Teething [blocked] and Sleep: Separating Myth from Reality
A Guest Post by RestWell Team, RN, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Founder of RestWell
It’s 3 a.m. Again. You’re standing by your baby’s crib, your body aching with exhaustion, and your mind racing. Your little one is whimpering, restless, and clearly uncomfortable. You’ve tried everything – a fresh diaper, a comforting cuddle, a quiet song – but nothing seems to work. The thought flashes through your mind, as it does for so many parents in this exact moment: it must be teething. That single word has become both a diagnosis and a source of immense frustration for generations of tired families. It’s the go-to explanation for every disrupted nap, every nighttime waking, and every bout of unexplained fussiness.
But what if I told you that teething might not be the sleep monster we’ve all made it out to be? As a pediatric sleep consultant and a registered nurse, I’ve worked with hundreds of families struggling to navigate the choppy waters of infant sleep. And one of the most persistent, and often misleading, challenges they face is the mountain of myths surrounding teething. The exhaustion is real. Your baby’s discomfort is real. But blaming it all on those tiny, emerging teeth might be preventing you from finding the solutions that will actually bring peaceful nights back to your home.
In this article, we’re going to take a deep, evidence-based dive into the world of teething and sleep. We’ll gently separate the long-held myths from the scientific reality, giving you a clearer understanding of what’s truly happening in your baby’s mouth and how it genuinely impacts their rest. More importantly, we’ll equip you with practical, effective strategies to comfort your baby and protect your family’s sleep, so you can move from a state of exhausted survival to one of confident, well-rested thriving. You are not alone in this, and there is a path to brighter, more RestWell ahead.
The Teething Story: What’s Really Going On?
Before we can bust the myths, let's get grounded in the biological facts. Teething, or tooth eruption, is the completely normal process where your baby's first teeth (the primary or “baby” teeth) sequentially emerge through the gums. This process typically begins around 6 months of age, though the timing can vary widely from one baby to another. Some infants may sprout their first tooth as early as 3 months, while others might not get one until after their first birthday. The two bottom front teeth (lower central incisors) are usually the first to arrive, followed by the two top front teeth (upper central incisors).
The process itself is a marvel of development. The tooth, which has been formed within the jaw, gradually pushes its way through the gum tissue. This can, understandably, cause some localized discomfort. Think about the pressure and sensitivity you might feel with a deep bruise – that’s a similar sensation for your baby’s gums. This period of eruption is often short-lived for each tooth, typically lasting for a few days around the time the tooth physically breaks through the gumline.
Signs of Actual Teething
When a tooth is actively erupting, you may notice a few distinct, localized signs. These are the true, scientifically-backed symptoms of teething:
- Excessive Drooling: The body produces more saliva to help lubricate and soothe the tender gums.
- A Desire to Chew: The counter-pressure from gnawing on a firm object can provide significant relief from the pressure of the erupting tooth.
- Sore, Swollen, or Tender Gums: If you peek inside your baby’s mouth, you might see a bulging, reddish area where the tooth is about to emerge.
- Mild Irritability or Fussiness: It’s not surprising that this discomfort can make your baby a bit crankier than usual.
- A Slight Rise in Temperature: Some studies note a very minor increase in temperature, but it is crucial to understand that teething does not cause a true fever (a temperature of 100.4°F or 38°C or higher).
It’s the symptoms beyond this list where the myths begin to take over, leading parents down a rabbit hole of ineffective solutions and unnecessary worry.
Myth vs. Reality: Debunking Common Teething Beliefs
For centuries, folklore and old wives' tales have attributed a wide array of ailments to teething, from high fevers and severe diarrhea to seizures and even death in historical texts. While we’ve thankfully moved past the most dangerous of these beliefs, many modern myths still persist, causing confusion and anxiety for parents.
Let’s clear the air by looking at what the science actually says.
