Teething and Sleeping. Help!

Anytime, a baby hits milestones and new motor-skills... and is teething, this will tweak their sleep.

It is involuntary. They cannot control it.
This is how they learn their new skills. And they do it, repeatedly and even when supposed to be sleeping.
They do not yet have the 'at-will' cognizance, to stop or make themselves all into a comfy little sleep position, again.

It is a developmental phase.
It will pass.
Just have to be patient.

They WILL,roll-over repeatedly. Then when they learn to sit-up and stand-up, this will occur, again. Them doing it repeatedly and always.
They do not yet, 'know' how to roll-back over, nor to premeditate that, nor to think 3 steps ahead in how they will roll-over then roll-back over then go back to sleep. They have not gotten there, yet, developmentally.

Every time a baby changes developmentally/cognitively and in their motor-skills... it will tweak their sleep.
And they cannot yet, put their pacifier back into their mouth.

They don't, have the coordination for all of these things yet.
But it is normal.
Your baby is developing well and normally.
It is a happy thing... because if he were not doing these things... then you would worry about delays.
So that is the flip-side, to this.

He is too young, to have the prehensile coordination of his hands/fingers and hand to mouth cognizance... to do it himself. Just put it back for him.
I did, with my son. It will wake him and you. It just is.
It is a phase.
But your baby is gong through a GOOD and normal development of his motor-skills. He is just not coordinated at it yet. These skills, are NOT yet fully 'mastered' yet. It takes time.

MANY things going on in a baby, developmentally, at the SAME time. It is hard for them too.
It will pass.
MANY other phases to occur.
Sleep patterns in a baby, is never static nor finite. It changes. Per development, per hunger, per teething, per age.
Also, whenever a baby/child is on the cusp of another age-juncture, it tweaks them and their sleep. Due to their changing development/motor skills/cognition.
It is ever, changing.
Which is good.
It means he is developing.

Just feed him on-demand, 24/7, day and night.
A baby when developing and growing so much, needs more intake. Sometimes, a pacifier, will deter from a baby getting adequate feedings. So, know when he is hungry and needs a feeding, versus just putting the pacifier in his mouth.

My son is 20 mos old now. He still drops his binky at night and we still go give him a binky. It's never ending until binky goes bye bye. lol We'll get rid of my sons binky at 2 1/2 years old. Sometimes he'll wake up and he'll get his binky, but most of the time, we go in there and get it for him. When babies wake up, they are a little disoriented from being half asleep, so they're not going to think of where their binky is. They just know it's not in their mouth. lol Hang in there. It will get better...sleep wise that is. :-)

do you have a paci keeper on his pjs?? I did for mine (stilll do) put it in the same place every night and show them where its at...it will take a few night but he will figure out how to soothe himself

Is he getting hot at night? I know when my daughter was little and teething she would get really hot at night and had a hard time with her paci... What I did (and I don't know if this helps but...) is I got a tiny fan that is near her but not actually pointed on her and it is set to a low setting, it helps keep her cooler and the noice seems to be soothing to her. Also with the paci you might want to try a different kind. My daughter couldn't use the type that they give you in the hospital so I switched her to MAM Pacifiers and she did real well with them. Plus they make "MAM Soft" which is made for the baby to chew on the side when teething, also for babies that can't hold teething rings there is a pacifier from RazBaby that is made for teething, they are "Hands-Free Silicone Teething Pacifiers". Hope something helps =) good luck.

A rash makes me think of an allergy. Try a different brand of pacifier. My youngest and the only paci lover would only take the avent 0-6months til she was 18month. It was the only one small enough for her face adn didnt rest on checks like other ones. If a rash still persist talk to doc about baby being allergit to the materials in the paci or an food. My oldest use to get an rash around her face from where she would spit up her formula. We had to switch to lactose formula and omit milk products til she was over 1yrs.

For teething try the homopathic stuff first and then the oragel later on. Also, talk to doctor about how much tylenol to give too. It really helps them with pain and to sleep longer. I think it was after my youngest was a year that we could give ibforin instead as tylenol wasnt working anymore or strong enough by itself. You need to talk to the doctor about tylenol and ibforin as too much or starting it too young can have serious consequences and i am not an expert on dosage.

Make a list of questions and take it to the doctors. You can never be afraid to ask anything. Doctors love it when you ask questions then instead of googling it.

Dear Audrey,
Is he still nursing? Sounds as if he is missing sound nutrition. Hopefully he is not on formula. Nourshing Traditions cookbook for great info.
best, k