Teething at Night: How to Help Your Baby Sleep Better

It’s 2 a.m., and the baby who was cheerful all day is now inconsolable. If your baby is teething, this is a very common scene. Teething often feels worse at night because there are no daytime distractions, and the discomfort can usually be eased with a calm routine and gentle comfort measures.

This guide explains why nights can be harder, how to tell teething from a sleep regression, what a settling routine can look like, and what to avoid at bedtime.

Why Does Teething Seem Worse at Night?

Parents often notice the crying peaks after dark. A few things may explain it:

• Fewer distractions. During the day, toys, people and activity pull a baby’s attention away from sore gums. At night, there’s nothing else to focus on.
• Tiredness. An overtired baby has less ability to cope with discomfort, so a mild ache can feel much bigger.
• Lying down. Some parents find their baby is more unsettled when flat, though the evidence for this is limited.

None of this means something is wrong. It’s a normal pattern, and it usually settles once the tooth breaks through.

Is It Teething or a Sleep Regression?

Babies wake at night for many reasons, so it helps to look at the pattern.

Teething usually comes with:

• Extra drooling and chewing on hands or objects
• Swollen or tender gums
• Fussiness that lasts a few days around the time a tooth is coming through

A sleep regression is tied to developmental stages, such as learning to roll, crawl or stand. It tends to last longer, and the gum signs aren’t there.

If you’re not sure, our guide to the signs your baby is teething lists what to look for, and the teething timeline by age shows which teeth are likely to be coming at your baby’s age.

A Calming Bedtime Routine for a Teething Baby

A predictable routine helps a baby settle even when their gums are sore. Here is one way to do it:

1. Keep the same order every night. For example: bath, feed, cuddle, bed. Repeating it tells your baby that sleep is next.
2. Dim the lights and lower the noise. A quiet room or soft white noise helps your baby wind down.
3. Offer something cool before bed. A clean, chilled (not frozen) teether or damp washcloth can ease sore gums. Take it away once your baby settles.
4. Massage the gums. With a clean finger, rub the gums gently in small circles.
5. Add a gentle roll-on. A mess-free roller applied along the jawline and behind the ears can be part of the wind-down. Mama’s Soother by Junior’s Care is a natural teething roller made with organic coconut, chamomile, almond and lavender oils, and it’s never applied inside the mouth.
6. Stay close and keep it calm. Night feeds and cuddles should be brief and quiet, so your baby learns that night is for sleeping.

For more daytime options, see our guide to soothing a teething baby naturally.

What to Avoid at Bedtime

Some common teething habits aren’t safe overnight.

• Objects in the crib. Teethers, toys and soft items left in the crib are a safe-sleep concern. Offer them while your baby is awake, and remove them before sleep.
• Amber or teething necklaces. These aren’t recommended, because of choking and strangulation risks. Several pediatric organizations advise against them.
• Numbing gels. Products containing benzocaine or lidocaine aren’t advised for infants. We explain why in our guide to natural teething relief.
• Medicine without advice. If you’re thinking about pain relief, ask your pediatrician first for the right option and dose for your baby’s age and weight.

When Poor Sleep Might Not Be Teething

Teething can disturb sleep, but it doesn’t explain everything. Contact a doctor if your baby has:

• A temperature above 100.4°F (38°C)
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Pulling or rubbing at an ear along with crying
• Refusal to feed
• Crying that you can’t soothe for a long time

Don’t assume these are teething. They can point to another illness that needs checking.

Getting Through the Rough Nights

Broken sleep is exhausting, and it helps to know it passes. Each tooth typically causes a few difficult days, and most babies have long calm stretches in between. A steady routine, some patience and extra comfort will get you through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my baby cry more at night when teething?
Without daytime distractions, babies notice sore gums more, and tiredness makes discomfort harder to cope with.

Daant nikalte waqt baby raat ko kyun rota hai?
Babies cry more at night during teething because their gums feel sorer when they’re tired and there’s nothing else to distract them, and a calm bedtime routine usually helps.

How long does teething disrupt sleep?
Sleep is usually disturbed for a few days around each tooth breaking through, not for the whole teething period.

Is it teething or a sleep regression?
Teething comes with signs like drooling, chewing and swollen gums, while a sleep regression is linked to developmental milestones and has no gum symptoms.

Should I give extra night feeds or cuddles during teething?
Extra comfort is fine. Keep it calm and brief, and return to your normal routine as the discomfort passes.