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| Teething causes high fevers. | False. A slight rise in temperature can occur, but a true fever is a sign of illness, not teething. If your baby has a fever, it's important to contact your pediatrician to rule out an infection or other medical issue. |
| Teething causes diarrhea. | False. There is no scientific evidence to support a direct link between teething and diarrhea. Increased drooling might lead to slightly looser stools for some babies, but true diarrhea (watery, frequent stools) is a sign of a gastrointestinal issue. |
| Teething causes constant night waking for weeks. | Unlikely. While the discomfort of an erupting tooth can cause a temporary sleep disruption for a few nights, it is not the cause of chronic, long-term sleep problems. If sleep is disrupted for more than a week, there is likely another culprit at play. |
| Teething causes runny noses and coughs. | False. These are classic signs of a viral or bacterial infection, like the common cold. They are unrelated to the process of tooth eruption. |
| Amber teething necklaces are a safe, natural remedy. | False and Dangerous. The FDA has issued official warnings against these necklaces due to a significant risk of strangulation and choking. There is no scientific evidence that they provide any pain relief. |
Understanding these distinctions is the first, most powerful step you can take. When you can confidently identify what is and isn’t a symptom of teething, you can stop blaming the wrong problem and start focusing on the right solutions. If your baby has a fever, you call the doctor. If your baby has a sleep problem that lasts longer than a few days, you look for other causes, such as a sleep association, a developmental leap, or a scheduling issue.
What the Research Says
The belief that teething is a major disruptor of infant sleep is deeply ingrained in our culture. However, recent and more objective scientific research has begun to challenge this long-held assumption, suggesting that the impact of teething on sleep is far less significant than most parents believe.
A groundbreaking study published in The Journal of Pediatrics in 2025 by Kahn et al. utilized auto-videosomnography—essentially, video recordings of sleeping infants—to objectively track sleep patterns. The researchers followed infants over a period of weeks, noting when teeth were erupting. Their findings were surprising: there were no clinically significant differences in total sleep time or the number of night wakings between teething and non-teething periods. The study concluded that their "findings challenge the widely held belief that teething disrupts sleep and highlight the need for pediatric health care professionals to consider alternative explanations for infant sleep problems." [1]
This aligns with earlier research from leading sleep experts. A 2009 review in the European Journal of Pediatrics by Dr. Avi Sadeh, a prominent infant sleep researcher, noted that the influence of teething on sleep is often "very limited (usually within a range of 1 or 2 days before and after tooth eruption) if it exists at all." [2] The real culprits behind persistent sleep problems, as researchers like Dr. Jodi Mindell have extensively documented, are more often behavioral and environmental. These include inconsistent bedtime routines [blocked], strong sleep associations (like needing to be rocked or fed to sleep), and inappropriate sleep schedules. An internet-based intervention study led by Mindell in 2011 demonstrated that addressing these behavioral factors led to significant improvements in infant sleep, with no mention of teething as a primary obstacle. [3]
This body of research doesn't invalidate your baby's real, albeit temporary, discomfort. What it does is empower you to look beyond teething as the sole explanation for ongoing sleep struggles. It encourages a shift in perspective: instead of waiting for the "teething phase" to pass, you can proactively address the underlying, and often fixable, causes of poor sleep.
Try This Tonight: 5 Actionable Steps for Soothing a Teething Baby
When you’ve confirmed that teething is the likely cause of your baby’s discomfort, here are five practical, safe, and effective strategies you can use to provide relief and support sleep.
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Offer Chilled (Not Frozen) Relief. The cold provides a gentle numbing effect on sore gums. Keep a few wet washcloths, solid teething rings (not gel-filled), or pacifiers in the refrigerator. Offering one to your baby to gnaw on before bedtime can ease discomfort enough for them to drift off to sleep. Never give your baby a frozen item, as it can be too harsh on their delicate gums.
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Apply Gentle Counter-Pressure. Using a clean finger or a soft, damp piece of gauze, gently but firmly rub your baby’s gums for a minute or two. This counter-pressure can provide surprisingly effective relief from the deep-down pressure of the erupting tooth. You can do this as part of your calming bedtime routine.
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Maintain Your Bedtime Routine Religiously. Consistency is your best friend, especially when your baby is uncomfortable. Do not abandon your established bedtime routine. The familiar sequence of events (bath, pajamas, book, song) signals to your baby that sleep is coming and provides a powerful sense of security and predictability, which can help them settle even if they are feeling a bit off.
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Consider a Dose of Pain Reliever (Wisely). If your baby is clearly in pain and other methods aren’t helping, it is okay to consider an infant-appropriate pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. However, this should not be a long-term solution. Always follow the dosage instructions from your pediatrician and the product label. If you find yourself needing to use it for more than a day or two, it’s a strong indicator that you should consult your pediatrician to rule out another source of pain.
