In most cases, when your baby is between four and six months old, she will begin sleeping through the night most of the time, allowing you and your partner five to six hours of uninterrupted shut eye. While this still isn’t the eight hours of sleep we’re all led to believe that we need, it’s a start.
Unfortunately, in many cases, it doesn’t last long. Just when you start to get used to sleeping through the night again, your baby is going to start cutting teeth. A painful experience for baby, this means that you are going to have to spend some nights awake again, comforting her while she fusses and cries. The good news is that teething usually only lasts for a few days at a time. Once the new tooth is through the gums, life gets a lot easier for baby and, therefore, for you.
For most parents, the first time baby cuts a tooth catches them by surprise. Unless you know what to look for, teething can look like a cold or other illness. Here are some of the signs that baby may be about to get a new tooth:
- Crabbiness
- Drooling
- Low fever
- Baby pulling at ears
- Runny nose with clear fluid
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make teething a little easier on both of you. One of the best things you can do is to place teething rings, or even baby’s pacifiers in the freezer briefly, then give them to baby. You’ll most likely find that your baby has no trouble at all figuring out where the teething ring is supposed to go. When they start teething, babies tend to put everything in their mouths.
There is also over the counter medication available for baby while she is teething. This includes baby Tylenol and various gels which can soothe aching gums during teething. Most doctors don’t recommend teething biscuits these days, as small pieces can be dangerous for your baby until they learn how to fully handle solid foods.
If you’re losing sleep, hang in there. It doesn’t take long for baby’s teeth to come in and, when they do, they’re as cute as can be. In the meantime, rest while you can and remind yourself that it won’t last forever.