This article builds on our earlier guide, Baby Teething: When It Starts, Symptoms, and How to Help, and focuses specifically on sleep. If you need a refresher on typical teething signs and safe soothing basics, read that primer first—then use this piece as your sleep playbook.
Use that primer for signs and safety; use this one to solve the sleep question: Do babies sleep more when teething, or less—and how should you respond?
What Parents Notice: Sleep More, or Sleep Less?
Teething often splits babies into two visible patterns: some nap longer and seem sleepier; others become fussier, wake more at night, and fight naps. Both reactions are common because teething can bring gum discomfort, extra drooling, and general crankiness, all listed on the NHS teething symptoms page and echoed in the Mayo Clinic teething guide.
From a parent’s vantage point, you’ll also see rhythm shifts:
“Sleepier type.” Day naps stay intact or even lengthen; bedtime arrives smoothly; the first night stretch lasts longer, with a slightly later wake-up next morning.
“Fussier type.” Settling takes longer; the first stretch is short; night wakings stack up; naps get choppy.
Keeping a simple feed–sleep log for 3–5 days helps you separate a normal baseline from a short teething blip. Parent-reported sleep changes around eruption are summarized in an open-access systematic review, though not every child is affected and severity varies widely.
Around the days a tooth erupts, you’ll often see more night wakings that are short-lived; when feeding, mood, and responsiveness remain normal, that pattern is usually fine according to AAP guidance on teething pain.
Why Do Some Babies Sleep More During Teething?
Energy reallocation. Mild gum inflammation, constant mouthing/chewing, and heavier drooling all use energy, so some babies “bank” more rest while a tooth is moving. After an active day, that can look like faster sleep onset and a longer first stretch.
Short eruption window. Population data show most teething symptoms cluster from about 4 days before to 3 days after a tooth breaks through—an eight-day window described in a prospective Pediatrics study. That’s why many sleep shifts settle on their own within 1–2 weeks.
Emotional fatigue. A whole day of low-grade discomfort can leave little bodies more ready to wind down. For some babies, that translates into quicker bedtime and one extra nap.
Subjective vs. objective. Parents often perceive more disruption than devices detect. A longitudinal analysis found reported teething-related sleep loss wasn’t mirrored by measured metrics, underscoring how individual this is; details are in the longitudinal sleep study.
Not a fever explanation. Teething may nudge temperature slightly, but true fever is not characteristic of teething, as shown by a fever meta-analysis. If a sleepier-than-usual baby also has a high or persistent fever, look for another cause.
Why Do Other Babies Sleep Worse During Teething?
Pain feels bigger at night. With fewer daytime distractions, gum soreness stands out at bedtime and early night, prompting protests and frequent wakings. Gentle gum care helps, while topical anesthetic gels and other risky products are not recommended in AAP teething & tooth care. The FDA consumer update also warns against benzocaine products and amber necklaces for teething pain.
Drool & sensory arousals. Heavier drooling can trigger brief coughs or swallowing adjustments that disrupt light sleep—symptoms highlighted on the NHS teething page. These micro-arousals are most common in the first half of the night.
Feeding–sleep friction. Sucking can momentarily increase gum pressure. Some babies seek more comfort feeds; others pull off and cry, which extends bedtime and compresses sleep cycles. Chilled teethers and gentle gum massage are standard relief tactics in the Mayo Clinic’s guidance.
Separation sensitivity overlaps. Discomfort often coincides with 6–12-month separation-anxiety phases; keeping cues consistent and putting babies down drowsy but awake helps them bridge normal night arousals. Protecting daytime rhythm prevents overtired spirals that magnify discomfort.
What a “Good Sleeper” Looks Like During Teething
A “good sleeper” in teething weeks isn’t pain-free; they’re well supported:
Predictable daytime rhythm keeps bedtime sleep pressure intact.
Self-soothing micro-skills—hands-to-mouth, a brief pause before pickup, and a familiar ritual—are easy to build with the AAP’s Brush, Book, Bed routine.
Safe, simple sleep setting—firm surface, on the back, uncluttered crib, early months room-sharing without bed-sharing, and a cool, dark room—are the foundations summarized on the AAP Safe Sleep hub.
Practical checklist:
Keep bedtime cues consistent (bath → brush → book → song → down).
Finish gum-soothing 10–15 minutes before lights-out so the last cue is the crib, not the teether.
Maintain the nursery at 16–20 °C (61–68 °F); use blackout if dawn light is an issue.
If caregivers trade shifts, use the same script so responses feel predictable to your baby.
Signs That Teething Is Disrupting Your Baby’s Sleep
Night wakings jump by two or more above baseline for several nights with resettling over 20–30 minutes despite your routine; parent-reported disruption around eruption days is summarized in the systematic review.
Fragmented naps & crankier days often travel together; watch daytime mood and intake as part of the picture.