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Offer Extra Comfort, But Within Boundaries. It’s natural to want to comfort your baby with extra cuddles or rocking when they’re in pain. You should absolutely offer that comfort. However, be mindful of creating new, unsustainable sleep habits. Try to offer comfort with your baby in their crib if possible (e.g., by patting their back or speaking in a soothing voice). If you do pick them up, try to put them back down once they are calm but still awake. This helps them practice falling asleep independently, a skill that is crucial for long-term healthy sleep.
Common Questions Parents Ask
1. How long does the pain from one tooth last?
For any individual tooth, the most acute discomfort typically lasts for just a few days—the period immediately before and as the tooth breaks through the gumline. If your baby’s sleep is disrupted for weeks on end, it is highly unlikely that teething is the sole cause.
2. My baby is pulling at their ears. Is that a sign of teething?
While some parents report this, ear pulling is a much more classic sign of an ear infection. The nerves in the gums and ears are linked, so some referred sensation is possible, but you should always have your pediatrician check for an ear infection to be safe, especially if your baby seems to be in significant pain.
3. Can I use numbing gels or creams on my baby’s gums?
No. The FDA strongly advises against the use of topical numbing gels containing benzocaine or lidocaine for infants. These ingredients can lead to a rare but serious and sometimes fatal condition called methemoglobinemia, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. Stick to the safer, mechanical methods of relief like chilling and counter-pressure.
4. Why does my baby’s sleep seem to fall apart every time a new tooth is coming?
This is often a case of correlation, not causation. Teething happens concurrently with major developmental leaps (learning to roll, sit, crawl, and pull up) and their associated sleep regressions [blocked]. A baby who is already in a period of disrupted sleep due to a new skill might be more sensitive to the minor discomfort of teething. The teething gets the blame, but the developmental leap is the real driver of the sleep issue.
5. When should I be worried enough to call the doctor?
Always trust your parental instincts. You should call your pediatrician if your baby has a true fever (100.4°F or 38°C or higher), is inconsolable, refuses to eat or drink for a prolonged period, has diarrhea, or if their symptoms seem to be getting worse instead of better. Teething is a normal physiological process; illness is not.
The Path to RestWell
Navigating the world of infant sleep can feel like a daunting journey, filled with conflicting advice and persistent myths. The teething myth is one of the most powerful, but by arming yourself with knowledge and evidence-based strategies, you can approach it with confidence and clarity. Remember that while teething can cause temporary discomfort, it is rarely the cause of chronic sleep problems.
By focusing on safe, effective soothing techniques and, most importantly, maintaining consistent, healthy sleep habits, you can support your baby through this milestone without sacrificing your family’s precious rest. And if you find that the sleep struggles persist long after the tooth has emerged, know that help is available.
At RestWell, we specialize in creating personalized, compassionate sleep plans that look at the whole picture—routines, sleep environment, developmental stages, and your family’s unique needs. We can help you identify the true root of your sleep challenges and guide you, step-by-step, toward a future of peaceful nights and happy, well-rested days. For families who want dedicated support, we are here to help you on your journey.
References
[1] Kahn, M., Lucchini, M., Oster, E., Thakur, S., Waugh, M., Sadeh, A., & Mindell, J. A. (2025). Does Teething Disrupt Infant Sleep? A Longitudinal Auto-Videosomnography Study. The Journal of Pediatrics.
[2] Sadeh, A., & Sivan, Y. (2009). Clinical practice: sleep problems during infancy. European journal of pediatrics, 168(10), 1159–1164.
[3] Mindell, J. A., Du Mond, C. E., Sadeh, A., Telofski, L. S., Kulkarni, N., & Gunn, E. (2011). Efficacy of an internet-based intervention for infant and toddler sleep disturbances. Sleep, 34(4), 451–458.
RestWell Resources: sleep environment guide [blocked]
Related Articles
Explore more evidence-based sleep guidance from RestWell:
- Teething and Sleep: Separating Fact from Fiction [blocked]
- Sleep Regressions Explained: What They Are and How to Survive Them [blocked]
- How Sleep Develops: 6-12 Months - Building Independent Sleep [blocked]
- Establishing a Bedtime Routine That Works [blocked]
- Creating the Perfect Sleep Environment [blocked]
