Teething/Sleeping Question from FTM

Try to keep his regular schedule. You didn't mention if you are giving him Tylenol or ibuprofen before naps to help with the pain, but I'll assume it's something you've tried. We don't go and pick him up as soon as he wakes I give him a few minutes if he was overtired when we put him down or is teething, because if he wakes up from that he will usually go back to sleep. He also uses a lovey in his crib that gets washed constantly when he's teething because he chews on it.

Good luck!

Hi A., Well I guess I am very different than all the other mom's that have responded because my daughter is 8 months and just barely got her first tooth with the next soon to follow. I am all about routine and all four of my kids that still live at home have one. But I can't help but feel my childrens pain with them. This stage will end soon so why not comfort him. Your routine will not get lost! When I'm in pain my routine will change a little as does everyone's but it always comes back. Try some " Little Teethers" teething tablets. They are 100% natural and you can get them at Wal-mart. It worked on 2 out of 3 of my youngest kids. You are a great mom so follow your heart. Hang in there!

No no no comfort nursing...I was a late mom too...believe me YOU WILL REGRET the comfort nursing!!!

Give your little guy some Tylenol or Motrin before you lay him down and he should be just fine. The Orajel works ok. I also got a bunch of wash clothes, dampened them with water, rolled them tightly, wrapped them in individual ziploc bags and tossed them in the freezer...These were easy to give baby to chew and suck on. They would absorb the drool, ease the pain of the gums, and were completely recyclable. Not to mention, they didn't create a huge mess! :)

You may hate the fact that he will cry when you put him down for a nap, but you have to buck up and walk away...if you get into the rock until he's asleep, or hold him until he falls asleep (which I KNOW YOU REALLY WANT TO DO-I know b/c I did it)...he will come to expect it and THEN you have a MAJOR disaster on your hands because it is MUCH harder to break that habit once its started. If you just can't stand the crying, pull a chair by the crib and sit by him or use white noise, either a fan running or some kind of music in the background. He'll eventually get used to it. I know it's hard not to stay next to your darling baby 24/7 because at 32 you don't want to miss a MINUTE of what he does but really it's tough love for the both of you. I gave in to all those urges with my first born and MAN did I have a tougher go of it breaking those ties later.

I totally agree with almost everything the previous mom said. I don't agree to comfort nurse, I believe there are tons of other things you can do to soothe your child during this time besides letting him nurse. IMO, it'll just teach him he has to nurse each and every time he's upset. But again, that's just my opinion. You'll get the hang of everything! I'd also stick as close to the routine as possible.

Personally, I would try to stick to his normal routine. The less you change, the less it should affect him in the long run. Let him "comfort" nurse if he wants to, some say it hurts less to nurse than bottle feed (don't worry, his appetite will come back). When my first baby's tooth came in, I was in her room at all hours of the night trying to soothe, rub oragel, etc. ANYTHING to help her. My ped said to just let her fuss and she'd go back to sleep. Sure enough she did and just kind of got through it. If he wakes up early, just try not to get him for a while - waiting a little longer each day. He'll get back on track - and the teething does get easier for them - until the dreaded molars!!

I personally went with the flow. The kids always set a schedule again once they were over whatever the problem was (teething, illness, moving, etc.). I can tweak the schedule and help us make it, but it works best for us to let them set the schedule. As far as nursing to sleep for naps... if it's not a problem for you, it's not a problem. If it is, you might check with La Leche League, people often have suggestions who have gone through the same thing!

K.

I guess you are looking for opinions here, so I'll give mine, which are totally the opposite of the last four posts. I don't hesitate to go to my son when he cries during the night, and I still comfort nurse (though a lot less now that he is almost 14 months). It has been my experience (and I know the second will be totally different) that he doesn't come to expect a feeding at the same time every night. Once he is done with teething pain, he gets back to good sleep patterns. I would try to get him to sleep sometimes without nursing - maybe feed him just before bed then have Dad finish getting him to sleep. We have found that he will do better when there is a change of person if I won't let him nurse to sleep. I would suggest you keep things as normal as possible, but don't worry about 'breaking' him of his good routines. I think he will get back to them when the pain is less. Why is it bad to comfort an infant in the middle of the night if they need it? It's not like our job as parents ends at 10pm.

I have two kids and the youngest has had the worst time with teeth: slight fever, runny nose, runny poop adding to the raw bottom, irritable and picky eating. She stays on her routine but my eldest, who didn't have nearly the same trouble, would get off the routine for a few days then need to learn to readjust to the schedule. As soon as the tooth pops through things should be better (of course there are always more teeth), meaning the issue is getting back on routine verses pain of teething. I think you really do have to be careful in starting a new unwanted routine with him. If he is waking up 15-25mins or even 45mins I would let him cry it out (barring the nice blowout that mine always seems to have). Go check to make sure he is dry and safe and lay him back down. I, of course, don't have a problem with letting my girls cry it out(they still love me and are just as attached to me as any other child is to their mother). Sorry, anyways, yes things will get a little disturbed for a while, few days, but then they need to go right back to the routine. We are constantly teaching our children, no matter what age. There is nothing wrong with teaching him to stay on the routine. They do adjust. They are so very smart, even at 7months. Keep your expectations high and realistic and your child will accomplish much.

Good Morning A., I would try very hard to stick to the routine you have started. Teething is sometimes harder on the Mommas more then the little ones. They cry we want to comfort. Bedtime Ora gel is good for teething.

His reg eating habits will return, sometimes with their little gums so sore they just aren't in the mood. Get a cold sweet apple and slice it, hold it in your hand and see if he will suck on it a little. The apple taste and the coldness of it might help sooth the gums some what.

As far as nursing to sleep, Well I wasn't fortunate enough to be able to nurse either of our son's. They were given their nap time bottle, burped, kissed and laid down. If they weren't wet or messy they were fine. Didn't hurt them one little bit to fuss for a while.

I do the same with the youngest gr son I keep daily. We do use and fan in the ceiling and music on a radio. He goes right to sleep. He will be one the 23 of this month. When he wakes up he usually lays there and talks or sings for a while before I get him up. Then he giggles when I get him. I did the same with his 3 1/2 y o brother.

So keep your routine, and stay calm Momma all will be ok.

God Bless you
K. Nana of 5

My son does the exact same thing every time he teeths (he just got his third last week, and will have #4 any day now..) Don't worry about losing the routine. You baby is going through a rather traumatic time and just surviving is hard enough, let alone remember a schedule! ;) Give him a few days (maybe a few weeks) and things will be right back on schedule.. Until the next tooth! ;) Good luck - teething can be a beast.. but we think the first one was the worst, so you can only go up from here! :)

My assumption would be yes, that it is all related to the teething. When your teeth hurt, do u feel like eating and have trouble sleeping? Probably so. It is sooo nice to have a routine, BUT and I hope that this does not sound rude because that is not the way that it is meant, Get Used to not having a routine. That is part of having a child you never know what is going to come up next!

Good Luck!