Guest Blog- how to get your teething baby to sleep

Jayne Eddington, owner of Everything But the Stork provides us with some expert advice to help you through those tough nights!

Mother of Bella - now aged 7 months was asking if I had any tips on sleep routines while teething- 'Bella was great up until now but since teething is waking for feeds during the night, so she's not sure if that's normal or if she should be trying to get her to sleep through the night?'

Here is a question from a first time mum, it's a great question as it’s a common issue that parents have. What to do when their normally content child is teething and it's upsetting their sleep patterns.

This scenario often can build into more than it needs to be. Sometimes this is because the parents are wanting to give their baby anything to calm them, sometimes it's because the baby very quickly catches on to a change in the routine, and sometimes, it's just because. However it comes about, it can be a difficult and fraught time, usually because you have worked so hard to get into the good habits in the first place and this means that the situation that was working - is now not. Frustrating isn't it?

Here's what I'd suggest. When your baby suddenly and unusually starts waking from teething pain in the night, I would go to her and soothe her - with the lights off. (but enough outside room light to see what’s going on) I would evaluate the situation, if she sounds like she will go back to sleep unaided, I would let her, if she is moaning mostly in her sleep, a little rub of the tummy/back should send her straight back off, if she is crying heartily give her a cuddle and hold her for a couple of minutes before putting her back down. I’d place my open hand onto her tummy/back to keep some touch and warmth on her for a minute or so, perhaps I might offer a sip of warm water from a bottle or sippy cup - in her bed, all the while stroking her head or using soothing tones, rather than words.

I personally have had many a great success from the Weleda teething powder. (Available at most pharmacies).

I have had great fun hanging out with my sister’s antenatal coffee group, where there is a strong belief that the amber teething beads help significantly as well. They work by using body heat to release healing oils that calms a fractious baby or child. One possible place to get them is: www.baabaabeads.co.nz

I would try to avoid introducing any kind of habit that will become just that, a habit.

These include, but are not limited to:

- rocking or holding back to sleep

- introducing long gone (or not so long gone) feeds to soothe

- taking her from her bed or room (unless absolutely necessary! I personally would not consider taking a baby from their room unless the house was on fire - seriously!)

- talking or conversations other than soft sushing and sleep inducing tones... a gently whispered "it's ok sweetheart" is perfectly ok, I’d try not to overstimulate a baby that really would rather be asleep.

If I had to pick one that I would avoid more, it would be reintroducing feeding milk in the night. It is potentially setting yourself up for trouble if you get into the habit of soothing using milk. That said. You know your baby best. If you are aware that it is a potential problem, and, you still think it is the best decision to offer a feed, then who am I to stand in your way. I do try to encourage parents to use their instinct, except when they want to keep feeding and feeding.

The one thing that I would say about introducing feeds in the night to soothe, is that by night 3 it has or is starting to stick, so perhaps you might look to reassess if this is happening?

To answer the question. It is very normal behaviour. From four months onwards, I would look to be getting her to sleep through the night, so at 7 months, the milk bar is closed ‘til the morning, babe, sorry. Mummy still loves you though!

To find out more about how Jayne could help you and your family, see:
http://ebts.co.nz/