Teething at Night: How to Comfort a Baby Who Cannot Settle

A baby who cannot settle because of sore gums can make an already tiring night feel very long. If teething seems to be the reason, simple comfort measures are usually the best place to start: offer a suitable chilled teething ring while your baby is awake, gently rub their gums with a clean finger, give extra cuddles and keep bedtime as calm as you reasonably can.

The NHS lists sleeping less well, sore or red gums, extra dribbling, chewing, fretfulness and one flushed cheek among possible signs of teething. Some babies have only mild symptoms, while others seem noticeably more unsettled for a few days.

Teething can affect sleep, but it should not become the explanation for every difficult night. If your baby seems ill, has a fever or has symptoms that worry you, seek medical advice rather than assuming a tooth is responsible.

Why can teething feel worse at night?

The NHS recognises that babies may not sleep very well while teething.

At night there are also fewer daytime distractions. A baby who was busy looking around, playing and being carried earlier may become more aware of sore gums once everything becomes quiet.

That does not necessarily mean the discomfort itself is medically worse at night.

Sleep also changes naturally as babies grow. Hunger, illness, development, changes in routine and the need for comfort can all contribute to waking.

If you can see other familiar teething signs, sore gums may be part of the picture. If not, keep an open mind about what else your baby might need.

Look for other signs of teething

Before deciding that a difficult night is caused by teething, look at your baby’s overall behaviour.

The NHS lists possible teething symptoms including:

A sore, red gum where a tooth is emerging
One flushed cheek
Increased dribbling
Chewing or gnawing more than usual
Rubbing an ear
Being more fretful
Sleeping less well
A facial rash
A slightly raised temperature below 38°C

Some babies show several signs together. Others have very little noticeable discomfort.

If your baby is unsettled at night but has no other teething signs, the cause may be something else.

Try a chilled teething ring before bed

If your baby is awake and supervised, a suitable teething ring can give them something safe to chew.

The NHS says teething rings may ease discomfort and distract babies from pain. Some can be cooled in the fridge, which may help soothe sore gums.

Check the instructions for your particular product.

Never put a teething ring in the freezer. The NHS warns that a frozen teething ring could damage a baby’s gums.

Do not tie a teething ring around your baby’s neck because this creates a choking hazard.

Most importantly, remove teethers and toys before putting your baby down to sleep. A baby’s sleep space should remain clear.

Gently massage sore gums

A clean finger can be surprisingly useful during an unsettled teething spell.

The NHS suggests gently rubbing a baby’s gums with a clean finger to help with discomfort.

Wash your hands thoroughly first. Then gently massage the sore area if your baby seems happy for you to do so.

There is no need to press firmly or keep checking whether you can feel a tooth.

If your baby pulls away or becomes more upset, stop. Comfort measures should respond to your baby’s cues rather than becoming another thing they have to tolerate.

Extra cuddles are fine

A baby who is uncomfortable may want more physical reassurance.

Holding, rocking, talking quietly or simply staying close may help your baby calm down enough to settle again.

The NHS includes comforting and playing with a baby among the simple approaches that can distract from teething discomfort.

You do not need to worry that a few difficult teething nights will somehow undo everything about your usual bedtime routine.

Respond to what your baby needs that night.

Once the uncomfortable patch passes, you can return to whatever settling pattern normally works for your family.

Keep the bedtime routine familiar

If you already have a simple bedtime routine, there is usually no need to abandon it because your baby is teething.

Familiar steps can provide useful cues that nighttime is approaching.

Depending on your baby’s usual routine, that might mean:

A feed
A nappy change
Pyjamas or a sleep suit
Dimmer lights
A quiet cuddle
A short song or story
Being placed in their usual sleep space

Do not aim for perfection.

If your baby needs more comfort than usual, give it. A predictable routine can still be present even when settling takes longer.

Keep nighttime calm if your baby wakes

If your baby wakes and seems uncomfortable, respond to their needs without feeling that you must turn the night into a full daytime routine.

Keep lights low where practical and interactions calm.

Check the basics first. Your baby may need feeding, changing, comfort or help because they are too warm or cold. They may also be unwell.

