet another toothy peg started to emerge.
SOLUTION: Here’s what I know about coping with teething and sleep?
- Give the recommended dose of Nurofen or other ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is more suited to teething as it deals with targeted pain, while Panadol deals with all over pain and fevers. However, some suggest alternating between the two during teething, which we’ve found to be effective.
- Bonjela teething gel – or, as we like to call it, Bon Jovi minus the big hair. This only last 20 minutes and can’t be used again for three hours. However, it often helps Baby Holly resettle quickly.
- A breastfeed or bottle feed. Sometimes I think this is more about the cuddle comfort than the feed itself.
- A cold, clean finger rubbed on the gums. Yours, preferably.
- A cold pacifier for them to suck on. I just run it under the tap for a few seconds.
- Cuddles. I’ve been known to sit in my comfy feeding chair, bub in arms and just rock back and forth for an hour. Whatever gets you through, right?
- Let them cry. Eventually, they will fall sleep. I only tend to use this method when I’m at my wits end. This is really a personal choice, as some parents just don’t like the thought of leaving a baby when they’re in pain.
Read more from the Sleep Challenge.
What do you know when it comes to coping with a teething baby at night?
Disclaimer: This is based on my personal opinion and experience. I am not a medical professional, so please seek medical advice if you are at all concerned.
We use SM33 gel instead of bonjela and find it much more effective.
We received an amber necklace in the mail yesterday, put it on her and she pretty much cried for 5 hours. Took it off her before putting her to bed and she slept soundly… probably a coincidence but I don’t think she likes the necklace.
We do whatever works. panadol and teething gel, cuddles and cool flannels.
Ooh, I’ve never heard of SM33, Toushka. Thanks. I might seek it out.
I’ve heard so much about the amber necklaces, but have never gotten around to getting the girls one. I’ll be interested to hear if it works over the long term though.
Thanks for your tips. Much appreciated! xx
I know teething is much fun for the bubba or the parents! I hope you get some sleep too.
Thanks, MD. It’s been a rough couple of nights, but I can see that they’re well and truly popped through now, so hopefully in a day or two we’ll be back to normal!!
Ouch! Toothy pegs are really such nasty little things! Just when you think you’ve got one through, another one begins and so does the cycle! I hope Baby Holly is feeling better soon – we alternate nurofen and panadol for Roo and Fraser, but poor old Osky only gets panadol. I do’nt know who’s more unimpressed by this – him or me!
Hehe!! Awww, poor Osky.
If it wasn’t for developmental leaps and toothy pegs, life with a bub would be so much easier!!!! 😉
Thanks for the tips. We didn’t really have problems with #1 but no guarantee #2 will be uneventful. She’s probably going to start teething soon and, like with #1, I am going to miss her gummy smile when the toothy pegs come through.
Oh, how cute is the gummy smile! It is sad when that starts to go. Both girls haven’t coped overly well with teething, unfortunately. But I have to keep reminding myself, it’s only short term. I really hope #2 breezes through it for your sake!! xx
Not good to hear about the sleep situation. There is nothing worse than being teased for a few nights with awesome sleep only to be pulled back into night waking again. My 15 m.o. has a terrible cold at the moment so she is night waking too – i’m feeling (and looking!) like a zombie during the day! Hope Holly’s teething settles down for you soon!
Oh, so do I, Kirsty. And I hope your little one gets over her nasty cold too. It’s not much fun at all, especially when you have to get out of a warm bed into the cold! 🙁
Teething was our biggest challenge – A was a good sleeper unless teeth were coming through, at which point I’d be up with her most hours of the night. I tried all those things in alternation, and they each gave her some relief and us all some sleep!
That’s good to know alternating between these helped ease A’s teething pain, Megan. From what I can tell, Baby Holly is popping four teeth at once. It’s hard going at the moment, but a blessing that it will all be over with quickly (hopefully!). 🙂
What a useful read! My baby girl is only 6 weeks old and I am already having problems with getting her to sleep. Now at least I know what to do when she will start getting her teeth 🙂
xoxo
I hope it’s going well for you, Marusya. Those first six weeks are so precious. I’ve been tracking Baby Holly’s sleep through a series of posts called Sleep Challenge. You may find something among them that will help. All the best. x