Red flags—true fever, persistent diarrhea, widespread rash, poor feeding, or lethargy—warrant medical review; true fever is not a typical teething feature, as shown by the fever meta-analysis.
How to Help a Teething Baby Sleep Better
Whether your answer to “Do babies sleep more when teething” is yes or no for your child, the steps below will improve night sleep safely and consistently. These evidence-based steps prioritize night sleep while staying within mainstream safety guidance.
1) Establish a consistent 10–20 minute bedtime routine
A predictable sequence—bath, dim lights, gentle massage, feed/teether, story/song, into crib drowsy but awake—strengthens the brain’s cue chain and anchors the AAP’s Brush, Book, Bed approach.
Implementation tips
Start the wind-down 30–40 minutes before the target bedtime (noise down, lights down).
On rough days, bring naps forward by 10–20 minutes to avoid overtiredness at night.
If you add a late “catnap,” keep it 20–30 minutes and preserve enough wake time before bed.
2) Use safe gum relief before lights-out
Offer a chilled (not frozen) solid rubber teether or a cold washcloth 10–15 minutes before the final cuddle; gentle gum massage can also take the edge off—common-sense steps aligned with the Mayo Clinic teething guide and the ADA MouthHealthy baby teeth basics. Avoid liquid-filled teethers that can leak.
3) Tune the sleep environment
Keep the room dark, quiet, and comfortably cool; a practical nursery range is 16–20 °C (61–68 °F).
If you use white noise, place the device away from the crib and keep volume moderate; infant sleep machines may exceed recommended sound levels when too close, as shown in the JAMA Pediatrics sound-level study.
4) Provide calming presence—without creating new crutches
On wakings, try a quiet hand on the chest, low shushing, or brief pick-up/put-down; returning baby to the mattress slightly awake builds independent resettling and aligns with core ideas in AAP sleep guidance.
5) Nighttime remedies and medicines (what’s in, what’s out)
In: chilled teether, cold washcloth, clean-finger gum rubs, and a brief cuddle with soft humming before bed.
Out: benzocaine/lidocaine gels, homeopathic tablets, and amber necklaces; the FDA consumer update explains why these are discouraged for teething pain.
If pain remains significant despite non-medication steps, ask your clinician about age-appropriate paracetamol/ibuprofen; dosing for babies three months and older is outlined in NHS teething tips. Always follow professional advice and labels.
When to Worry: Excessive Sleep or Severe Sleep Loss
When “sleeping more” isn’t reassuring. Hard to wake, unusual floppiness, poor feeding, or fewer wet diapers aren’t typical of simple teething; high or persistent fever also points away from teething. While you evaluate next steps, keep applying safe-sleep practices summarized on the AAP Safe Sleep hub.
When “sleeping less” crosses the line. Escalate care for inconsolable crying, ear-pulling with fever (possible ear infection), or several days of poor intake with worsening daytime behavior.
Duration and pattern matter. If disruption lasts more than two weeks without improvement—or your gut says something’s off—check in with your pediatric professional.
Real Parent Stories: Three Sleep Journeys
Case 1 — “Sleepier for a week.” During her first bottom tooth, a 7-month-old added a late-afternoon catnap and fell asleep faster at bedtime. Parents held routine steady and used a chilled teether before lights-out. Within 9–10 days, naps and nights returned to baseline—no new sleep props required, consistent with the eight-day eruption window described earlier.
Case 2 — “Fussy, fragmented nights.” An 8-month-old’s top teeth coincided with a separation-anxiety spike. Bedtime stretched to 45+ minutes with 4–5 wakings. The fix: protect two solid naps, do gum massage + chilled teether before the last story, darken and cool the room, and use moderate-volume white noise placed away from the crib. By nights 5–6, wakings dropped to 1–2 and bedtime shrank to 15–20 minutes, and gains held after teething passed.
Case 3 — “Mixed: more day sleep, more night wakings.” With upper and lower incisors erupting together, a 9-month-old’s first nap stretched from 60 to 90 minutes, yet nights fractured into 3–4 short wakings. Parents brought both naps 15 minutes earlier, finished gum-soothing before the last book, and used hand-on-chest reassurance to return him to the mattress slightly awake. By day 6, wakings fell to 1–2; by day 9, baseline returned—again lining up with the eight-day eruption window described earlier.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
So, Do babies sleep more when teething? It can go either way—what matters is the whole-baby picture and a steady move back to baseline once the tooth is through.
Teething can nudge sleep either way; track mood, feeding, responsiveness, and gradual return to typical patterns, as outlined in the systematic review.
Keep nights predictable (routine, environment, self-soothing chances) and use simple gum relief before bed; the AAP’s Brush, Book, Bed is an easy starting point.
Avoid risky products; the FDA consumer update explains why OTC benzocaine isn’t advised for teething. When in doubt, talk with your clinician.