If teething seems likely, you can try gentle gum massage or another suitable comfort measure while your baby is awake.

Once they are ready to sleep again, return them to their usual safer sleep space.

Do not put teething toys in the cot

A teething toy may be useful while your baby is awake, but it should not stay in their sleep space.

The Lullaby Trust advises keeping a baby’s cot clear. Babies should sleep on a firm, flat mattress in a clear sleep space without toys, pillows, cot bumpers, nests, sleep positioners or other unnecessary items.

That advice still applies on difficult teething nights.

Do not leave a teething ring beside your baby so they can find it during the night.

Use it while your baby is awake and supervised, then remove it before sleep.

Keep following safer sleep guidance

It can be tempting to change the sleep set-up when your baby will not settle.

Avoid adding pillows, cushions, soft toys, nests or positioners in an attempt to make a teething baby more comfortable.

The Lullaby Trust advises that babies sleep on their backs in their own clear, flat, separate sleep space with a firm, flat mattress.

For the first six months, the safest place for a baby to sleep is in the same room as their parent or carer, but in their own separate sleep space.

Teething does not change those recommendations.

Move a sleeping baby from a bouncer or swing

Movement may calm an uncomfortable baby, but bouncers, swings and other inclined products are not suitable places for routine sleep.

The Lullaby Trust advises moving a baby who falls asleep in a bouncer, rocker or other seated or inclined product onto a firm, flat sleep surface.

If you use movement to comfort your baby while they are awake, transfer them to their normal sleep space once they are ready to sleep.

A difficult teething night is not a reason to compromise the baby’s usual safer sleep set-up.

What if your baby falls asleep while being held?

Sometimes an exhausted baby finally falls asleep in your arms.

The important issue is also how awake you are.

If you feel yourself becoming very sleepy, place your baby in their own safer sleep space rather than trying to stay awake while holding them.

Avoid falling asleep with a baby on a sofa or armchair.

If disturbed nights are leaving you exhausted, ask a partner or another trusted adult to share some of the settling where possible.

The NHS acknowledges that repeated night waking can be very hard for parents and suggests sharing nighttime care where circumstances allow.

Can pain relief help at night?

If your baby appears to be in pain and simple measures have not helped, appropriate pain relief may sometimes be considered.

The NHS states that paracetamol can be used for teething symptoms in babies from two months and ibuprofen from three months, provided the medicine is suitable for the individual child.

Always follow the instructions supplied with the medicine.

The correct product and dose depend on your baby and the medicine you have, so do not guess.

If you are uncertain whether a medicine is appropriate or how to use it, ask a pharmacist, GP or another qualified healthcare professional.

Do not routinely combine medicines

Tiredness can make medication instructions harder to keep track of, especially in the middle of the night.

Do not routinely give paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time.

Follow current NHS advice and the instructions supplied with the medicine. If a healthcare professional has advised alternating medicines, make a clear note of what you gave and when so there is less chance of accidentally repeating a dose.

If your baby repeatedly needs pain relief or seems to be in substantial pain, seek professional advice.

What about teething gels before bed?

The NHS says there is a lack of evidence that teething gels are effective and recommends trying teething rings or simple pain relief first.

If you decide to use a teething gel, it must be one designed specifically for young children.

General oral pain-relief gels are not suitable for children.

Teething gels containing a local anaesthetic are pharmacy medicines. Ask a pharmacist whether a product is suitable for your baby and follow the instructions carefully.

Do not apply extra gel because your baby remains unsettled.

Avoid homeopathic teething remedies

The NHS does not recommend homeopathic products for teething.

Some unlicensed homeopathic products sold online have been associated with serious side effects.

Being tired and desperate for something that works can make strongly marketed remedies especially appealing.

Stick with recognised guidance and ask a pharmacist before using a product if you are unsure what it contains or whether it is appropriate for your baby.

What about chilled food before bed?

For babies aged six months or older who are already having solid foods, the NHS suggests that suitable foods such as soft melon may soothe sore gums.

Always prepare food appropriately for your baby’s stage and supervise them while eating because of the risk of choking.

Food is not necessary as a teething treatment, particularly during a night waking.

A suitable chilled teething ring can provide a cooling sensation without introducing an additional feed or snack purely for teething.

Continue following your baby’s normal feeding needs and routine.

Protect sore skin from dribble

Some teething babies dribble heavily, including during the evening.

Saliva sitting on the chin and around the mouth can irritate the skin.

The NHS suggests gently wiping a baby’s face to help prevent a teething rash.

Pat the skin rather than rubbing it repeatedly.

Change a damp bib or clothing if needed before sleep, but do not put a bib on your baby for sleep.

If a facial rash is severe, spreading, weeping or otherwise concerns you, ask a healthcare professional or pharmacist for advice.

Teething or something else?

A rough night plus lots of chewing and a swollen gum can certainly fit with teething.

A baby who seems genuinely ill needs a different response.

The NHS says teething may cause a slightly raised temperature below 38°C. A temperature of 38°C or above is a fever and should not simply be attributed to teething.

The NHS also states there is no evidence that teething causes diarrhoea.

If your baby has fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, poor feeding or another concerning symptom, consider illness rather than assuming a tooth is responsible.

What if your baby is rubbing their ear?

Ear rubbing is listed by the NHS as one possible teething symptom.

It can therefore be difficult to know what an unsettled baby is trying to communicate.

Ear touching on its own does not tell you the cause.

If your baby appears to be in significant pain, has a fever, seems unwell or you are concerned about an ear infection or another illness, seek medical advice.

It is better to have an uncertain symptom assessed than to dismiss it as teething when your baby seems poorly.

What if your baby suddenly starts waking more often?

Teething can affect sleep, but it is only one possible reason for more frequent waking.

The NHS notes that babies’ sleep patterns change and that growth, teething and illness can all affect sleep.

Your baby may also wake because they need feeding, comfort or a nappy change.

Try not to feel pressured to identify one perfect explanation for every wake-up.

Respond to your baby’s immediate needs and look at the bigger picture over the following days.

If the sleep disruption continues after the suspected teething period or you need more support, speak to your health visitor.

A simple plan for a difficult teething night

When you are exhausted, having a short mental checklist can make things feel more manageable.

You might work through the night like this:

Check whether your baby needs feeding, changing or another usual form of care.
Look for signs that they may be unwell.
If teething seems likely, offer a suitable chilled teething ring while they are awake.
Try gentle gum massage with a clean finger.
Offer cuddles and calm reassurance.
If pain seems significant, consider appropriate pain relief according to NHS and product guidance.
Remove toys and teethers before sleep.
Put your baby back into their usual clear, flat, safer sleep space.

You may not need every step.

Some nights your baby may settle after a cuddle. On others, sore gums may make the process slower.

Be realistic about the next day

A broken night is tiring for parents too.

If you have had very little sleep, lower the expectations you can safely lower the following day.

Ask someone to help if that is an option. Take turns with your partner or another trusted carer. Choose the easiest meals and postpone non-essential jobs.

The NHS suggests sharing nighttime care where possible when disturbed nights are difficult.

You do not need to compensate for a difficult night by creating an elaborate new sleep plan.

Sometimes the most practical response to a temporary teething patch is simply to get through it safely and rest where you can.

When to get professional advice

Contact your GP, NHS 111, health visitor or another appropriate healthcare professional if your baby seems unwell, has symptoms that worry you or is much more distressed than you would expect from mild teething discomfort.

A temperature of 38°C or above should not simply be attributed to teething. The NHS says teething may be associated with a slightly raised temperature below 38°C and that there is no evidence it causes diarrhoea.

Seek advice if your baby is feeding much less than usual, has signs of dehydration, is unusually sleepy, has persistent or severe pain, or has other symptoms you cannot confidently explain.

If sleep problems continue beyond the suspected teething period or you are struggling with repeated disturbed nights, your health visitor can offer further advice.

For medicines or teething gels, ask a pharmacist or healthcare professional if you are unsure what is appropriate for your baby’s age or how a product should be used.

Seek urgent medical help if your baby has severe difficulty breathing, is difficult to wake, has a seizure or appears seriously unwell.